Libyan lawmakers reportedly unanimously approve the 2019 maritime memorandum with Turkey, reviving a deal that Greece considers a violation of its maritime rights.
Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives has reportedly approved the controversial 2019 maritime memorandum with Turkey, reversing its previous opposition to the agreement and raising fresh concerns over the balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to Reuters, two Libyan lawmakers confirmed the decision on Tuesday, while Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the parliament had unanimously approved the agreement and overturned its 2020 decision to sever political ties.
The development could have significant implications for Greece, which has consistently rejected the Turkish-Libyan memorandum as unlawful and incompatible with its maritime rights under international law.
A controversial agreement dating back to 2019
Turkey signed the memorandum in November 2019 with Libya’s then Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), establishing a purported maritime boundary between the two countries.
The agreement drew immediate opposition from Greece, which argues that the proposed boundary disregards the maritime rights of Greek islands, including Crete, and attempts to establish a maritime corridor between Turkey and Libya that cuts across areas claimed by Greece.
Athens maintains that islands are entitled to maritime zones under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Turkey, which is not a party to UNCLOS, disputes Greece’s interpretation of maritime entitlements in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Libyan parliament, based in eastern Libya and historically aligned with military commander Khalifa Haftar, had previously rejected the memorandum. In 2020, it declared the agreement invalid and opposed its implementation.
The reported reversal therefore marks a potentially significant shift in Libya’s position.
Turkey seeks greater influence in Libya
Turkish media have portrayed the reported parliamentary approval as a diplomatic breakthrough that could facilitate expanded Turkish offshore exploration in waters covered by the agreement.
Turkish outlet A Haber described the development as bringing the 2019 memorandum back to the forefront, while other Turkish media questioned whether the decision could alter the regional balance of power.
The reported approval also follows renewed diplomatic engagement between Ankara and eastern Libya.
According to reports cited by Greek broadcaster SKAI, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin was expected to visit Tripoli on Tuesday for meetings with senior security officials.
SKAI’s Istanbul correspondent, Manolis Kostidis, also reported last week that the Erdogan government had been applying pressure on Saddam Haftar, the son of Khalifa Haftar, in an effort to influence the Libyan parliament’s leadership and secure formal approval of the memorandum.
The reports come after the removal of former Libyan parliament speaker Aguila Saleh, adding another dimension to the changing political dynamics surrounding the agreement.
What the decision means for Greece
For Athens, the reported approval could complicate efforts to contain Turkey’s maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece has repeatedly argued that the 2019 memorandum cannot override the maritime rights of Greek islands or create legally binding maritime boundaries at Greece’s expense.
The agreement has also been a source of tension between Athens and Ankara, with Greece maintaining that the arrangement violates international maritime law.
However, the reported parliamentary approval does not automatically resolve the underlying legal dispute or establish the agreement’s validity under international law.
Its practical consequences will depend on how the Libyan authorities implement the decision, whether the relevant Libyan institutions formally complete the ratification process, and how Turkey and Libya proceed with any maritime or energy-related activities under the memorandum.
The latest development nevertheless signals a potential shift in Libya’s position on an agreement that has remained a major point of contention between Greece and Turkey.
Source: SKAI.gr, Reuters and Anadolu Agency.
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SEO title: Libya Approves Turkey Maritime Deal, Raising Greek Concerns
Meta description: Libya’s parliament reportedly approves the controversial 2019 maritime deal with Turkey, reviving tensions over Greece’s maritime rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Focus keyphrase: Turkey-Libya maritime deal
Slug: libya-approves-turkey-maritime-deal
Excerpt: Libya’s eastern-based parliament reportedly approves the controversial maritime memorandum with Turkey, reviving a dispute with Greece over maritime boundaries and rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Tags: Greece, Turkey, Libya, Eastern Mediterranean, Turkish-Libyan memorandum, maritime boundaries, Greek-Turkish relations, Khalifa Haftar, international law, energy exploration
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