US: Dbeibeh’s government obligated “not to consider new agreements”

The U.S. State Department has stated that Libya’s Government of National Unity, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, is obligated “not to consider new agreements” after the latter recently a signed controversial hydrocarbons deal with Turkey.

The deals, which was signed in Tripoli last Monday, allows for oil and gas exploration in Libya’s Mediterranean waters, three years after a maritime border deal that angered European nations.

“We note that Libya’s interim government is obligated under the provisions of the Libya Political Dialogue Forum roadmap not to consider new agreements that harm the stability of foreign relations of the Libyan State or impose long-term obligations on it,” stated the U.S. State Department as reported by Greek journalist Lena Argiri.

The deal sparked wide controversy and angered Libyan and international actors who deemed the agreement as “illegal”. Libya’s parliament have quickly rejected deal, declaring that Dbeibeh’s government is unauthorized to broker long-term agreements with international parties since its mandate had expired.

Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh called the deal “illegal and unacceptable”, while the Libyan rival government of former interior minister Fathi Bashagha threatened to use the courts to annul it.

Similarly, Greece, who have had a long-running dispute with Turkey over maritime territories, came out against the Libya-Turkey deal. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said he had spoken to his counterpart in Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, and that “both challenged the legitimacy” of the deal. Dendias said he would visit Cairo on next Sunday for “consultations” on the issue.

The European Union have declared that Turkey’s agreement with Libya is “against Law of the Sea and infringes on third states’ rights.”

EU: Libya-Turkey hydrocarbons deal potentially undermines regional stability