Greece to UN: The Turkey-Libya Maritime Deal Ignores Greek Islands’ Rights

Greece has submitted an official letter to the United Nations dated September 3, responding to Libya’s May 27 communication, which unilaterally defined the outer limits of Libya’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) based on the controversial Turkey-Libya maritime agreement.

Key Points from Greece’s Letter to the UN

• Greece categorically rejects the Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as illegal, emphasizing that:“It disregards the existence and maritime rights of Greek islands.”
• Regarding the exploration blocks south of Crete, the letter reiterates that:“The delimitation is fully in line with the Law of the Sea.”
• Greece rejects the argument that maritime boundaries should be drawn exclusively based on continental coastlines — a longstanding Turkish position that disregards the role of islands in EEZ demarcation.

Clear Defense of the Greece-Egypt Agreement

Greece reaffirms the legitimacy of its EEZ agreement with Egypt, stating that:

“The agreement was concluded between states with opposite coasts and in full compliance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”

 Greece Dismisses Libya’s Unilateral EEZ Submission

Athens firmly rejects the EEZ coordinates that Libya submitted to the UN on May 27, pointing out that:

• Disputed baselines were used
• The submission violates international law
• Greek sovereign rights were ignored

Greece Open to Dialogue – Under One Condition: International Law

While reserving all its sovereign rights, Greece expresses readiness to resume negotiations with Libya to delimit maritime zones. However, it insists that:“Such negotiations must take place strictly within the framework of international law.”

Greece’s UN letter marks a clear diplomatic stand: unilateral moves and legally questionable agreements that undermine the Law of the Sea cannot stand unchallenged.

The message is firm: respect for international law and the sovereign rights of islands is non-negotiable in the Eastern Mediterranean

Source: pagenews.gr