Egypt on Wednesday expressed its categorical opposition to the ratification by Libya’s House of Representatives of the memorandum of understanding signed in 2019 between Fayez al-Sarraj and Turkey on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean, following a similar move by Israel.

In a statement, the government in Cairo reiterated that it considers the memorandum “absolutely null and void” and without any legal validity, stressing that its ratification by the Libyan parliament produces no legal effect for Egypt.

The Egyptian government also argued that the memorandum of understanding violates the principles of international maritime law, as well as the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning the delimitation of exclusive economic zones and continental shelves, which are based on the principles of justice and equity.

According to Cairo, the Turkish-Libyan memorandum directly infringes Egypt’s sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

In its statement, Egypt recalled that it had already expressed its categorical opposition to the agreement and reiterated its rejection of both the memorandum itself and any actions or measures by any party based on it that conflict with the country’s officially declared maritime boundaries.

Finally, Cairo stressed that it reserves the right to protect its rights, as enshrined in international law, and to counter any attempt to violate them.