Page 9 - MEOG Week 40 2022

MEOG POLICY & SECURITY MEOG

Greece, Egypt object to exploration

deal signed by Libya, Turkey

EAST MED GREECE and Egypt issued a warning on Octo- in the concerned area that would be defended
ber 3 after Libya’s Tripoli government and Turkey with all legal means in respect of international
signed a preliminary deal on energy exploration law.
in the eastern Mediterranean. Athens contends that it has a 2020 pact with
Athens and Cairo said they would oppose any Egypt, designating an exclusive economic zone
activity in disputed areas of that Mediterranean in the eastern Mediterranean.
zone. Libya’s eastern-based parliament, which Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias wrote
supports an alternative administration for the on Twitter that Greece and Egypt challenged
country, also rejected the deal. the “legitimacy of the Libyan Government of
Speaking at a ceremony in Tripoli, Turkish National Unity to sign the said MoU”.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Libyan Turkey has been a key supporter of the Tripo-
Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush described li-based Government of National Unity (GNU)
the deal as one of several in a memorandum under Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah. Its legitimacy is
of understanding (MoU) on economic issues rejected by the Libyan parliament.
signed by their two countries, Reuters reported. In 2019, Turkey and Libya agreed to establish
“It does not matter what they think,” Cavu- an economic zone sharing a maritime border.
soglu was reported as saying by the news agency That move angered Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and
when asked if other countries might object to the Israel, all gas producers.
new MoU. “Third countries do not have the right It was not clear if the memorandum signed on
to interfere,” he added. October 3 will allow further movement towards
Greece reiterated that it has sovereign rights establishing such a zone.™

Syria
Nicosia Baniyas
Cyprus Homs
Gas fields
Tripoli
Oil fields
LNG Refinery Beirut
Port Lebanon
Aphrodite
Pipeline Damascus
Planned Pipeline Tamar
EEZ Border Zohr
Leviathan
Tel Aviv
Raven
Amman
Ashkelon

Idku
Damietta Arish Israel
Port Said Jordan
Suez Canal
Cairo

Egypt Taba Aqaba

100km
100miles

Week 40 05•October•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P9