Turkey, Libya maritime deal sent to UN: Erdogan
Countries inked memorandum of understanding on Nov. 27 which determines their maritime boundaries
Turkey’s maritime boundary delimitation agreement with Libya was sent to the United Nations, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.
Erdogan said the deal -- already signed by the president -- was ratified by the parliament and published on Saturday’s Official Gazette, going into effect.
On Nov. 27, Turkey and Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) signed the bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU).
Speaking at the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's consultation meeting of provincial heads at Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Erdogan said Turkey will use its rights under international law and international maritime law till the end on Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey called on the regional countries to work in a collective manner regarding the distribution of hydrocarbon reserves, which have an estimated value of hundreds of billions of dollars and turn the natural sources into an opportunity to boost bilateral ties and neighboring relations.
However, Ankara’s calls have fallen on deaf ears so far and some countries attempted to isolate Turkey from the energy equation. Turkey maintains drilling activities in the Mediterranean region under escort of the country’s navy elements.
Turkey’s anti-terror operation in Syria
Turkish president went on to say that Turkey would not leave Syria unless foreign countries withdraw from the region or Syrian people demand the country's leave.
Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.
Under two separate deals with the U.S. and Russia, Turkey paused the operation to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned Syria safe zone.
Prior to this, Turkey led two successful operations, Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield, in northern Syria to rid the region of terrorists.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/turkey-libya-maritime-deal-sent-to-un-erdogan/1666798
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Expelling Libyan ambassador from Greece "unacceptable": FM
TRIPOLI -- The UN-backed Libyan government official said on Friday that Greece's expelling of the Libyan ambassador is "unacceptable."
"Greece's decision to expel the Libyan ambassador from its territory is unacceptable," Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala told local TV channel Libya al-Ahrar.
Libya's ambassador to Greece was summoned to Greek foreign ministry on Friday morning where he was informed of the decision for his expulsion and was given a 72-hour deadline to leave the country, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias was quoted by Greek national news agency AMNA.
The step was made after Athens decried the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Turkey and Libya on Nov. 27 on the establishment of maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Greek side said the MoU could infringe upon the sovereignty rights of Greek islands in the Mediterranean.
Siala called on Greece to resort to international law to resolve any dispute regarding the MoU, stressing that "Libya has the right to sign MoUs with whoever it wants."
"Greece has no diplomatic representation in Libya. If there was an accredited Greek ambassador in Libya, we would have taken similar procedure," Siala said.
The European Union demanded the Libyan authorities to explain the contents of the MoU, stressing full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus against Turkey,
https://www.angop.ao/angola/en_us/n...ble,699bc779-13ac-4e12-b9bd-f12601f3c3bf.html