“The characterization of the Turkey-Libya memorandum as ‘illegal’ is not acceptable to Turkey,” sources from the neighboring country’s Ministry of Defense said today, Thursday, when asked to comment on the European Summit conclusions.

“The Memorandum of Understanding has been established according to the median line principle between the mainland, the principle of non-exclusion, and the principle of equality,” the same sources argued, adding that what is stated in the text after the EU summit is “the result of the unilateral political guidance of Greece and the ‘Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus.’”

Insisting on Ankara’s interpretation of the Turkey-Libya memorandum, sources from the Turkish ministry claim that “the Memorandum of Understanding on maritime jurisdiction areas between Turkey and Libya, signed in 2019, was designed in a way that protects the rights of both countries on the basis of equality and with respect to the rules of international maritime law.”

“The Memorandum of Understanding has been notified to the UN by both our country, Turkey, and Libya. Our maritime cooperation with Libya will continue to develop and proceed within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding,” conclude the sources from Turkey’s Ministry of Defense.