Libya’s eastern parliament backed a 2019 maritime deal with Turkey on Oct. 20, Reuters reported. Reuters said the parliament unanimously revoked two decisions from 2020: one rejecting ratification of maritime and security memorandums signed by Turkey and Libya’s western Government of National Accord (GNA), and another cutting political relations with Ankara.
The deal covers claims in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey and the GNA agreed to it in 2019, but authorities in eastern Libya, Egypt and Greece rejected it, according to Reuters. Libya is split between rival western and eastern administrations, with the east under military commander Khalifa Haftar. Turkey has previously been a major backer of the GNA.
Libyan lawmaker Tarek al-Jeroushi told Reuters the agreement would strengthen Libya’s position as a political, military and economic partner to major powers. “Some countries may be upset by this agreement, but what matters to us is our national interest,” he said. Fellow lawmaker Aisha al-Tabalqi told Reuters that specialized committees had explained the agreement’s provisions before its approval.
Greece rejected the parliamentary move that day, The Jerusalem Post reported. Citing a Greek foreign-ministry statement, the newspaper said Athens argued that the memorandum violated the law of the sea and infringed the sovereign rights of states in the region.
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