MONITORING DESK
ANKARA: Turkey has called on Libya and Egypt to start negotiations and dialogue as soon as possible to resolve differences over the demarcation of maritime borders, diplomatic sources in Ankara said on Sunday.
The sources’ remarks came after Libya on Friday rejected an 11 December decision by Egypt to unilaterally delimit its western maritime borders with Libya with 9 geographic coordinates.
Libya and Egypt could not agree on the boundary line through bilateral negotiations earlier. Now Ankara is stressing them to restart dialogue as soon as possible for demarcation of their boundary in line with international law, the sources said, adding that Egypt’s decision does not overlay Turkiye’s continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Egypt-Libya demarcation of maritime boundary
They said that it was unclear which method was used for the demarcation of the maritime boundary line or whether relevant or special geographical circumstances were considered. It was also not clear whether the principle of equity was fully respected.
The sources said that the defined boundary line seemed to overlap Libya’s continental shelf- rights, as it was drawn west of the medium line between the two countries’ mainland coasts.
They said Libya made a statement on 16 December, saying Egypt’s presidential decree violated their rights. – AFP/APP
