Greece has rejected Libya’s eastern-based parliament’s approval of the controversial 2019 maritime agreement with Turkey, declaring the deal legally ineffective and a violation of international law.
In a statement on Tuesday, Greece’s Foreign Ministry said the memorandum between Ankara and Tripoli infringed on the sovereign rights of states in the Eastern Mediterranean and could not establish a lawful maritime boundary.
Athens argued that Turkey and Libya do not have opposite or adjacent coastlines that would justify the maritime delimitation outlined in the agreement.
The deal, signed in November 2019, established a claimed maritime boundary between Turkey and Libya that cuts across areas where Greece asserts its own maritime rights, particularly around Crete and other Greek islands.
Greece has consistently challenged the agreement, arguing that it disregards the maritime entitlements of Greek islands under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Athens warns against destabilising the Eastern Mediterranean
The Greek Foreign Ministry called on Libya to refrain from actions that could undermine stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Athens also said it had informed its partners and allies of the latest developments and would take all appropriate measures to safeguard its sovereign rights.
The parliamentary approval in eastern Libya adds another layer to a long-running dispute over maritime boundaries, energy exploration and competing territorial claims in the strategically important region.
The 2019 memorandum has been a persistent source of tension between Greece and Turkey, with Athens maintaining that the agreement cannot override the maritime rights granted to Greek islands under international law.
A continuing dispute over maritime rights
The agreement has remained contentious since its signing, particularly because its proposed maritime boundary crosses areas Greece considers part of its own maritime jurisdiction.
Turkey has defended the memorandum as a legitimate agreement governing maritime jurisdiction, while Greece has rejected its validity.
The latest development comes amid continued competition in the Eastern Mediterranean over maritime zones, energy resources and regional influence.
Greece’s response signals that Athens intends to maintain its opposition to the agreement and pursue diplomatic measures to defend its claims.
Source: Reuters
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