The foreign ministry readout describes The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus condemns the decision by the Libyan Parliament to approve the illegal Turkish-Libyan “memorandum of understanding” of 2019. The statement does not mention the specific date of the approval, only that it occurred on October 20, 2023. This represents a continuation of a longstanding dispute, and the Ministry’s official position remains unchanged. The statement does not mention the term “mou” beyond its initial use in the press release. The matter matters because the agreement, signed during the Erdoğan administration, is widely considered a destabilizing factor in the Eastern Mediterranean, potentially exacerbating tensions over maritime boundaries and resource rights. The statement does not address the potential implications for Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Context
The announcement reflects the ongoing, unresolved nature of the 2019 agreement. The Libyan Parliament’s decision, as stated, is a reiteration of a document that Cyprus has consistently rejected as violating international law. The statement does not mention the specific legal justifications presented by Turkey for the agreement, but it clearly frames the document as a breach of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and established customary international law concerning island maritime zones. The statement does not address the potential for escalation or further diplomatic maneuvering related to this decision.
What to Watch
Should the visit to Libya yield no change in the Libyan Parliament’s position, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to pursue diplomatic channels to underscore the illegality of the memorandum. If the Libyan Parliament continues to uphold its approval, the Ministry will likely intensify its engagement with international partners, particularly within the European Union, to coordinate a unified response. The statement does not mention any specific actions the Ministry intends to take, but it signals a commitment to maintaining a firm stance on the issue. The Ministry’s continued condemnation represents a consistent, if ultimately unsuccessful, effort to challenge Turkey’s actions in the region.
