ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the Aegean maritime disputes on the basis of international law, it is necessary to establish clearly the rules and principles regulating the maritime areas. It overviews the basic rules and principles dealing with the maritime areas of the territorial sea, die continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Particular attention is paid to the issues of juridical nature, seaward extent, and delimitation of these maritime areas between two or more States. The concept of the territorial sea has throughout its development been associated with two fundamental problems. The territorial sea claims of two or more States could meet and overlap for many reasons and need to be settled consequently. The sea-bed areas beyond the narrow belt of the territorial sea became the subject of a desire to explore and exploit the natural resources at the beginning of the twentieth century.
