Turkey: Libya, Egypt should initiate maritime border dialogue

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Dec 2022 15:57

Egypt's unilateral decision on maritime borders does not overlap with Turkey's continental shelf in the eastern Mediterranean, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

Libyan national flag

Libya and Egypt should initiate dialogue and negotiations to resolve differences over the demarcation of maritime borders, according to Turkish diplomatic sources cited on Sunday.

The remarks by Turkish sources came after Libya rejected Egypt's Dec. 11 decision to unilaterally demarcate its western maritime borders with neighboring Libya with nine geographic coordinates.

Sources revealed that Turkey favors dialogue and negotiations between Egypt and Libya as soon as possible for the delimitation of their boundary in accordance with international law and the application of all peaceful means as stipulated in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter, including the International Court of Justice, by mutual consent.

Egypt's decision does not overlap with Turkey's continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to the sources.

Aside from the doubts regarding the principle of equity, it is unclear which method was used to delimit this boundary or whether special or relevant geographical circumstances were taken into account.

The sources also said that the declared boundary seems to violate Libya's continental shelf rights, as it was drawn west of the median line between the mainland coasts of those two countries.

"In fact, the Libyan side made a statement on Dec. 16, 2022, to the effect that their rights were violated by Egypt's presidential decree," they added.

On its part, the Libyan Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "this demarcation is unjust because it was unilaterally announced, it violates Libya's territorial integrity and principles of good faith and respect for sovereignty."

"The delimitation of borders between the two countries must take place by mutual agreement through negotiations that guarantee the interests of both parties and respect the principle of equality," it added.

About a week ago, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi issued a republican decree demarcating Egypt's western maritime borders in the eastern Mediterranean.

The decision stipulated that “Egypt’s regional maritime borders start from the Egyptian-Libyan land border point (Point No. 1) and for a distance of (12) nautical miles to point No. (8), and then the western maritime border line of the Arab Republic of Egypt starts from point No. (8). ) in the direction of the north, parallel to the meridian (25) east, to point No. (9)."