Turkey: EU statements on maritime agreement with Libya undermine peace
Turkey criticized EU remarks regarding the 2019 maritime agreement between Ankara and Tripoli, stating they do not support peace and regional stability.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli, responding to EU Council conclusions issued Friday, said the remarks reflect Greece and Greek Cypriots' persistent attempts to impose their extreme demands on the EU, which contradict international law and the principle of equity.
He defended the 2019 memorandum between Turkey and Libya on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean as fully compliant with international law, stressing Turkey would never allow its legitimate rights and interests to be violated through unilateral actions.
Keçeli said the EU's politically motivated and biased statements on sensitive maritime delimitation issues — which involve legal and technical dimensions — do not serve regional peace and stability.
He urged the EU to encourage its member states to abide by international law instead of yielding to legally baseless claims. Turkey, he emphasized, will continue to firmly defend its rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. Tags: maritime borders Turkey Greece
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Libya Observer
12 hours ago
- Libya Observer
Greece deploys 3 warships in the Eastern Mediterranean between Turkey and Libya
Greece has announced the deployment of three warships in the Eastern Mediterranean between Turkey and Libya, citing the need to stop the flow of migrants coming from Libya. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Saturday that his country had sent warships with the aim of halting the influx of migrants from Libya, according to Turkish outlet "Zaman." Speaking upon his arrival at the European Union summit, Mitsotakis declared that the Greek warships would be dispatched to the area to force human smuggling boats to turn back off the Libyan coast. However, this was not the only reason for sending the warships. In the final statement of the summit held in Brussels on Thursday, special attention was given to the memorandum of understanding on maritime zones between Turkey and Libya. The statement emphasized the need for closer cooperation between the European Union and Libya in the area of migration management. The European Council also deemed the maritime memorandum of understanding signed between Turkey and Libya as 'violating the sovereign rights of third states,' and stressed that the memorandum does not comply with the law of the sea and cannot have legal consequences for third countries. Athens expressed satisfaction with the inclusion of criticism against the Turkey-Libya memorandum in the summit statement. Turkey considered the EU's remarks on the maritime agreement signed between Tripoli and Ankara in 2019 as unhelpful to peace and regional stability. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said in a statement responding to a question on the European Council conclusions: 'The conclusions adopted by the European Council on 28 June 2025 demonstrate Greece's and the Greek Cypriots' insistence on imposing their maximalist demands on the EU, which are contrary to international law and the principle of equity.'
Libya Observer
a day ago
- Libya Observer
EU commissioner announces upcoming visit to Libya to discuss migration
EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner announced plans to visit Libya 'next week or the week after,' accompanied by officials from Greece, Italy, and Malta, to participate in talks on migration. Brunner acknowledged criticism over cooperation with 'questionable actors' in Libya but insisted that engagement with the Libyan authorities is necessary, describing a 'tragic situation' in which people are pushed onto migrant boats by official Libyan forces. While admitting the existence of violations, the commissioner reaffirmed the EU's commitment to the 'do no harm' principle. He emphasized continued training of Libya's coast guard on human rights and the need for sustained financial and operational support, particularly for search and rescue operations. He added that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supported this approach, highlighting the importance of enhanced cooperation with Libya. Brunner's trip is expected to include visits to both eastern and western Libya, focusing on improving border control and combating migrant smuggling. Tags: European Union illegal immigration
Libya Observer
a day ago
- Libya Observer
Turkey: EU statements on maritime agreement with Libya undermine peace
Turkey criticized EU remarks regarding the 2019 maritime agreement between Ankara and Tripoli, stating they do not support peace and regional stability. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli, responding to EU Council conclusions issued Friday, said the remarks reflect Greece and Greek Cypriots' persistent attempts to impose their extreme demands on the EU, which contradict international law and the principle of equity. He defended the 2019 memorandum between Turkey and Libya on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean as fully compliant with international law, stressing Turkey would never allow its legitimate rights and interests to be violated through unilateral actions. Keçeli said the EU's politically motivated and biased statements on sensitive maritime delimitation issues — which involve legal and technical dimensions — do not serve regional peace and stability. He urged the EU to encourage its member states to abide by international law instead of yielding to legally baseless claims. Turkey, he emphasized, will continue to firmly defend its rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. Tags: maritime borders Turkey Greece
