41 AEGEAN SEA (JUDGMENT) This means, in its view, that "priority was given to negotiations" on the substance of the question of the continental shelf, and nothing was said in that connection "even about the negotiation of a special agreement" to subrnit the question to the Court (ibid.). It also points to the subsequent efforts of Greece to secure the negotiation of such an agreement as confirmation of the correctness of Turkey's interpretation of the Communiqué (para. 16). 100. This divergence of views as to the interpretation of the Brussels Communiqué makes it necessary for the Court to consider what light is thrown on its meaning by the context in which the meeting of 31 May 1975 took place and the Communiqué was drawn up. The first mention of the Court, according to the evidence, was in a Greek Note Verbale of 27 January 1975, that is some four months before the meeting of the two Prime Ministers in Brussels. In that Note the Greek Government proposed that "the differences over the applicable law as well as over the substance of the matter" should be referred to the Court, adding: "Indeed, the Greek Government, without prejudice to their right to initiate Court proceedings unilaterally, would see considerable advantage in reaching joint& with the Turkish Government a special agreement . . ." (Application, Ann. II, No. 9, emphasis added.) 101. Replying on 6 February 1975, the Turkish Government referred to "meaningful negotiations" as "a basic method for the settlement of international disputes" and said that, because of the absence of such negotiations, "the issues relating to the disputes have neither been fully identified nor elucidated". It then continued: "However, in principle, the Turkish Government favourably considers the Greek Government's proposa1 to refer the dispute over the delimitation of the Aegean continental shelf joint& to the International Court of Justice. To this effect and to elaborate the terms under which the matter shall be referred to the said Court, Turkey proposes high level talks to be initiated between the two Governments . . ." (Zbid, Ann. II, No. 10, emphasis added.) On 10 February 1975, commenting on the Turkish reply, the Greek Govemment noted with satisfaction that "the Turkish Government accept in principle their proposa1 that the question of the delimitation of the continental shelf of the Aegean Sea be subrnitted jointly to the Intemational Court of Justice in The Hague" (ibid., No. 11, emphasis added). It also agreed that "following suitable preparation, talks should be held in order to draft the terms of the special agreement (compromisum) required to that effect" (ibid.). This led the Turkish Prime Minister, when explaining