A number of Libyan parliamentarians welcomed the maritime agreement signed between Egypt and Greece on August 6. The agreement aims to enable the two countries to maximise the benefits from the natural resources found within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZs).
Yousef Al-Agouri, Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee for the Libyan Parliament welcomed the agreement on demarcating the Egyptian-Greek borders, saying it would “block the way to irresponsible agendas”, an indirect reference to the Turkey-Government of National Accord’s (GNA) agreement signed in late 2019.
Al-Agouri confirmed in statements that “Libya was not a party to the understandings that started years ago between Egypt and Greece.” Al-Agouri stressed that he welcomed all agreements that guarantee the interests of countries, including Libya, and which contribute to the stability and a fair distribution of the region’s wealth.
For his part, parliament member Saeed Mughib said “the agreement to define the economic zone that was signed between Egypt and Greece is a significant event and a deep step that proves the two countries are moving forward in destroying Erdogan’s ambitions to control the wealth of the Mediterranean.”
In a post on his official Facebook account, the parliamentarian indicated that the Egyptian-Greek agreement “resolves categorically the controversy over the legality of signing the border demarcation agreement between the (GNA) and the Turkish government.”
In December 2019, Turkey signed with the GNA, which is an interim non-elected government that is recognised by the United Nations, two MoUs on defence and gas drilling in the Mediterranean.
Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt have strongly criticised a Turkish agreement with the Tripoli based government in Libya. The agreement would allow Turkey to claim a large swathe of the Mediterranean, infringing on the sovereign rights of regional neighbours.
