Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, told his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, that the 2019 memorandum of understanding on maritime jurisdiction in the Mediterranean, signed between Türkiye and the Fayez al-Sarraj-led government, is legally invalid and has no bearing on Egypt, even if it is ratified by the Libyan House of Representatives.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nader Zaki described the agreement as “ink on paper,” saying it has no legal value or consequences, according to a press statement by the Middle East News Agency (MENA) on Saturday.
During talks in Istanbul on Friday, Abdelatty stressed the need to respect international maritime law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea when delimiting exclusive economic zones and continental shelves, in accordance with the principles of justice and equity among states.
He said the memorandum violates international maritime law and the UN Convention, and clearly infringes on Egypt’s sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
Minister Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s firm opposition to the signing of the agreement and rejected any measures or actions taken by any party on its basis that contravene Egypt’s declared maritime boundaries.
Fidan expressed understanding of Egypt’s concerns regarding developments in Libya and stressed the importance of continued co-ordination and joint efforts to address these concerns and support initiatives aimed at achieving security and stability in the country.
