Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statements following his meeting with Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry (Cairo, 09.10.2022)

Your Excellency, my dear Sameh,

It is such a great pleasure to be in Cairo, and please allow me to say how much I feel at home here. I have said this many times. I have been here many times.

And I would like to underline something once more, here. That our friendship, Greece’s friendship with Egypt is not just a strategic partnership. It is much more than that. And we will spare no effort in doing everything within our reach to support this great nation, the great Egyptian nation. Bilaterally, but also within the framework of the European Union. We deeply appreciate that we can count on Egypt’s support, on President Sisi’s support, on your personal support, both in a bilateral context, but also in the Arab League, and in all other international fora.

Greece and Egypt are a bridge between Europe and the Arab world. As well as a bridge between Europe and Africa. A bridge over, I am sorry to say, troubled waters, a bridge over troubled lands. And this is a key issue we addressed today during our discussions. The precarious situation in Libya and in the Eastern Mediterranean.

We both agree that our common strategic objective is a stable, prosperous and peaceful Libya, and a stable Eastern Mediterranean.

Greece supports the efforts undertaken that will pave the way for the holding of elections in Libya, Parliamentary and Presidential. We have taken several steps in order to support the Libyan people. Re-opening our Embassy in Tripoli, providing tangible support, including the rebuilding of the port of Benghazi, funding humanitarian projects in Tripoli.

However, we are particularly concerned about actions that threaten to destabilise the fragile internal equilibrium, and also, possibly, destabilise our region. The recent signing of an “MoU” between the Tripoli government and Turkey is a case in point. It violates a fundamental principle of the UN-led Libyan Political Dialogue Forum [article 6, para 10]. And you, Sameh, referred to this issue extensively. What is  stipulated is that the Government of National Unity cannot, I repeat, cannot enter into any international agreement in a manner that harms the stability of foreign relations of the Libyan State.

Furthermore, again as you have clearly stated, Sameh, the mandate of the Tripoli government has expired, and if I may say so, long ago. So it does not, I repeat, it does not represent the Libyan people. By extent, the said government does not have any competence to review or implement previous agreements regarding the future of Libya’s external relations. Οr commit the country’s future.

Yet, this is precisely what happened last Monday. An act -the signing of this “memorandum”- that we clearly denounce. And the same thing did the EU, the US, Egypt, Cyprus, France, Germany, Italy and numerous other countries

Also the overwhelming reaction by Libyan political forces against this “MoU” clearly shows that the only consequence of this act is to further destabilise the country. And even beyond that.

I would also like to stress one point in particular: no country in the world has the right to cede anything that does not belong to it. No government can grant to Turkey rights of exploration in areas where it does not exercise sovereign rights. Turkey, by blackmailing, and applying pressure on Libyan actors has tried to establish a legal monstrosity. I am referring to the 2019 “memorandum”. This so-called “memorandum” was internationally denounced as illegal, invalid and non-existent. It clearly violates the fundamental principles of the International Law of the Sea. It was never ratified by the Libyan Parliament. As a matter of fact, it was denounced by the Libyan Parliament.

Three years later, Turkey seeks, once again, to take advantage of a turbulent situation in Libya. In order to further destabilise the Mediterranean region. And establish a regional hegemony.

I was glad to see that all key stakeholders, including the EU, have publicly denounced these plans. No one can build new facts on the basis of illegal and illegitimate actions. No one can ignore geography, no one can create a virtual world. A world where islands stop appearing on the map.

Two years ago, here in Cairo, we signed an Αgreement with my friend Sameh on the delimitation of the EEZ between Greece and Egypt. An Αgreement in full compliance with the International Law, especially the International Law of the Sea, which generates exclusive sovereign rights for Greece, as well as Egypt. Greece has the intention and the obligation to defend these rights. With all, I repeat, with all available lawful means. We do not claim anything that does not belong to us. We fully respect the principles of International Law. We do not take aggressive actions, we do not undermine peace and stability.

And we are particularly happy, in this effort, to have Egypt as a friend. Greece and Egypt share a common objective: help Libya become a functioning state and also make the Mediterranean a peaceful and stable sea. A sea of prosperity where people can engage with each other. As Greeks and Egyptians have been doing for thousands of years
Again, my dear Sameh, thank you so much for your warm hospitality.