Cyprus, Greece, the European Union, Egypt, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, which was read by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis.
The six parties emphasize that the memorandum remains invalid and contrary to international law, despite its ratification by the Libyan parliament, warning that accepting such agreements would set a dangerous precedent for the international legal order.
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Mr. Gerapetritis’s full statement:
I am issuing this statement on behalf of Egypt, Cyprus, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, the European Union, and my own country, Greece.
The recent decision by the Libyan House of Representatives to ratify the forged “Memorandum of Understanding between Turkey and Libya on the Delimitation of Maritime Zones of Jurisdiction in the Mediterranean” of 2019 raises serious concerns about regional security and stability. It also highlights a broader challenge to the international legal order: the need to ensure that arbitrary bilateral agreements do not undermine the established rules of international law or infringe upon the rights of third states.
International law, and in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as customary international law, constitute the legal framework for the delimitation of maritime zones. These rules are of fundamental importance for ensuring predictability, legal certainty, and peaceful relations among states. Accepting bilateral agreements that disregard the applicable rules and principles of international law would set a dangerous precedent, undermining the international legal order and the principles upon which the peaceful resolution of disputes is based.
The spurious Turkish-Libyan memorandum runs counter to these fundamental principles. It disregards the geographical reality and the rights of all coastal states involved with respect to maritime zones, including the rights of islands under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The subsequent decision by the Libyan House of Representatives does not alter this legal reality. The memorandum in question remains null and void, contravenes international law, and cannot serve as a legal basis for the delimitation of maritime zones nor produce legal effects for third states.
We remain committed to the reunification of Libya’s institutions and to the prospect of a united and prosperous Libya. A stable Libya, actively engaged in regional cooperation, is essential for peace and security throughout the Mediterranean. Libya’s political transition and its relations with neighboring countries must be guided by respect for international law and good-neighborly relations.
As Member States of the United Nations, we have consistently supported the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and in accordance with international law. In this spirit, Greece has conducted bilateral talks with Libya on the delimitation of maritime zones, in good faith and in accordance with international law, and expresses its readiness to continue these efforts.
Respect for international law is an essential prerequisite for regional stability and the maintenance of a rules-based international order.
Guterres: Violations of international law are unacceptable
UN Secretary-General António Guterres clarified the Organization’s position regarding the Turkey-Libya memorandum, stressing that violations of international law are unacceptable.
In response to a reporter’s question in Cairo regarding the UN’s position on countries that violate international law in relation to maritime agreements, António Guterres made it clear that “Our position is very clear: violations of international law are unacceptable.”
He added, without naming any specific country, that “as far as the situation at sea is concerned, there is the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. And anything that is not compatible with the Convention on the Law of the Sea must not be respected or accepted.”
Regarding “any other violations of international law, we have always made it clear that we must ensure that the rule of law prevails over the law of force, and this applies to any of the situations you mentioned.”
Source: skai.gr
