Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR), Aguila Saleh, sent an official letter to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, regarding the invalidity of any memorandums of understanding concluded by the Government of National Unity (GNU) headed by Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh, noting that they have no legal effect and do not bind the Libyan state.
Saleh explained that the Dbeibeh government’s mandate had constitutionally ended in accordance with the terms of the political agreement, and had failed to carry out its duties and tasks specified in the road map issued by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) issued in December 2020.
HoR Speaker said that the Dbeibeh government was involved in concluding memoranda of understanding and agreements for oil and gas exploration in the economic waters of the eastern Mediterranean with Turkey, in violation of the text Article VI, the tenth paragraph of LPDF.
It is noteworthy that the sixth article of the tenth paragraph of the political agreement stipulates that “the executive authority shall not consider, during the preliminary stage, new or previous agreements or decisions that harm the stability of the foreign relations of the Libyan state or impose long-term obligations on it.”
Saleh said that “committing this deliberate violation would destabilize the security and stability of the eastern Mediterranean region and with the neighboring countries of Egypt, Greece and Cyprus.”
On Monday, the Government of National Unity signed two memoranda of understanding on energy and gas with Turkey.
GNU Foreign Minister Najla Manqoush said in a press conference: “The memorandum of understanding between the two countries is in the interest of both countries and contributes to solving the global crisis regarding energy and gas.”
