Eastern Libya Parliament Ratifies Maritime Deal with Turkey, Greece Protests
Cubierto por 3 fuentesPublicado
- Baird MaritimeGreece fumes as eastern Libya backs disputed Turkey maritime pact
- ports europeEastern Libya ratifies Turkey maritime deal as Greece, Egypt and EU object
- ports news rusiaGreece, Egypt move to extend maritime deal after Libya parliament backs Turkey pact
- Baird MaritimeEgypt, Israel dismiss Libyan parliament's Turkey maritime pact as dispute simmers
The eastern Libya-based parliament approved on Tuesday, October 20, a maritime boundary agreement with Turkey, prompting immediate condemnation from Greece, which described the move as a violation of international law. The pact reopens a long-standing dispute over maritime borders and energy exploration rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Origin of the agreement
The agreement had originally been struck in 2019 by the internationally recognized government in Tripoli, but the rival eastern administration, led by military commander Khalifa Haftar, had withheld ratification for years. In the same session, the House of Representatives, meeting in Benghazi, voted unanimously in favor of the memorandum and also repealed the 2020 resolutions that had rejected the agreements with Turkey and severed political relations with Ankara.
Turkey's backing
Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Libyan parliament's decision, stating that the agreement respects the mutual rights and interests of both countries under international law. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan downplayed the criticism and noted that the ratification was a mere formality, since the agreement was already in force for Ankara, and defended its legal legitimacy.
Rejection from Egypt and Israel
Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the agreement and stated that the ratification will have no legal effect for Cairo, calling it null and void. Israel, for its part, "strongly" condemned the Libyan parliament's approval and accused Turkey of once again destabilizing the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Reaction from Greece and Egypt
Two days after the ratification, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, agreed on October 22 to continue consultations to extend the geographic scope of their own 2020 exclusive economic zone agreement, signed in Cairo and in force since September of that year. According to press sources, in addition to Greece and Egypt, the European Union also rejected the agreement between Libya and Turkey.
