THE DEMILITARISATION OF THE GREEK EASTERN AEGEAN ISLANDS THE CASE OF THE CENTRAL AEGEAN AND DODECANESEISLANDS

Abstract

The purpose of this artiele is to address the question ofdemilitarisation of the islands of Lcsbos (Mytilene), Chios. Samos,Ikaria (Nikaria) as weıı as the Dodecanese Islands and theiradjacent islets. The demilitarisation of the islands of Lemnos andSamothrace, which are attached to the Strait of Dardaneııes, will notbe discussed in this artiele but will be subject of anather.In contrast to the Turkish pasition, this artiele argues that acomprehensive interpretation of the Treaty of Lausanne revealsthat the appIication of the 'principle of reciprocity' aııows Greece tomaintain a military presence in the said islands relative to that ofthe Turkish forces stationed on the coast of Asia Minor. Thisargument is fundamentally different that those advanced by Athensregarding the right of Greece to re-militarise its Eastern Aegeanislands.