TWELVE MILES NOW!

 TURKEY HAS DECLARED THAT A GREEK TWELVE MILE TERRITORIAL WATER IS A CAUSE FOR WAR.

There have been continuous Turkish demands  for the exclusion of the Greek Islands from the planning for the Greek EEZ (exclusive Economic Zone) with the Turkologic argument that islands cannot have Continental Shelf  and any settlement between the two countries should only take account the two main land masses.

We have researched extensively and the results are as follows:

The major rule by which Maritime matters are examined and settled is the Law of the Sea known as UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).

The Law has been  ratified by 168 countries; Turkey has not.

Below map 1, taken from Wikipedia

  Parties   Parties, dually represented by the European Union   Non-parties that are signatories   Non-parties that are not signatories

On the question: Do islands have a Continental Shelf, Google AI answers:

Yes, islands can have a continental shelf, but it depends on the island's origin and location. Continental islands, which were once part of a larger landmass, are typically located on a continental shelf. Oceanic islands, formed by volcanic activity, may or may not have a continental shelf. 

The Greek islands are Continental islands as Google AI states: 

These islands are simply parts of a continental shelf that have become separated from the mainland, often due to rising sea levels or geological activity. Examples include islands near continents, like those off the coast of Scotland.  By having a look at the sea bed of the Aegean this is obvious. 

Around 6 MYA the Aegean looked very different ( MAP 2), with very little water in the South and the Southwest. So the island areas were just part of the Continent.  Eventually Sea levels rose to create the Aegean basin.

This makes Turkish claims unfounded and illogical.

MAP 2

To disperse Turkish claims Greece must exercise its right to extend its territorial water to 12 miles as soon as possible otherwise it will be a hostage to Turkish demands.

Below, the 6 mile Greek territorial waters as they are today in the Aegean. MAP 3

And in MAP 4 the 12 mile territorial waters.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

UNCLOS