Fidan Defends Türkiye-Libya Maritime Accord as “Entirely Legitimate”
(MENAFN) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday defended the 2019 maritime accord between Türkiye and Libya, calling it “entirely legitimate” on both legal and political grounds.
“This is an entirely legitimate agreement, both from a legal and a political perspective. There is no need to debate it,” Fidan told a national news agency during a visit to Brussels.
The statement came after the Libyan House of Representatives accepted the 2019 memorandum of understanding on delimiting maritime jurisdiction areas between the two countries.
Fidan hailed the move as a diplomatic win for the foreign policy led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He said the deal embodies Türkiye’s principle of advancing peace and stability through cooperation that benefits all sides.
“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.
Reactions from other states
Asked about objections from other countries, Fidan said some governments felt obliged to respond, while others hold real strategic worries.
“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.
Turkish legal experts, Fidan said, have viewed the accord as valid since it was signed in 2019, citing 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 renewed Ankara’s commitment to diplomatic efforts for peace, security, stability and prosperity across the Mediterranean.
“Our diplomacy has no other purpose than this,” he said.
Talks with Belgian, NATO and EU officials
Fidan said his Brussels schedule included an “intensive series of meetings” on Türkiye’s ties with Belgium, NATO and the European Union.
He said his talks with his Belgian counterpart covered bilateral and regional issues.
Fidan also took part in a session bringing together the foreign, justice and interior ministers of Türkiye and Belgium. Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek and Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci attended. He said the agenda touched on the responsibilities of all three ministries, and he called the consultation mechanism, set up in 2016, highly beneficial.
Fidan credited Belgian Queen Mathilde’s visit to Türkiye, accompanied by a large economic and trade delegation, with strengthening bilateral relations.
“This clearly elevated our bilateral relations to another level, and we are continuing to build on that foundation,” he said.
He also met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss Türkiye-NATO relations and follow-up to decisions taken at the alliance’s July summit in Ankara. Their talks also covered the Russia-Ukraine war, developments in the Gulf region, NATO institutional matters and several crisis areas, he said.
In a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Fidan said the two sides discussed obstacles in Türkiye-EU relations along with 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.
“This is an entirely legitimate agreement, both from a legal and a political perspective. There is no need to debate it,” Fidan told a national news agency during a visit to Brussels.
The statement came after the Libyan House of Representatives accepted the 2019 memorandum of understanding on delimiting maritime jurisdiction areas between the two countries.
Fidan hailed the move as a diplomatic win for the foreign policy led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He said the deal embodies Türkiye’s principle of advancing peace and stability through cooperation that benefits all sides.
“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.
Reactions from other states
Asked about objections from other countries, Fidan said some governments felt obliged to respond, while others hold real strategic worries.
“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.
Turkish legal experts, Fidan said, have viewed the accord as valid since it was signed in 2019, citing 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 renewed Ankara’s commitment to diplomatic efforts for peace, security, stability and prosperity across the Mediterranean.
“Our diplomacy has no other purpose than this,” he said.
Talks with Belgian, NATO and EU officials
Fidan said his Brussels schedule included an “intensive series of meetings” on Türkiye’s ties with Belgium, NATO and the European Union.
He said his talks with his Belgian counterpart covered bilateral and regional issues.
Fidan also took part in a session bringing together the foreign, justice and interior ministers of Türkiye and Belgium. Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek and Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci attended. He said the agenda touched on the responsibilities of all three ministries, and he called the consultation mechanism, set up in 2016, highly beneficial.
Fidan credited Belgian Queen Mathilde’s visit to Türkiye, accompanied by a large economic and trade delegation, with strengthening bilateral relations.
“This clearly elevated our bilateral relations to another level, and we are continuing to build on that foundation,” he said.
He also met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss Türkiye-NATO relations and follow-up to decisions taken at the alliance’s July summit in Ankara. Their talks also covered the Russia-Ukraine war, developments in the Gulf region, NATO institutional matters and several crisis areas, he said.
In a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Fidan said the two sides discussed obstacles in Türkiye-EU relations along with 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.
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