Libyan FM to Visit Athens for Talks on Maritime Boundaries

Libya’s overseas curate from the transitional authorities will conscionable his Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis successful Athens today, with talks expected to absorption connected restarting negotiations implicit maritime boundaries successful the Mediterranean.

Maritime disputes successful focus

At the halfway of discussions will beryllium the imaginable delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental support betwixt Greece and Libya. Both governments person already appointed technical committees, and Athens hopes the gathering will acceptable a model and timeline for renewed talks.

Greek officials stress, however, that nary existent advancement tin beryllium made unless Tripoli withdraws from the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum, which Athens deems amerciable and invalid. The agreement, signed betwixt Ankara and Libya’s then-government, claimed maritime zones overlapping with Greek waters. Gerapetritis is expected to reiterate Greece’s strong absorption during the talks.

No contiguous breakthroughs expected

Athens does not expect tangible results from the meeting. Rather, officials spot it arsenic an accidental to show readiness for dialog with each sides successful Libya and to item that, earlier 2011, Tripoli’s positions connected maritime delimitation were mostly successful enactment with planetary maritime law.

Wider determination context

The talks travel arsenic planetary involvement grows successful offshore vigor exploration south of Crete. U.S. vigor elephantine Chevron has recently expressed authoritative interest in two blocks successful the area, implicitly confirming Greece’s baseline claims.

At the aforesaid time, some Libya and Turkey person lodged diplomatic notes astatine the United Nations contesting Greek rights to definite exploration zones, raising geopolitical tensions successful the Eastern Mediterranean.

Migration and trade besides connected the table

The two ministers are besides expected to discuss migration flows and economical cooperation. While irregular crossings from western Libya to Greece stay minimal, arrivals from different routes south of Crete are rising sharply, straining Greek authorities. Athens hopes to deepen collaboration with Tripoli successful managing migration arsenic well arsenic boosting trade and concern ties.

Greece arsenic mediator

Greek officials stress that Athens is among the fewer EU capitals maintaining unfastened dialog with some rival powerfulness centers successful Libya. They reason this allows Greece to enactment arsenic a “voice” for Libyans successful Europe and astatine the United Nations, adjacent arsenic Libya’s transitional authorities faces interior instability and uncertainty implicit aboriginal elections.

Source: tovima.com