Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis delivered a joint statement at United Nations headquarters in New York on 26 October 2026, rejecting the maritime deal between Turkey and Libya. Addressing the assembly, Giorgos Gerapetritis declared that the agreement "remains null and void, contrary to international law and cannot serve as a lawful basis for maritime delimitation or produce legal consequences for third states." The Greek Foreign Minister emphasized that the pact lacks standing under the established principles of maritime governance. He further stated, "Respect for international law is essential to regional stability and a rules-based international order." The statement reflects a position held by several nations regarding the boundaries of the Mediterranean Sea.
The diplomatic initiative, coordinated at the highest levels of international representation, serves as a formal rebuttal to the claims presented by the parties to the agreement. By delivering this message at the United Nations, the coalition sought to ensure that their formal objection was placed on the official record of the international body. The statement was issued on behalf of Greece, Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union.
Legal Status of Memorandum
Greece, Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union issued the joint statement on 26 October 2026. This collective diplomatic action specifically rejects the 2019 Turkish-Libyan memorandum on maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea. The participating nations maintain that the terms established in the 2019 agreement do not align with their shared legal interpretations of maritime boundaries within the region. The statement serves as a definitive declaration that the signatories do not recognize the validity of the maritime claims asserted within the 2019 Turkish-Libyan memorandum.
The Libyan House of Representatives recently approved the 2019 memorandum. This legislative action by the Libyan body took place despite the ongoing objections raised by the international coalition. Representatives from the involved states signaled that the approval by the Libyan House of Representatives does not alter their stance regarding the status of the memorandum. Each signatory to the joint statement remains committed to the position that the agreement lacks the necessary legal foundation to impact maritime rights in the Mediterranean Sea.
The coalition members have showed that their legal assessment remains unchanged by the internal legislative developments in Libya. By reiterating their rejection of the 2019 Turkish-Libyan memorandum on maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea, the states involved aim to prevent the establishment of any precedent that might affect their own sovereign interests. The coordination between Greece, Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union demonstrates a unified front in challenging the document. The formal rejection issued on 26 October 2026 stands as the current definitive policy position for these nations regarding the maritime boundaries discussed in the agreement.
