Maritime deal with Türkiye based on sovereign rights, targets no other state: Libya
Editor:
Halimatou HAMADOU DJIBO
Ankara welcomed the Libyan parliament's decision, saying it protects the rights and interests of both countries under international law.
Libya's acting Foreign Minister Taher al-Baour said that his country's maritime agreement with Türkiye is not directed against any other state, stressing that both countries have the sovereign right to conclude such deals.
Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera television aired on Monday, al-Baour said the agreement, signed in 2019 by Libya's then-Government of National Accord, was recently ratified by the country's House of Representatives.
“This agreement is certainly not directed against any country,” he said, adding that it is a maritime cooperation agreement between the two nations.
“Libya and Türkiye are sovereign states, and they have the right to enter into any agreements,” he said.
Al-Baour emphasised that Libya does not seek to create tensions in the region and recognises the concerns of countries that have opposed the agreement.
“We respect the concerns of the countries that rejected this agreement, but the door is certainly open to dialogue and discussions with everyone to reach the best possible solution,” he said.
The minister said Libya wants the region to become a centre of stability, growth and development rather than a source of tensions.
He reaffirmed Tripoli's willingness to engage in dialogue and address questions raised by other countries regarding the agreement.
Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives unanimously approved the boundary maritime agreement on October 20, reversing its previous opposition to the deal and repealing resolutions adopted in 2020 that had rejected agreements with Türkiye and called for severing political ties with Ankara.
Türkiye and Libya signed the maritime jurisdiction agreement in November 2019 to establish the boundaries of their respective maritime areas in the Mediterranean.
Ankara welcomed the Libyan parliament's decision, saying the memorandum safeguards the mutual rights and interests of both countries in accordance with international law and principles of equity.
However, Greece, Egypt and the Greek Cypriot administration rejected the ratification.
TRT Afrika / َAA — TRT Afrika / َAA
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