Erdogan Says Libya Maritime Deal Protects Turkish Interests, as Joint Statement at UN Rejects It

Ankara, Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is acting to safeguard its own interests as it pursues the ratification of a maritime jurisdiction agreement with Libya. He insisted that Ankara is not working against any party in the eastern Mediterranean.

Erdogan on the Libya policy

Speaking after the cabinet met on Monday night, Erdogan said Turkey aims to build the future rather than merely handle immediate problems. He described its Libya policy as the clearest example of that approach. According to him, Turkey stood by the Libyan people in their hardest periods and tried to do what its fraternal ties demanded.

He called the agreement an important step toward securing the lawful rights of both Turkey and Libya in the eastern Mediterranean. He added that the Libyan parliament’s ratification last week showed that Libyans act jointly on national interests despite their political differences.

Erdogan said peace, prosperity and security depend on unity and solidarity. For that reason, he said, Turkey is sincerely working to ease conflicts and strengthen alliances across the region.

Turkey’s stated position on the eastern Mediterranean

The president described Turkey’s policy as clear, saying “we are not, so to speak, trying to score a goal against anyone in the eastern Mediterranean”. He said Ankara’s concern is limited to defending its maritime zones and the related rights and interests. Turkey favours settling disputes peacefully, through dialogue with all coastal states, and expects every actor, the European Union in particular, to show the same constructive attitude.

Erdogan also warned that aggressive rhetoric detached from reality would benefit nobody. He said Turkey would not hesitate to do what is right and beneficial for itself and the Turkish nation, even at a cost.

Joint statement at the United Nations

Erdogan’s remarks coincided with a statement delivered to the United Nations by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis. He spoke on behalf of Greece, the Republic of Cyprus, Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union.

The statement said the agreement “remains null and void, contrary to international law”. It added that the deal cannot serve as a lawful basis for maritime delimitation or create legal consequences for third states. It also said the agreement underlines the need to ensure that arbitrary bilateral arrangements do not undermine established rules of international law or prejudice the rights of other states.