Egypt has reacted to the Libyan House of Representatives' ratification of the memorandum of understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas signed between Turkey and Libya in 2019. The Cairo administration stated that the decision would not create any legal obligations or consequences for Egypt.
In a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkey-Libya memorandum was described as an arrangement that is “null and void and produces no legal consequences.” The ministry argued that the Libyan parliament's ratification decision does not change this assessment.
The statement claimed that the memorandum in question is inconsistent with the fundamental principles of international maritime law. The Cairo administration also cited the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea regarding the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf.
LEGAL POSITIONS OF THE PARTIES
Stating that the principles of equity and justice must be observed in determining maritime jurisdiction areas, Egypt holds the view that the Turkey-Libya memorandum violates its sovereign rights in its own exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Turkey, on the other hand, defends its position in the Eastern Mediterranean based on its continental shelf rights and the principles of equity. Ankara does not accept the view that all provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which it is not a party, are binding upon it regarding maritime jurisdiction areas.
Recalling that it had previously objected to the memorandum in definitive terms, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it rejects any actions or practices based on this memorandum that contradict the maritime boundaries declared by Egypt. Cairo also stated that it reserves the right to take necessary steps to protect its rights, which it asserts are derived from international law.
The memorandum on maritime jurisdiction areas between Turkey and Libya was signed in November 2019 between Ankara and the administration of Fayez al-Sarraj, the then-Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord of Libya. The memorandum aims to delimit the maritime jurisdiction areas of the two countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Since the date it was signed, the agreement has been the subject of objections from Greece, Egypt, and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus. These countries argue that the memorandum violates their own maritime jurisdiction areas and does not sufficiently take into account the effect of islands in the region on maritime jurisdiction areas.
Egypt's stance on the Libya file is also seen as closely linked to the support it provides to Khalifa Haftar, the leader of the forces in the east of the country. The Cairo administration had supported Haftar politically and diplomatically in line with its goal of ensuring the security of the long border it shares with Libya and the formation of an administration in the country that is close to it.
News Source: 12punto
