‘Turkey-Libya memorandum in line with international law'

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) - A memorandum of understanding signed by Turkey and Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) is in line with international law, Turkey’s ruling party spokesman said on Monday.

“The memorandum between Turkey and Libya on maritime jurisdiction in eastern Mediterranean complies with international law,” Omer Celik, spokesman for the Justice and Development (AK) party, said in a news conference following his party's group meeting in the capital Ankara.

On Wednesday, the Turkish Communications Directorate announced that Turkey and Libya have signed two memoranda of understanding.

"The Security and Military Cooperation" and "Restriction of Marine Jurisdictions" agreements were signed when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a closed-door meeting that lasted 2 hours and 15 minutes with Fayez al-Sarraj, chairman of Presidential Council of Libya, at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul.

The directorate said the agreement is an effort to strengthen relations and cooperation between the two countries.

The agreement determined a portion of Turkey’s maritime jurisdictions in the region.

In a statement on Sunday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said: “Through this agreement with Libya, the two countries have clearly manifested their intention not to allow any fait accomplis.”

It is in accordance with the court decisions that create the international jurisprudence and international law including the relevant articles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the ministry said.