Egypt expressed its unequivocal rejection of the ratification by the Libyan House of Representatives of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2019 between the former Government of National Accord in Libya, headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, and Türkiye on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictional zones in the Mediterranean Sea.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, Egypt reaffirmed its position that the aforementioned MoU is null and void and has no legal effect.
Accordingly, its ratification by the Libyan House of Representatives does not create any legal consequences or obligations for Egypt, nor does it prejudice Egypt’s established maritime rights.
Egypt further stressed that the MoU is inconsistent with the principles of the international law of the sea and the relevant provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) governing the delimitation of exclusive economic zones and continental shelves, which must be determined in accordance with applicable legal principles and the requirements of an equitable solution.
The MoU also encroaches upon Egypt’s sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Egypt recalled that it has consistently voiced its firm opposition to the MoU and reiterated its rejection of any measures or actions undertaken by any party on the basis thereof that are incompatible with Egypt’s declared maritime boundaries or infringe upon its legitimate rights and interests.
Concluding the statement, Egypt underscored that it will continue to safeguard its sovereign rights and national interests by all means available under international law and will not accept any attempts to undermine or prejudice those rights.
