The verbal decoration found in the corresponding Libyan June 20 was submitted to the United Nations yesterday by the permanent delegation of Greece. Through this official document, our country categorically rejects Libyan allegations of violating its sovereign rights regarding the licensing of two marine land south of Crete.
At the same time, Libya’s unilateral attempt to arbitrarily define the midline between the two countries, claiming parts of the Greek Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as it is reflected in the maps that Tripoli has already deposited with the UN.
In the context of reinforcing the Greek position, It is expected to be followed by a second verbal decoration, While a separate decoration has already been sent to the Libyan government in Tripoli.
This move comes as a continuation of the contacts he had recently had Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis in Libya and aims to substantially respond to the other side to commit to starting a dialogue on the demarcation of marine zones.
Athens, in the same context, announced the setting up of a negotiating team for the relevant talks, while inviting Libya to appoint that own team to launch official negotiations.
The Greek verbal decoration, which was drawn up In cooperation with the responsible officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Legal Service, it analyzes and contradicts one by one the Libyan arguments. In particular, it is noted that the two maritime plots are located within the Greek continental shelf and EEZ, in accordance with international sea law.
Particular reference is made to the fact that maritime plots are based on the midline between Greece and Libya and is further documented by the partial EEZ delineation agreement between Greece and Egypt.
Finally, the Greek side rejects and Libyan objections to sea areas west and southwest of Crete, Recalling that the relevant licenses have been issued since 2014 and 2017, without any official reaction from Libya.
In the same context of diplomatic contacts, a contact between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, focusing on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Libyan issue, was carried out.