An agreement between Italy and Turkey, dating December 28, 1932 clearly outlined the line of demarcation between the shores of Eastern Turkey and the island Kastellorizo, which then belonged to Italy. Specifically, this agreement established the territorial waters separation of the turkish sea between Kastellorizo and the Minor Asia coast.
According to the protocol of the agreement between Italy and Turkey, signed in the turkish Foreign Ministry in Ankara on December 28, 1932, the demarcation line designates to whom the terrritory belongs, and does not divide the Aegean Sea.
As such, the protocol states, within a distance of 12 (twelve) miles and a minimal distance of territory between the two countries, the demarcation line will designate the two countries' sea sovereignty.
The protocol also states: "It is clearly understood that in the areas where this distance surpasses the twelve (12) miles, the demarcation line will not affect the extension of territorial waters of both countries."
Specifically, the demarcation line is represented by 1) 10m miles south of the island Volos. 2) Half the distance between the Rhodes lighthouse and Cape Kapouia.
Section 30 of this agreement clearly mentions that the italian-turkish border line passes between the Imia islands group -which then belonged to Italy- and the uninhabited island Kato, which belongs to Turkey.
MPE
BETWEEN ITALY AND TURKEY FOR THE DELIMITATION OF THE TERRITORIAL WATERS BETWEEN THE COAST OF ANATOLIA AND THE ISLAND OF CASTELLORIZO.
SIGNED AT ANKARA, JANUARY 4, 1932.
THE ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF ITALY represented by His Excellency Baron Pompeo
ALOISI,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Turkey, of the one part;
and
THE COVERNMENT OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC represented by His Excellency Dr.
Tevfik
RUSTU BEY, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy for Izmir, of the other
part;
Being desirous of maintaining and strengthening still further the
relation of sincere friendship which
happily exist between them, have decided to settle by a direct agreement
the dispute which has arisen
between Italy and Turkey concerning the sovereignty over the islets
situated between the Anatolian
coast and the island of Castellorizo and also over the island of kara-
Ada, and to delimit the territorial
waters surrounding the said islets, the ownership of which has given
rise to a dispute between them in
consequence of the interpretation of the provision of the Treaty of
Lausanne relevant thereto.
The undersigned, having shown their full powers, found in good and due
form, have agreed upon the
following points:
Article 1
The Italian Government recognises the sovereignty of Turkey over the
following islets:
Volo (Gatal-Ada), Ochendra(Uvendire), Fournachia (Furnakya), Kato Volo
(Katovolo), Prassoudi
(Prasudi) (soyth-east of Catovolo). The islets of Tchatallota, Pighi,
Nissi-Tis-Pighi, Agricelia reef,
Proussecliss (rock), Pano Makri, Kato Makri(including the rocks),
Marathi, Roccie Voutzaky (Rocci
Vutchaki), Dacia (Dasya), Nissi-Tis Dacia, Prassoudi (north of Dacia),
Alimentarya (Alimentaria),
Caravola (Karavola).
Article 2
The islet of Kara-Ada, situated in the Bay of Bodrum, shall likewise
belong to Turkey.
Article 3
On the other hand, the Turkish Government recognises Italian sovereignty
over the islets situated in the
zone delimited by a circle having for its centre the dome of the Church
of the town of Castellorizo and
for its radius the distance between that centre and Cape San Stephano
(windward side), namely:
Psoradia, Polyphados, St. George (two islands included in the English
map No 236: St. George being
the island to the south and Agrielaia the island to the north).
Psomi (Strongylo, English map 236), Cutsumbora (Koutsoumbas) (Rocks),
Mavro Poinaki (Mavro
Poinachi), Mavro Poinis (Mavro Poini).
In addition to these islets included in the above- mentioned circle, the
islets of St. George (Rho)
Dragonera, Ross and Hypsili (Stronghyli) shall likewise belong to Italy.
Article 4
It is clearly understood that all the islands and the islets and rocks
on both sides of the line of
demarcation of the waters laid down in the present Convention, whether
their names are mentioned
therein or not, shall belong to the State under whose sovereignty the
zone in which the said islands and
islets and rocks are situated is placed.
Article 5
The High Contacting Parties have also agreed to delimit the territorial
waters as follows:
To the East: From a point situated halfway between Cape San Stephano
(windward side) and Cape
Gata;
Thence in a straight line to a point situated halfway between Psomi and
Proussecliss (Proussecliss)
>From this point in a straight line to a point situared halfway between
Mavro-Points and Proussecliss;
>From this point in a straight line to a point situared halfway between
Niphtis Promontory and the
Proussecliss Rock;
>From this point in a straight line to a point situated halfway between
the north-east coast of the island of
Hypsili (Stronghyli) and the south- west coast of th island of Nissi-Tis
Dacia;
>From this point, in a straight line, to a point three miles south of
Tugh-Burnu.
To the South :
>From this latter point the line runs to a point situated three miles
south of the South Hypsili promontory
where it joint the maritime frontier which is not under discussion,
To the North :
>From this latter situated halfway Cape San Stephano (windward side) and
Cape Gata the line of
demarcation runs in a straight line to a point situated halfway between
Cape San Stephano (windward
side)and Cape Vathy;
>From this point in a straight line to a point situated halfway between
the Cape of Limenari and the
Voutzaki rocks (Rocci Vutzaki);
>From this latter point to a point situated halfway between the Dragonera
island and the Voutzaki rocks
(Rocci Vutchaki);
>From this latter point the line runs northwards to a point situated
halfway between the north-east point
of the St. George island (Rho) and the nearest point of the Anatolian
coast north of that island;
>From this point to a point sistuated halfway between Prassoudi and the
south-west point of the St.
George island (Rho);
>From the latter point in a straignt line to a point situated three miles
south of the island of Volo where it
joins the maritime frontier which is not under discussion.
The line of demarcation described in the present Article, which has been
fixed island and islets on either
side of that line, joins in an easterly direction at a point situated
three miles south of the island of Volo,
the general maritime frontier which in not under discussion between
Turkey and Italy.
Article 6
The names of the places mentioned have been taken from the Italian map
(624), the french map(5551)
and the English map (236).
The High Contracting Parties agree that in case of divergence between
the text of the present
Convention and the maps annexed thereto, the text shall prevail
Article 7
The present Convention shall be ratified and the ratifacation shall be
exchanged at Rome as soon as
possible.
It shall come into force fifteen days after the date of the exchange of
ratifacation.
In faith where of the Plenipotentiaries of the High Contracting Parties
have signed the present
Convention and have thereto affixed their seals.
Done in duplicate at Ankara, June 4, 1932.
(L. S.) ALOISI (L. S.) T. RUSTU.
Le Delegue italien et les Delegues turcs, conforment aux dispositions
des lettres echangees le 4 Janvier
1932 lors de la signature de la Convention portant la meme date et
conclue entre l' Italie et la Turquie en
vue d' etablir l' appartenance des iles, flots et rochers situes entre
l' ile de Castelorizo et les cotes d'
Anatolie, ainsi que l' ile de Kara Ada et de proceder a la delimination
des eaux territoriales environnant
les dites lies, flots et rochers, lettres en vertu desquelles les deux
Parties s' etaient engagees a proposer
a leur Gouvernement respectifis de proceder de suite au trace de la
partie restante de la frontiere
maritime italo-turque ne faisant l' objet d' aucune contestation, se
sont reunis a cet effet au Ministere des
Affaires Etrangeres de la Republique Turque a Ankara le 28 decembre
1932.
Etaient presents:
Pour le Gouvernement Italien: Monsieur le Capitaine de Vaisseau Roberto
Soldati, Attache Naval et
Aeronautique pres l' Ambassade de la Majeste de Roi d' Italie en Turquie
Pour le Gouvernement Turc:
Saip Bey, Conseiller d' Ambassade, Chef de Section au 1er Departement,
Ertogrul Bey, Capitaine de
Fregate, Asim Bey, Commandant d' Etat Major, Hayrettin Bey, Capitaine de
Corvette.
Avant de proceder au trace de la ligne frontiere le delegue italien et
les delegues turcs sont tombes d'
accord, afin d' eviter toute divergance de vues qui pourraient surgir
dans les negotiations, sur les
principes suivants, quant a la definition de la ligne frontiere:
Apres quoi les deux Delegations d' un commun accord ont trace sur les
cartes hydrographiques
anglaises Nos.236, 872, 1546. La ligne frontiere qui passe par les
points suivants:
[Twenty seven (27) additional sections follow, which designate the line
of demarcation]
[Six (6) additional sections follow, which designate the line of
demarcation
La frontiere tracee ay moyen des 37 points ce-dessus definis va se
joindre a la limite ouest de la
frontiere de l'ile de Castellorizo, frontiere qui a ete decrite dans la
Canvention du 4 janvier 1932.
Enfin de l'extreme Est de la frontriere de Castellorizo (point designe
par le chiffre I romain) La ligne a
ete prolongee a travers le point II romain et arrtee au point III
romain.
Les points II et III romain sont definis comme suit:
Le point II romain est situe a IO milles au Sud de Trugh Burnu. Le point
III romain est situe a IO milles
au Sud de la pointe Sud de Khelidonia (carte anglaise No 236).
L'orthographe des localites ci-dessus mentionnes a ete empruntee aux
cartes anglaises susenumerees.
En cas de divergence entre la present texte et les cartes annexees c'
est le texte qui fera foi.
Roberto SOLDATI S.SAIP ERTUGRUL M.ASIM HAYRETTIN
[PROTOCOL ANNEXED TO THE ABOVE, WHICH HAS BEEN SIGNED BETWEEN ITALY
AND TURKEY IN ANKARA DECEMBER 28, 1932]
The other islands