Eastern Libya’s Parliament Approves Turkey Maritime Deal, Drawing Greek and EU Rejection
publishers 32articles 55first reported 20 Oct, 13:00 UTCdeveloping since 20 Oct · 13 editions
Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives unanimously approved a disputed maritime agreement with Turkey on Tuesday, reversing its earlier opposition to the pact signed in 2019 by Libya’s Tripoli-based government.
The agreement delineates maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean. Greece, Egypt and Cyprus have opposed it, arguing that it infringes on their maritime claims. Libya remains divided between rival administrations in Tripoli and Benghazi.
Greece’s Foreign Ministry said the vote did not alter what it called the agreement’s “illegal, null and void” status. Athens said Turkey and Libya lack opposite or adjacent coastlines that would provide a legal basis for the delimitation and accused the agreement of disregarding the maritime rights of Greek islands. Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis discussed the issue with his Egyptian and Cypriot counterparts.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU deeply regretted the ratification and maintained that the agreement infringes on third countries’ sovereign rights and does not comply with the Law of the Sea.
Turkey welcomed the decision, saying the pact respects both countries’ rights and interests under international law. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara was willing to discuss Egyptian and Libyan concerns with Cairo and Rome. He also said conditions were ripe to reunify Libya’s eastern and western administrations, including bringing their separate military structures under a national army. Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler later said Turkey was ready to negotiate a maritime delimitation agreement with Egypt.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 78 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- Source articles
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- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 78 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- Human review
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