Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt are preparing a diplomatic counteroffensive in response to the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum. Cairo is feverishly preparing a legal dossier to defend its sovereign rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.
NADER ZAKI, Spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “
“Any party that imagines it can implement anything on the ground in a manner that violates Egyptian sovereignty over its EEZ and continental shelf is mistaken.”
In statements made on Egyptian television, the spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that Cairo is preparing coordinated diplomatic and legal actions, while maintaining an open line of communication with Nicosia and Athens.
NADER ZAKI, Spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “The
position that this memorandum is invalid and illegal is not only Egypt’s position. Greece, Cyprus, and the entire European Union have taken a similar stance.”
In any case, Cairo makes it clear that the ratification of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum does not imply acceptance of the fait accompli.
NADER ZAKI, Spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “
“Egypt reserves the right to maintain its maritime borders and is taking all measures in accordance with international law to protect those borders.”
This development takes on added significance following the telephone conversation on Thursday between the foreign ministers of Greece and Egypt, who agreed to continue consultations to expand the geographical scope of the 2020 Greek-Egyptian maritime border demarcation.
Egypt’s principled stance was reaffirmed on Friday in Istanbul, where Egyptian Foreign Minister Badri Abdelati, made it clear to his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, that the memorandum is completely null and void and has no legal effect for Egypt.
The Turkish Foreign Minister persists, attempting to bribe Cairo by offering it land and water in order to bypass Cyprus and Greece and sign an an agreement on the delimitation of maritime zones.
Ankara is attempting, step by step, to complete the “Blue Homeland” puzzle through a bill that will be submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly by the end of the year
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Meanwhile, in Nicosia, the Cyprus-France SOFA defense and military agreement is being submitted to Parliament for ratification.
See the report by Christoforos Nestoros:
READ ALSO: State Department: Announcement of the ratification of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum is “provocative” | AlphaNews
