Cyprus Again Rejects Turkey-Libya Maritime Memorandum at UN Security Council Debate

Nicosia, Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus has restated its view that the 2019 Turkey-Libya memorandum of understanding on maritime delimitation is “null and void”. Maria Michail, Cyprus’ representative, made the remarks during a UN Security Council open debate on emerging technologies and maritime security.

Legal objections to the memorandum

Michail described the document as a purported agreement that is inconsistent with international law. She cited the rules governing the conclusion of treaties and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, known as UNCLOS.

She said that “Geography cannot be changed, nor can the sovereign rights of states be disregarded through arbitrary maritime delimitations”.

Michail also pointed to article 121 of UNCLOS, which, she said, clearly sets out the regime for islands and their entitlement to maritime zones.

Role of UNCLOS

The Cypriot representative stressed that the convention is fundamental to maritime security, legal certainty and the peaceful settlement of disputes. She added that those of its provisions which reflect customary international law are binding on every state.

The Mediterranean and technology

Michail described the Mediterranean as a sea shared by all, whose security and stability rest on good neighbourly relations. Such relations, she said, must be based on respect for international law and for the sovereign rights of all coastal states.

Turning to the debate’s central theme, she reaffirmed Cyprus’ position that the development of new technologies should remain grounded in international law, in particular the UN Charter and UNCLOS.