Border demarcation between Egypt-Turkey requires consultation: Foreign Ministry

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that the topic of border demarcation between Egypt and Turkey requires consultation.

This comes amid a series of diplomatic activities in Istanbul, including regional and international meetings focused on addressing regional issues and strengthening efforts toward peace and stability.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry emphasized that the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait are vital to Egypt’s national security, and that the unity and independence of Sudan constitute a “red line” for Egypt.

The spokesperson also highlighted the significance of the meetings held in Istanbul, describing them as highly important.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reiterated, during a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Istanbul on Friday, Egypt’s categorical rejection of the Libyan parliament’s ratification of the 2019 memorandum of understanding between Libya and Turkey concerning the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Quadripartite Group—comprising the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey—as well as a joint ministerial meeting that included the foreign ministers of Italy, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The discussion addressed developments in Libya, with Abdelatty reaffirming Egypt’s support for Libya’s unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability.

FM stresses adhering to international maritime law

He underscored Egypt’s commitment to bolstering Libyan state institutions in a manner that safeguards the interests of the Libyan people.

The minister further emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of international maritime law and the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea regarding the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf, in accordance with the principles of justice and equity among states.

Fidan on his end affirmed his understanding of Egypt’s concerns regarding developments in Libya, stressing the importance of continued consultation, coordination, and joint action to address them, as well as supporting efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in the country.

Egypt rejects memorandum between Libya/Turkey

During an interview with the Turkish channel TRT on the sidelines of his visit to Istanbul, Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s rejection of the maritime memorandum of understanding signed between Libya and Turkey, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to international maritime law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Egypt on Wednesday announced its rejection of the Libyan House of Representatives’ ratification of the memorandum, asserting that this step carries no legal implications for Egypt.

The Libyan House of Representatives earlier on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve the memorandum of understanding regarding the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction zones in the Mediterranean Sea, thereby ending a parliamentary stance—held since 2020—that had rejected the agreement.

The House spokesperson, Abdullah Bleihaq, announced on the X platform that the assembly had rescinded Resolution #1 of 2020, which had rejected the ratification of the two memoranda of understanding concluded between the Government of National Accord and Turkey.

Furthermore, the House repealed Resolution #6 of 2020, which had called for the severance of political relations with Ankara.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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