The Republic of Cyprus has officially rejected the 2019 maritime boundary memorandum signed between Turkey and Libya, in a diplomatic letter to the UN Secretary-General.
According to Greek City Times, Cyprus argues the agreement violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and customary international law, and claims it holds no legal effect for third parties such as Greece and Cyprus.
Cyprus asserts that the memorandum seeks to establish maritime boundaries between two countries (Turkey and Libya) that do not share adjacent or opposite coastlines, which it describes as “inventing non-existent maritime borders.”
The statement also claims the agreement disregards the maritime rights of other coastal states in the region, including Greek islands like Crete.
Additionally, Cyprus criticizes Libya’s claimed baselines in the Gulf of Sirte, labeling them inconsistent with international legal standards.
While opposing Turkey’s unilateral actions, Cyprus noted Libya’s stated intention to negotiate maritime boundaries in accordance with international law, interpreting this as an implicit criticism of Turkey’s approach.