Cyprus Counters Turkey-Libya Maritime Deal at UN

Strategic Diplomacy from Nicosia

The Republic of Cyprus has submitted a formal note verbale to the UN Secretary-General, reaffirming its long-standing position regarding the so-called Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2019. In its communication, Nicosia rejects the agreement as legally invalid, stating that:“It does not comply with international law, particularly the rules governing treaty-making and the Law of the Sea as codified in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”

UNCLOS Article 121 as Legal Pillar

The Cypriot note strongly references Article 121 of UNCLOS, which stipulates that islands are entitled to:

• Territorial waters
• Contiguous zones
• Continental shelves
• Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ)

This provision, which reflects customary international law, applies even to non-signatory states. Cyprus argues that the Turkey-Libya MoU deliberately ignores the maritime rights of coastal states in the region, including Greek islands such as Crete and the Dodecanese.

A Fabricated Boundary and Regional Disregard

“The agreement purports to delimit maritime zones between two states—Turkey and Libya—that do not have opposite or adjacent coasts. It thus creates a non-existent maritime boundary, while intentionally disregarding third-party states.”

The note also criticizes the straight baseline drawn by Libya to close the Gulf of Sirte, claiming it is inconsistent with customary international law and therefore produces no legal effect.

Legal Clarity over Political Expediency

Cyprus reiterates a fundamental principle of the Law of the Sea:“Maritime delimitation agreements must be concluded in good faith between states with opposite or adjacent coasts, in accordance with the well-established principles of international law.”

This legal framework, the note stresses, must prevail over unilateral political or geopolitical motives.

An Opening for Diplomacy with Libya

Despite its strong legal objections, Nicosia acknowledges Libya’s declared willingness to engage in maritime boundary negotiations with neighboring states, in accordance with international law — a move seen as an opening for future diplomatic engagement in the region.

UN-Level Action Requested

The note formally requests that the document be:

• Circulated as an official UN General Assembly document (under Agenda Item 75)
• Transmitted to the UN Security Council
• Published on the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) website
• Included in the next issue of the UN Law of the Sea Bulletin

Contextualizing the Move Geopolitically

This new diplomatic maneuver from Cyprus comes at a time of:

• Renewed geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean
• Persistent disputes over maritime zones and energy rights
• Migration pressures affecting regional stability

By issuing this firm legal response, Cyprus bolsters not only its own position but also Greece’s, reinforcing a united front against the Turkey-Libya maritime axis and underscoring the primacy of international law in regional affairs.

Source: pagenews.gr