Greece describes Libya’s claims as unfounded and lacking legal basis in its verbal note to the UN, through which Athens responds to Libya regarding the blocks tendered for hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete. The Greek side, rejecting Libya’s accusations, emphasizes the following: “They lack any legal basis and ignore the fact that Greece has ipso facto and ab initio sovereign rights over the continental shelf and its resources in these areas.”
Verbal note: Athens responds to Libya’s claims
Greece’s verbal note to the UN emphasizes the following:
“The aforementioned blocks are located within the Greek continental shelf/exclusive economic zone. Consequently, they are located exclusively within areas of Greek jurisdiction, in accordance with international law of the sea, and do not violate Libya’s sovereign rights.
Specifically, the outer limits of the offshore areas “South of Crete 1” and “South of Crete 2” have been determined with reference to the equidistance line (median line) between Greece and Libya and in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone between the two countries, signed in Cairo on August 6, 2020.
Therefore, the claims of the Libyan side, as reflected in the aforementioned verbal note regarding the above offshore areas, are unfounded, lack any legal basis and ignore the fact that Greece has ipso facto and ab initio sovereign rights over the continental shelf and its resources in these areas.”
