The preamble to the agreement between Greece and Egypt recognizes the relevance and applicability of the Charter of the United Nations and UNCLOS. It refers in particular to the principles of good neighbourliness, cooperation and good faith. The preamble stresses that each party must exercise its prerogatives and jurisdictions in accordance with UNCLOS, which includes Greece and Egypt. UNCLOS provides that an international agreement between the States concerned is the main method of delimiting maritime borders, including the EEZ and the continental shelf (Article 74, paragraph 1, and Article 83, paragraph 1). UNCLOS does not define a method of border determination, but only that delimitation results in a “just solution.” A delimitation contract negotiated and agreed upon is, by definition, in accordance with international law under Article 74, paragraph 1, and Article 83, paragraph 1, of the UNCLOS. In response to these developments, the GNA`s ambassador to Greece, Mohamed Younis Menfi, was summoned to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens, where he received a seven-day ultimatum to reveal, by 5 December, the agreement signed by his country with Turkey by maritime borders or considered “persona non grata” and expelled from Greece. [78] The European Union authorities also insisted that the details of the agreement be disclosed. [56] Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also met with the Turkish President on the sidelines of the London Summit in 2019 to discuss the issue. [79] Greek Foreign Minister Dendias revealed that earlier this year, his GNA colleague, Foreign Minister Mohamed Taher Siala, assured the Greek side that Libya would never sign illegal agreements with Turkey that would violate Greece`s sovereign rights.
[80] [81] On 6 December, the GNA ambassador to Athens was expelled from Greece,[82] prompting strong reactions in both GNA and Turkey. [83] [42] In addition, the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament in Tobruk, Agila Saleh Issa Gwaider, who condemned and rejected the GNA-Turkey agreement, was invited to Athens by the Speaker of the Greek Parliament Konstantinos Tasoulas for talks. [84] For the second time in a few weeks, NATO allies Greece and Turkey have mobilized their fleets to a dead end. The Greek government considers turkey`s measurement of the waters south of Kastellorizo Island as a provocation. Last week, Greece, which claims the waters and other areas south of the Greek islands as an exclusive economic zone, signed an agreement with Egypt to define the EEZs of the eastern Mediterranean countries. The Turkish government called it a “pirate agreement” – and took the opportunity to resume seismic investigations in the region, which had been suspended following the mediation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the European Union. Finally, due to Turkey`s diplomatic isolation[195] [205][204][207] [207], and barely a week before the EU summit that will assess the impending sanctions against Turkey for its drilling activities, the research vessel Orué Reis was withdrawn from Kastellorizo and Turkish research on the Turkish continental shelf was suspended. Turkey has agreed to use diplomatic means to settle its maritime disputes with Greece. [208] [209] [210] The Turkish economy depends on foreign markets and, in particular, on the European Union in terms of exports, imports, financing and short-term technologies, and severe EU economic sanctions could therefore have “disastrous” consequences on the Turkish economy and on the political survival of Turkish President Erdogan. [211] The prospect of EU sanctions has also contributed to the Turkish lira devaluing valuation to a record high, making the country`s economic situation more difficult. [212] [213] [214] [215] The United States, which has criticized Turkey`s confident policy in the region, welcomed Ankara`s decision to adopt a more diplomatic position on the maritime dispute with Greece, along with the head of U.S. foreign policy, Michael R.