Cyprus Responds to Libya at UN over Turkish-Libyan Memorandum

Cyprus has responded to Libya and the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum of 2019 with a formal note to the UN. In the letter, Cyprus emphasizes that the memorandum "does not comply with international law and in particular with the rules of international law concerning the conclusion of treaties, as well as with the Law of the Sea, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."

Nicosia underlines that Libya, with this memorandum, "deliberately disregards the presence and maritime rights of coastal states in the region, including Greek islands such as Crete and the Dodecanese." Special mention is made of Article 121 of UNCLOS, which recognizes the right of islands to maritime zones.

The Republic of Cyprus records "Libya's declared readiness to engage in negotiations with all neighboring States for the delimitation of maritime boundaries in accordance with international law."

The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cyprus requests that the letter be circulated as a document of the General Assembly and the Security Council.