The Foreign Ministry of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) welcomed Libya’s vote on a maritime pact with Türkiye, backing what it described as Türkiye’s vision for peace, security and stability in the Mediterranean.
The pact is formally the memorandum of understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas between Türkiye and Libya. Signed in November 2019 with Libya’s former Government of National Accord, it sets out maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean. Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry says the agreement has been in force since 2019 and protects both countries’ interests. It has also said the pact could deepen cooperation.
On Oct. 20, the eastern-based House of Representatives voted unanimously to approve the memorandum. The vote reversed the chamber’s 2020 opposition and came with the repeal of two resolutions from that year. One rejected ratification of two memorandums with Türkiye; the other called for severing political ties with Ankara. The House said its approval covered only the maritime memorandum.
The TRNC ministry called the vote a “historic step,” saying it was shaped by international law and equitable principles and reflected the realities of the region.
Greece’s Foreign Ministry rejected the vote. It argued that the agreement disregards maritime rights tied to Greek islands and that Türkiye and Libya lack facing or adjacent coasts that would provide a legal basis for the pact. Athens said it would defend its sovereign rights.
Separately, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke by phone with Government of National Unity Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dibeybe and Libyan National Army deputy commander-in-chief Saddam Haftar after the vote, Anadolu Agency reported, citing Turkish Foreign Ministry sources. The agency reported that Fidan thanked both officials; EconoTimes previously covered Fidan’s calls to Libyan officials.
