Greece Files UN Response to Libya Maritime Claims
According to Keep Talking Greece, the Greek submission rejects Libya's position, with diplomatic sources in Athens insisting that the disputed areas fall within Greece's continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under international law of the sea.
Athens maintains that these zones have been defined on the basis of the median line between Greece and Libya, alongside the Greece–Egypt EEZ agreement. The same principle, Greece says, applies to existing licences granted by its authorities for hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation in the region.
The Greek note argues that Libya's maritime claims disregard Greece's sovereign rights and violate international maritime law. It links Libya's position to the 2019 Türkiye–Libya memorandum, which Athens considers 'illegal' and 'null and void,' as well as to Libya's unilateral closure of the Gulf of Sidra — a matter on which Greece has already lodged a complaint with the UN.
Diplomatic sources cited by Keep Talking Greece added that Athens places emphasis on Libya's stated readiness for dialogue and negotiation over the matter. Greek diplomacy, they said, is already pursuing this course, citing recent initiatives by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as evidence of a willingness to engage.
The maritime dispute remains one of several points of contention between the two countries, complicated further by overlapping agreements with third states and ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean over energy exploration rights. Tags: CreteGreecelibyaMaritimeMediterranean
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Libya Review
6 hours ago
- Libya Review
Greece Files UN Response to Libya Maritime Claims
Greece's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York has delivered a Note Verbale in response to Libya's earlier communication of 20 June over the announcement of maritime blocks south of Crete. According to Keep Talking Greece, the Greek submission rejects Libya's position, with diplomatic sources in Athens insisting that the disputed areas fall within Greece's continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under international law of the sea. Athens maintains that these zones have been defined on the basis of the median line between Greece and Libya, alongside the Greece–Egypt EEZ agreement. The same principle, Greece says, applies to existing licences granted by its authorities for hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation in the region. The Greek note argues that Libya's maritime claims disregard Greece's sovereign rights and violate international maritime law. It links Libya's position to the 2019 Türkiye–Libya memorandum, which Athens considers 'illegal' and 'null and void,' as well as to Libya's unilateral closure of the Gulf of Sidra — a matter on which Greece has already lodged a complaint with the UN. Diplomatic sources cited by Keep Talking Greece added that Athens places emphasis on Libya's stated readiness for dialogue and negotiation over the matter. Greek diplomacy, they said, is already pursuing this course, citing recent initiatives by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as evidence of a willingness to engage. The maritime dispute remains one of several points of contention between the two countries, complicated further by overlapping agreements with third states and ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean over energy exploration rights. Tags: CreteGreecelibyaMaritimeMediterranean
Libya Review
6 hours ago
- Libya Review
Egypt & Greece Reaffirm Support for Libyan Stability & Sovereignty
Libya took center stage during talks between Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis in Athens this week. The high-level meeting underscored growing regional concern over Libya's political stalemate and its broader impact on Mediterranean and North African stability. During the meeting, Abdelatty stressed the urgent need to revitalize the Libyan political process through simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections. He emphasized that holding these elections as soon as possible is the only path to ending the transitional phase and restoring Libya's state institutions. The Egyptian minister also reiterated Cairo's firm stance on the importance of dismantling armed militias and ensuring the immediate withdrawal of all foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libyan territory. He described these steps as essential for restoring full sovereignty and achieving lasting peace. The two ministers reviewed the evolving security and political landscape in Libya, including ongoing UN-led efforts to broker a political agreement. Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's support for a Libyan-led, UN-facilitated process that protects Libya's unity and territorial integrity. Greece echoed Egypt's concerns, particularly over the presence of foreign forces and the risk of instability in a region with complex maritime and energy interests. The two sides agreed to deepen coordination on Mediterranean affairs, with Libya's future considered a key regional priority. The meeting comes ahead of the UN Security Council's upcoming briefing on Libya, where a new political roadmap is expected to be unveiled. Both Egypt and Greece stressed the importance of international cooperation in supporting Libya's transition toward a stable, democratic state. Tags: EgyptForeign MinisterGreecelibyaStability
Libya Review
7 hours ago
- Libya Review
UK & UN Call for Inclusive Solution for Libya's Political Stalemate
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its full support for the United Nations' efforts to launch a comprehensive political roadmap aimed at ending Libya's years-long transitional phase and paving the way for national elections. This came during a high-level meeting in London on Tuesday between UK Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, and the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Libya, Hanna Tetteh. According to a statement by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), the talks focused on the latest political and security developments in Libya, as well as preparations for the upcoming UN Security Council briefing scheduled for August 21. The UN is expected to present its long-anticipated roadmap during that session. Tetteh briefed the British side on the UN's current engagement with Libyan stakeholders, including a national awareness campaign and a series of public consultations with citizens through in-person meetings, phone surveys, and online platforms. These efforts are meant to ensure the roadmap reflects the priorities of the Libyan people. Falconer praised the UN's approach and stressed the UK's continued commitment to supporting Libya's path toward stability, inclusive governance, and credible elections. Both sides emphasized the need for close coordination among international partners to ensure unified support behind the UN-led process. The new roadmap is expected to include a revised legal and constitutional framework, a timeline for presidential and parliamentary elections, and steps toward forming a unified government with a clear mandate. The plan aims to end the cycle of transitional arrangements that has dominated Libyan politics since 2011. Tetteh stressed that the mission's goal is not to prolong the status quo but to enable a legitimate and peaceful political transition. The UK expressed readiness to assist the UN in rallying international consensus behind the initiative. Tags: libyaLibyan CrisisRoadmapUKUN Envoy
