From The Straits Times · · 40s
Egypt Rejects Libyan-Turkey Maritime Deal
Egypt says Libya's maritime deal with Turkey has no legal effect.
In brief
Egypt says Libya's maritime deal with Turkey has no legal effect. Egypt rejects Libya's eastern parliament approval of a maritime deal with Turkey, calling it legally void. Originally reported by The Straits Times.
Egypt rejects deal
Egypt's Foreign Ministry says Libya's eastern parliament ratification of a maritime deal with Turkey has no legal effect.
“Egypt reaffirms that this memorandum is null and void ... possesses no legal effect”
Israel condemns deal
Israel strongly condemned Libya's eastern parliament approval of the maritime deal with Turkey, drawing criticism from Greece.
“Regretfully, once again we see Turkey working to destabilise the east Mediterranean region”
Turkey defends deal
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the deal legitimate, saying Libya's ratification was a formality.
“There are countries reacting to this. We know why they are reacting. Some are doing so because they need to, some really do have strategic problems with this issue. However, this is an entirely legitimate deal, both from a legal and a statutory perspective. There is no need to argue this”
EU urges stability
The EU's foreign policy chief urged all countries to respect sovereign rights in the eastern Mediterranean under international law.
“The EU has a strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and urges all countries to respect the sovereign rights of all Member States, in accordance with EU and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea”
The takeaway
Egypt rejects Libya's eastern parliament approval of a maritime deal with Turkey, calling it legally void.
