Egypt rejects Libyan parliament approval of Turkey maritime deal

Egypt has announced its categorical rejection of the Libyan House of Representatives’ ratification of the 2019 memorandum of understanding between Fayez Al-Sarraj and Turkey regarding the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean. Egypt stressed that the memorandum is absolutely null and void, carries no legal effect, and that its ratification does not create any legal obligations for Egypt.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the memorandum in question violates the principles of the international law of the sea and the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, particularly those concerning the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf, which are based on principles of justice and equity.

The ministry clarified that the memorandum clearly infringes upon Egypt’s sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Egypt reiterated that it had previously and unequivocally objected to the memorandum, renewing its rejection of the agreement and any actions or measures taken by any party based on it that conflict with Egypt’s declared maritime boundaries.