The US State Department has described as provocative the announcement that eastern Libya’s House of Representatives ratified the Turkey-Libya memorandum, noting that it has raised tension in the region and stressing that the US position on the issue has not changed.
The new statement, follows the State Department’s remarks on Wednesday, October 21, in which it encouraged negotiations to resolve maritime disputes and highlighted the economic benefits of a settlement. In its second intervention, the State Department explicitly criticizes the ratification announcement, while repeating its call for bilateral dialogue between Greece and Turkey.
Between the two statements, the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) sent a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asking the State Department to take a clear public position against the Turkey-Libya memorandum.
The State Department’s new statement reads in full:
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“The announcement of the ratification of the Turkey-Libya memorandum of understanding on maritime delimitation has increased tension in the region, is not constructive and is provocative. Our position on this issue has not changed.
We encourage all countries, including partners in the Eastern Mediterranean, to resolve maritime disputes through good-faith negotiations and to avoid any provocative behavior.
Greece and Turkey are both NATO allies. We encourage them to engage in bilateral dialogue to address any disagreements.
The peaceful resolution of such disputes paves the way for commercial investment and exploration that will benefit the entire region.”