Turkey and Eastern Libya Parliament Reach Agreement on Maritime Border Delimitation.. Egypt: Invalid
Turkey and the Eastern Libya parliament reached an agreement on maritime border delimitation, sparking strong Egyptian rejection and Greek concern.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
Turkey has reached an agreement with the Libyan parliament in the eastern part of the country regarding the delimitation of disputed maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, a move that would enable both nations to explore for natural resources, according to both sides.
The agreement provides for the establishment of an exclusive economic zone between the Turkish and Libyan coasts, extending near Greek islands, including Crete and Rhodes.
The designated maritime area between Turkey and Libya is to be divided, granting both countries the rights to explore and exploit natural resources, including potentially significant natural gas reserves.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the development as “important,” according to his spokesperson on Wednesday, while Greece and the European Union immediately condemned the move.
The dispute is further complicated by political divisions in Libya, where two rival administrations exist: one in the eastern city of Tobruk and the other in the western capital, Tripoli.
Turkey originally signed the maritime boundary delimitation agreement in 2019 with the internationally recognized Libyan government in Tripoli.
The eastern Libyan parliament approved the agreement on Tuesday, after years of resistance.
Meanwhile, Egypt expressed its firm rejection of the Libyan House of Representatives’ ratification of the memorandum of understanding signed between Fayez al-Sarraj and the Republic of Turkey concerning the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean. Egypt reiterated that the memorandum is absolutely null and void, has no legal effect, and that its ratification by the Libyan House of Representatives produces no legal consequences for Egypt.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a declaration that the referenced memorandum violates principles of international maritime law and the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea regarding the designation of exclusive economic zones and continental shelves, which are based on principles of equity and justice. The memorandum clearly infringes upon Egypt’s sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Reiterating its rejection of the memorandum and any actions or measures taken by any party based on it, which contradict Egypt’s declared maritime boundaries, Egypt affirmed its right to protect its rights guaranteed under international law and to counter any attempts to undermine them.
