Libya: Athens Exploits Libya's Situation to Impose Unilateral Maritime Border Demarcation

The issue of demarcating the Libyan-Greek maritime borders has resurfaced, as the Government of National Unity in Libya warned today, Friday, against unilateral Greek actions regarding the maritime border demarcation file between the two countries, emphasizing that peaceful and diplomatic solutions are the only way to understanding.


The head of the Land and Maritime Borders Committee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Government of National Unity, Mohamed Al-Harari, affirmed that the committee visited the Greek capital, Athens, in a step to break the deadlock, noting their welcome of the Greek Foreign Minister's desire to visit Libya to resume talks on maritime border demarcation.

Al-Harari stressed that peaceful, diplomatic, or judicial solutions are the only way to reach understanding, confirming Libya's rejection of unilateral actions that contradict statements. He pointed out that the halt in talks between Tripoli and Athens indicates the Greek side's non-recognition of the Libyan-Turkish maritime agreement.

Al-Harari criticized Athens' attempts to exploit Libya's situation since 2014 to impose a fait accompli through unilateral maritime border demarcation, despite Tripoli's official objections. He added that previous negotiations between the two parties began in 2004 and stopped due to the Greek side's stubbornness.

He indicated that the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the process of publishing the spatial maritime plan, to preserve Libya's rights and ensure maritime security in the region.

In a related development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Libyan government summoned the Greek Consul in Benghazi on Thursday in protest against the statements of the Greek Foreign Minister, Giorgos Gyraptretis, who warned Libya against "persisting in maritime agreements with Turkey".