Athens has reacted strongly to the decision by Libya’s House of Representatives to approve the 2019 Turkish-Libyan memorandum on the delimitation of maritime zones.

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected the decision, reiterating that the memorandum is illegal and invalid because it contravenes the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and disregards Greece’s sovereign rights.

“Geography and the international law of the sea cannot be changed by unilateral parliamentary decisions that lack a legal basis,” the ministry said.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry stressed that Greece had already informed its partners and allies and “will take all appropriate action to safeguard its sovereign rights”.

The full statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the decision by Libya’s House of Representatives reads:

“Greece rejects the decision by Libya’s House of Representatives to approve the purported 2019 Turkish-Libyan memorandum on the delimitation of maritime zones.

“This decision does not alter the memorandum’s illegal, invalid and legally baseless character. The memorandum contravenes the international law of the sea and infringes upon the sovereign rights of the states in the region.

“Geography and the international law of the sea cannot be changed by unilateral parliamentary decisions that lack a legal basis. Turkey and Libya do not have opposite or adjacent coastlines that would provide a lawful basis for the delimitation of maritime zones being attempted. Furthermore, the memorandum disregards the Greek islands and their rights to maritime zones under UNCLOS and customary international law.

“Having already concluded agreements delimiting maritime zones with Egypt and Italy in accordance with the international law of the sea, Greece has demonstrated its respect for international law and the sovereign rights of neighbouring states. We call on the Libyan side to refrain from any action that contravenes international law and undermines stability in the eastern Mediterranean.

“Greece has already informed its partners and allies and will take all appropriate action to safeguard its sovereign rights.”