Ankara rejects third party objections to the maritime agreement with Libya

A Turkey today rejected the objections raised by third parties to the recent ratification by the authorities of eastern Libya of the memorandum on maritime demarcation previously signed with Tripoli, which raised criticism by the European Union and several countries.

The Turkish Ministry of Defence stated that the legal validity of the agreement between Ankara and the Libyan authorities cannot be called into question by means of “one-sided third-party assessments” and insisted that the delimitation of the maritime zones constitutes a “sovereign right of the States involved”, according to the Turkish media.

The Turkish Government welcomed the adoption of the memorandum, considering it a confirmation of the “validity of the agreement and a step towards strengthening strategic cooperation” between Turkey and Libya.

“ The decision confirms the validity of the memorandum, signed on the basis of international law and the principles of equity ", declared.

In addition, it reiterated Turkey’s determination to defend what it considers to be its “rights and interests” in the central Mediterranean, although Greece rejected the agreement, claiming that it jeopardises the “stability and security” of the region.

Also today, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, met with the Cypriot counterpart, Constantinos Kombos, with whom the agreement was ratified.

“ We talked about the agreement, which undermines the interests and rights of several countries in the eastern Mediterranean region. We have also addressed bilateral relations between our countries and relations between Israel and the European Union. I will continue to strengthen ties between Israel and Cyprus,” Saar said.

The parliament of Tobruk, seat of the authorities of eastern Libya, ratified on Tuesday the memorandum of understanding signed in 2019 between Turkey and the then Government of Tripoli, the rival administration recognized by the international community, although, until now, the Eastern administration has rejected the agreement for having been negotiated without its participation.

The decision represents a change in relations between Ankara and the authorities of eastern Libya, led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, after years of political disagreements.

The Tobruk parliament also announced the repeal of a resolution adopted in 2020 that suspended political relations with Turkey.

Since the signing, the agreement has been rejected by Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, which consider that the maritime demarcation agreed in the memorandum violates their sovereign rights in the eastern Mediterranean, especially as regards waters south of the Greek island of Crete.

Libya has been marked by divisions since the fall of Muammar Gadhafi in 2011. Today, two governments dispute power: one led by Abdel Hamid Dbeibah, recognized by the UN in Tripoli, and another by Haftar and his clan in eastern Libyan territory.