The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the maritime border agreement signed between Egypt and Greece. It claimed that the agreement violated Turkey’s “continental shelf” and Libya’s maritime rights.
Egypt and Greece signed the maritime demarcation deal, establishing an exclusive economic zone between the two countries on Thursday. This is aimed at coordinating efforts to benefit from the natural resources found in the eastern Mediterranean region.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, met his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias in Cairo. They discussed ways of strengthening bilateral relations and coordination on issues of common concern, the Foreign Ministry announced.
In a press conference after the signing, Shoukry said that the agreement, “allows Egypt and Greece to move forward in benefiting from the resources available in their respective exclusive economic zone, especially oil and gas reserves”.
He also added that: “We signed an agreement with Greece to designate the exclusive economic zone in accordance with the international law of the sea … We will go ahead with it, and invest in gas reserves in the Mediterranean”.
In 2019, Turkish officials, and Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), signed a memorandum of understanding on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea. At that time, five countries, including Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus, called on the United Nations not to register the deal, describing it as “illegal”.