Jump to content

Libya (GNA)–Turkey maritime deal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Yannismarou (talk | contribs) at 08:40, 5 May 2020 (rewriting the lede so that it does not read like a child's essay, and making clear that it is a highly contentious agreement). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Libya-Turkey, and a rough map of their new EEZ established under the agreement

Turkey and Libya's internationally recognised government have signed a Maritime Boundary Treaty in order to establish an Exclusive economic zone in the Mediterranean Sea, which means that they can claim rights to ocean bed resources.[1] According to the list of maritime boundary treaties, this is the first agreement ever to be signed between the two countries, hence it introduces a new dynamic to the eastern region of the Mediterranean Sea. However, fears are expressed that the agreement may fuel an "energy showdown" in this region, because it is highly contentious.[2]

The legitimacy and the legal consequences of the accord have been disputed by a number of states in the region, as well as by the European Union. According the the European Union, the agreement "infringes upon the sovereign rights of third States, does not comply with the Law of the Sea and cannot produce any legal consequences for third states".[3] Both Cyprus and Egypt have dismissed the deal as "illegal", while Greece regards it as "void" and "geographically absurd", because it ignores the presence of Crete between the Turkish-Libyan coasts. [4]

The text to the agreement can be found here in this reference.[5]

UN convention

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Article 57 states that an Exclusive Economic zone may extent up to 200 nautical miles. However, it does not provide rules for states to establish agreements regarding their EEZ.[6] Furthermore, according to Kathimerini, the details of the agreement between Libya and Turkey are soon to be published with geographical coordinates by the United Nations' Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea.[7]

Turkish-Libyan position

According to the Turkish Newspaper Daily Sabah, the new agreement consists of the establishment of 200 Nautical miles of EEZ, and an establishment of 18.6 nautical miles of Continental shelf.[8] The Turkish position, according to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is that it is protecting its sovereign rights to the Blue economy and defending their legal claims to the disputed territory in the Mediterranean.[9] Also, according to Anadolu Agency, EEZ boundaries' legality in the mediterranean should be determined by continental shelves and mainland countries, rather than island based calculations.[10]

EU and other opposing positions

European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell stated that the agreement signed by Turkey and Libya creates an infringement for third states, and does not comply with the Law of the sea.[11] The president of The Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades aimed to create a diplomatic movement in order to nullify the Libyan-Turkish agreement. He has also stated that this movement would not include military options.[12] Greece lodged objections to the UN and expelled the Libyan ambassador in response to the deal, infuriated at a pact which skirts the Greek island of Crete and infringes, its continental shelf[13].

The Israeli perspective offered by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs comments that the deal does not give sovereignity over the claimed waters to Turkey and Libya.[14] Furthermore, it states that the third states were kept in the dark regarding the Libyan-Turkish agreement, hence leading to questions regarding its legitimacy.[14]

The positions stated above also hold interest in the EastMed pipeline project. See project for participants.

Consequences

Following the agreement, Turkey and Libya's UN recognised government have seen an increase in co-operation. This cooperation ranges from Turkish off shore exploration efforts, to providing aid for the Government of National Accord, for the currently ongoing Libyan Civil War (2014–present).[15] As the issues arising due to the dispute are still developing, it is yet to be seen the full consequences of this maritime dispute.

References

  1. ^ "ANALYSIS - Strategic, legal aspects of Turkey-Libya deal". aa.com.tr. Archived from the original on 2020-03-29. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
  2. ^ Hacaoglu, Selcan; Kozok, Firat (5 December 2019). "Turkey's Maritime Muscle Flexing Roils Eastern Mediterranean". Bloomberg. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Europe's leaders to reject Turkey-Libya maritime border deal". New Europe. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  4. ^ "Cyprus rallies neighbors to buck Turkey-Libya maritime deal". AP NEWS. 2019-12-20. Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
    * "Turkey-Libya maritime deal rattles East Mediterranean". Reuters. 2019-12-25. Archived from the original on 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
    * "Turkey signs maritime boundaries deal with Libya amid exploration row". Reuters. 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2020-05-05.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Full text of Turkey-Libya maritime agreement revealed". Nordic Monitor. 2019-12-05. Archived from the original on 2020-04-20. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
  6. ^ "PREAMBLE TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA". United Nations. Archived from the original on 2020-04-19. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  7. ^ "UN to post EEZ maps of Libya, Turkey deal, Vassilis Nedos | Kathimerini". www.ekathimerini.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-29. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  8. ^ Oruç, Merve Şebnem (2019-12-11). "After Turkey-Libya deal, Greece and Israel can no longer exclude other coastal states". Daily Sabah. Archived from the original on 2020-04-27. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  9. ^ "Turkey-Libya maritime deal rattles East Mediterranean". Reuters. 2019-12-25. Archived from the original on 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  10. ^ "ANALYSIS - Strategic, legal aspects of Turkey-Libya deal". aa.com.tr. Archived from the original on 2020-03-29. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  11. ^ "Answer for question E-004501/19". European Parliament. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
  12. ^ "Cyprus rallies neighbors to buck Turkey-Libya maritime deal". AP NEWS. 2019-12-20. Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
  13. ^ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-libya-turkey-un/greece-says-libya-turkish-deal-invalid-in-bad-faith-idUSKBN1YE15U
  14. ^ a b "Dore Gold: The Turkish-Libyan Maritime Agreement and the Struggle over the Mediterranean". Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
  15. ^ Gurcan, Metin (2020-01-31). "Turkey expands gas exploration efforts to Libya's offshore waters". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 2020-02-01. Retrieved 2020-05-02.

Libya-Turkey Maritime Agreement

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Libya_(GNA)–Turkey_maritime_deal&oldid=954977783"