Turkey and Libya can carry out joint exploration operations in the eastern Mediterranean after the two sides signed a deal on maritime boundaries, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday after the move sharpened disputes over the area.
Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Fayez al-Sarraj and Turkey clinched the natural gas drilling accord last month in a step Ankara said aimed to defend its rights in the region, but that has infuriated Greece.
Tensions were already running high between Greece and Turkey because of Turkish gas explorations in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of the divided island of Cyprus. The European Union has readied sanctions against Turkey in response.
Speaking in an interview with state broadcaster TRT Haber, Erdogan said the accord would also allow Turkey to carry out drilling on Libya’s continental shelf with Tripoli’s approval, and that the deal was in line with international law.
The area where Turkey and Libya have drawn their maritime borders in the accord is not far south of the large Greek island of Crete.
“With this new agreement between Turkey and Libya, we can hold joint exploration operations in these exclusive economic zones that we determined. There is no problem,” Erdogan said.
“Other international actors cannot carry out exploration operations in these areas Turkey drew (up) with this accord without getting permission. Greek Cyprus, Egypt, Greece and Israel cannot establish a gas transmission line without first getting permission from Turkey,” he said.
Greece and Turkey are at odds over a host of issues, ranging from mineral rights in the Aegean Sea to Cyprus, which is divided into a breakaway Turkish republic in the north and the Greek-speaking Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state, in the south. Greece does not recognize the north of Cyprus.
Aside from the maritime accord, Turkey and Libya also signed an expanded security and military cooperation agreement.
Erdogan said the military accord granted Turkey the right to deploy troops in Libya if the Tripoli government so asked, and added this would not violate a United Nations arms embargo on Libya, which is plagued by factional conflict.
“In the event of such a call coming, it is Turkey’s decision what kind of initiative it will take here. We will not seek the permission of anyone on this,” he said.
“We do not want Libya to be a second Syria. We will provide defense support to Tripoli,” Erdogan added.
-
Greece to expel Libyan ambassador over Turkey-Libya accord
Greece on Friday said it was expelling the Libyan ambassador to the country, angered at an accord signed on Nov. 27 between Libya and Turkey mapping ... World News -
Turkey rejects criticism of Libya maritime deal
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday rejected criticism of a maritime boundary deal with Libya that allows Ankara to claim rights over ... Middle East -
Turkey and Libya sign deal on maritime zones in the Mediterranean
Turkey and Libya’s internationally recognized government have signed an agreement on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea as well as a ... Economy -
Turkey’s Erdogan pledges support for Libya’s GNA to ‘ensure peace, stability’
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an end to “unlawful attacks” by Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa ... North Africa