Türkiye-Libya maritime deal 'entirely legitimate,' says Turkish foreign minister
- Libyan parliament's acceptance of 2019 agreement reinforces diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting stability in Eastern Mediterranean, says Hakan Fidan
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- Libyan parliament's acceptance of 2019 agreement reinforces diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting stability in Eastern Mediterranean, says Hakan Fidan
By Esra Tekin
ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday said that the 2019 maritime agreement between Türkiye and Libya was "entirely legitimate" under international law and from a political perspective.
"This is an entirely legitimate agreement, both from a legal and a political perspective. There is no need to debate it," Fidan told Anadolu during a visit to Brussels.
His remarks followed the Libyan House of Representatives' acceptance of the 2019 memorandum of understanding on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas between Türkiye and Libya.
Fidan described the development as a diplomatic achievement resulting from the foreign policy pursued under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership.
He said the agreement reflected Türkiye's foreign policy principles of supporting peace and stability through mutually beneficial cooperation.
"The trust that our Libyan brothers have placed in Türkiye, as well as the stability this agreement will bring to the Eastern Mediterranean, is of tremendous importance," he said.
Addressing reactions from other countries, Fidan said some governments felt compelled to respond, while others had genuine strategic concerns.
"We understand why these countries are reacting. Some are reacting because they feel they are expected to do so, while others genuinely have strategic concerns regarding this issue," he said.
Fidan said Turkish legal experts considered the agreement valid since its signing in 2019 because of its legal structure.
"According to our legal experts, what took place in the Libyan House of Representatives was essentially an act of acceptance rather than ratification," he said.
"From our perspective, we have regarded this as a valid agreement since 2019," he added.
Fidan reaffirmed Türkiye's determination to pursue diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Mediterranean.
"Our diplomacy has no other purpose than this," he said.
- Fidan holds talks with Belgian, NATO and EU officials
Fidan said he held an “intensive series of meetings” in Brussels, covering the ties between the Turkish and Belgian governments, along with Ankara's relations with NATO and the EU.
He said discussions with his Belgian counterpart addressed bilateral and regional issues.
Fidan also attended a meeting involving the foreign, justice and interior ministers of Türkiye and Belgium, alongside Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek and Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci.
He said the discussions covered matters related to the responsibilities of all three ministries.
Fidan described the consultation mechanism, established in 2016, as highly beneficial.
Recalling Belgian Queen Mathilde's visit to Türkiye with a large economic and trade delegation, Fidan said the visit had strengthened bilateral relations.
"This clearly elevated our bilateral relations to another level, and we are continuing to build on that foundation," he said.
Fidan also met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss Türkiye-NATO relations and follow-up efforts concerning decisions made at the NATO summit in Ankara in July.
He said their discussions also covered the Russia-Ukraine war, developments in the Gulf region, NATO institutional matters and various crisis areas.
During talks with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Fidan said they discussed obstacles in Türkiye-EU relations and regional and global challenges.
These included the Russia-Ukraine war, the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, energy challenges and disruptions to grain shipments from the Black Sea.
"We also reviewed the areas where Türkiye-EU relations have reached a deadlock, as well as the areas where progress has been made," he said.
Fidan said he also held extensive talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on trade, political relations and Türkiye's EU candidate status.
"It is essential to continue substantive, well-planned, and persistent discussions on these matters," he said.