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Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union have rejected the 2019 maritime agreement between Turkey and Libya, arguing that it has no legal validity and cannot determine maritime boundaries or affect the rights of other countries.
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis delivered the joint position at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday, following a decision by Libya’s House of Representatives to ratify the agreement governing maritime jurisdiction in the Mediterranean.
The six parties said the latest development could affect regional security and stability, while raising questions about the protection of international legal principles governing maritime boundaries.
Gerapetritis said the agreement could not provide a lawful basis for defining maritime zones or create legal obligations or consequences for third countries. He stressed that maritime boundary disputes must be addressed under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and customary international law.
These legal frameworks establish the principles used to determine maritime rights and boundaries between coastal states, including the rights of islands. The joint statement argued that the Turkey-Libya agreement fails to account for geographical realities and the entitlements of all affected coastal countries.
The six parties also warned that accepting bilateral arrangements that disregard established legal principles could weaken the international system and undermine efforts to settle disputes peacefully.
Libya’s parliamentary ratification does not change their position on the agreement’s legal status, the statement said.
Despite their opposition to the memorandum, the signatories expressed support for the reunification of Libya’s institutions and the development of a stable and prosperous country. They said Libya’s participation in regional cooperation was important for maintaining peace and security across the Mediterranean.
They also called for Libya’s political transition and relations with neighbouring countries to be guided by international law and respect for good-neighbourly relations.
Greece, meanwhile, reiterated its willingness to continue bilateral discussions with Libya on maritime boundary delimitation. Athens said the negotiations had been conducted in good faith and in accordance with international law.
Gerapetritis concluded that compliance with international law was essential to regional stability and the preservation of an international order based on agreed rules.
