Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union have rejected the Turkey-Libya maritime deal signed in 2019, saying it violates international law and cannot serve as a legal basis for maritime boundary claims against third countries.
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis delivered the joint statement at the United Nations headquarters in New York following a decision by Libya’s House of Representatives to ratify the agreement, which concerns the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean.
The statement said the ratification raised serious concerns about regional security and stability.
Allies say agreement cannot create legal effects for third countries
Gerapetritis stressed that the memorandum remained invalid and had no legal standing, arguing that it could not establish a lawful basis for maritime boundaries or produce legal effects for third countries.
The joint statement said the development highlighted a wider challenge for the international legal order: ensuring that bilateral agreements do not undermine established rules of international law or infringe on the rights of other states.
It also warned that accepting agreements that disregard applicable international rules could set a dangerous precedent and weaken the principles underpinning the peaceful resolution of disputes.
UNCLOS and island rights at the centre of dispute
The statement identified international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), alongside customary international law, as the legal framework governing maritime delimitation.
It argued that the Turkey-Libya memorandum disregarded geographical realities and the maritime rights of all coastal states concerned, including the rights of islands under UNCLOS.
The six parties stressed that Libya’s parliamentary decision did not change their assessment of the agreement’s legal status.
The 2019 memorandum between Turkey and Libya has been a source of tension in the eastern Mediterranean, where overlapping maritime claims have complicated relations between regional states.
Call for a united and stable Libya
The signatories reaffirmed their support for the reunification of Libya’s institutions and the prospect of a united and prosperous country.
They said a stable Libya actively involved in regional cooperation was essential for peace and security in the Mediterranean.
The statement also stressed that Libya’s political transition and relations with neighbouring countries should be guided by international law and good-neighbourly relations.
Gerapetritis said Greece had conducted bilateral discussions with Libya on maritime delimitation in good faith and in accordance with international law. Athens, he added, remained ready to continue those efforts.
He concluded that respect for international law was essential for regional stability and the preservation of a rules-based international order.
Also read: EU condemns Libya-Turkey maritime deal, backs Cyprus and Greece
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