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Greece’s diplomatic blitz over illegal Turkey-Libya maritime deal

Greece launches diplomatic offensive over the illegal Turkey-Libya maritime deal, rallying Cyprus, Egypt, and the EU to defend Eastern Mediterranean sovereignty.

Greece’s diplomatic blitz over illegal Turkey-Libya maritime deal
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Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has launched a series of diplomatic contacts aimed at coordinating positions against the illegal Turkey-Libya memorandum. His phone calls with his counterparts from Cyprus and Egypt form part of Greece’s broader strategy to defend sovereign rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, while both the Greek Foreign Ministry and the European Union issued strong responses regarding the decision of the Libyan House of Representatives.

Read also: Turkey-Libya memorandum: The behind-the-scenes story of the ratification of the deal with Erdogan

Gerapetritis launches diplomatic blitz over illegal Turkey-Libya memorandum — calls Cypriot and Egyptian foreign ministers

George Gerapetritis held an extensive phone call with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos. At the heart of the discussion were the latest developments surrounding the Turkey-Libya memorandum and the immediate threats it poses to regional security. The two ministers analysed the agreement’s impact on the stability of the broader region and agreed on the need for a coordinated response.

Separately, the Foreign Minister also spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty. The diplomatic contact focused on assessing the consequences arising from the Memorandum of Understanding between Turkey and Libya. George Gerapetritis and the Egyptian Foreign Minister discussed the challenges facing the Eastern Mediterranean and underscored the importance of upholding international law.


Greece’s Foreign Ministry fires back at Ankara and Tripoli over Turkey-Libya memorandum

The Greek Foreign Ministry issued a strong official response to the decision by the Libyan House of Representatives regarding the Turkey-Libya memorandum. In its statement, the Ministry notably declared that “geography and the International Law of the Sea do not change through unilateral, legally unfounded parliamentary decisions.” Greece also called on Libya “to refrain from any action that runs counter to international law and undermines stability in the Eastern Mediterranean,” adding that Greece would take every appropriate action “to safeguard its sovereign rights.”

Full statement

“Greece rejects the decision of the Libyan House of Representatives approving the misnamed 2019 Turkey-Libya memorandum on the delimitation of maritime zones. This decision does not alter the illegal, null, and void nature of the memorandum, which is contrary to the International Law of the Sea and infringes upon the sovereign rights of states in the region. Geography and the International Law of the Sea do not change through unilateral, legally unfounded parliamentary decisions. Turkey and Libya do not have opposite or adjacent coasts that would provide a legal basis for the attempted delimitation of maritime zones. The memorandum also disregards Greek islands and their rights to maritime zones under UNCLOS and customary international law. Having already concluded maritime delimitation agreements with Egypt and Italy in accordance with the International Law of the Sea, Greece has demonstrated its respect for international law and the sovereign rights of neighbouring states. We call on the Libyan side to refrain from any action that runs counter to international law and undermines stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece has already briefed its partners and allies and will take every appropriate action to safeguard its sovereign rights.”


EU on Turkey-Libya memorandum: “It does not comply with the Law of the Sea and is null and void — solidarity with Greece and Cyprus”

“This agreement infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states, does not comply with the Law of the Sea, and is null and void,” stated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa in response to the Turkey-Libya memorandum.

Full joint statement by Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa

“We deeply regret the ratification today by the Libyan Parliament of the so-called Libyan-Türkiye Memorandum of Understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea. We recall that the EU’s position on this matter was clearly stated by the European Council in 2019 and remains unchanged. This agreement infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states, it does not comply with the Law of the Sea, and is null and void. We reaffirm our solidarity with Greece and Cyprus. We reiterate the EU’s well-known position against any outside interference in Libya.”

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