Greece Invites Libya to Maritime Zone Talks Amid Efforts to Ease Tense Relations
Greece aims to mend relations with Libya through discussions on demarcating exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean Sea.
ATHENS: Greece has extended an invitation to Libya's internationally recognized government in Tripoli to initiate talks concerning the delineation of exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean Sea.
This move, announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday evening, is part of a broader strategy aimed at improving bilateral relations, which have been strained due to a 2019 maritime agreement between Libya and Turkey.
The latter deal sparked tensions with Greece over areas near the Greek island of Crete.
The invitation extended by Greece comes in response to Libya's objections to a recent hydrocarbon exploration tender launched by Athens this year.
Libya claimed that some blocks within the tender infringe upon its own maritime zones, leading to a call for dialogue to resolve these territorial disputes.
Libya has grappled with instability since the 2011 uprising that overthrew the regime of Muammar Qaddafi.
The subsequent division of the country into eastern and western sections has further complicated diplomatic engagements.
Greece's Prime Minister acknowledged the challenges in communicating with Libya, expressing his government's commitment to maintaining dialogue with both the Tripoli-based government and an administration in Benghazi.
In a bid to address other pressing issues, Athens has sought to enhance cooperation with Libya regarding migration.
Greece has legislated against sea arrivals from Libya for asylum requests, aiming to curb the influx of migrants to its southern islands like Gavdos and Crete.
This diplomatic overture by Greece follows an incident earlier this month where European Union officials, including the EU migration commissioner and ministers from Italy, Malta, and Greece, were denied entry to Libya's eastern region after meeting with the western-based government.
These efforts underscore the complex dynamics at play in the Mediterranean regarding territorial disputes and transnational challenges like migration.
This move, announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday evening, is part of a broader strategy aimed at improving bilateral relations, which have been strained due to a 2019 maritime agreement between Libya and Turkey.
The latter deal sparked tensions with Greece over areas near the Greek island of Crete.
The invitation extended by Greece comes in response to Libya's objections to a recent hydrocarbon exploration tender launched by Athens this year.
Libya claimed that some blocks within the tender infringe upon its own maritime zones, leading to a call for dialogue to resolve these territorial disputes.
Libya has grappled with instability since the 2011 uprising that overthrew the regime of Muammar Qaddafi.
The subsequent division of the country into eastern and western sections has further complicated diplomatic engagements.
Greece's Prime Minister acknowledged the challenges in communicating with Libya, expressing his government's commitment to maintaining dialogue with both the Tripoli-based government and an administration in Benghazi.
In a bid to address other pressing issues, Athens has sought to enhance cooperation with Libya regarding migration.
Greece has legislated against sea arrivals from Libya for asylum requests, aiming to curb the influx of migrants to its southern islands like Gavdos and Crete.
This diplomatic overture by Greece follows an incident earlier this month where European Union officials, including the EU migration commissioner and ministers from Italy, Malta, and Greece, were denied entry to Libya's eastern region after meeting with the western-based government.
These efforts underscore the complex dynamics at play in the Mediterranean regarding territorial disputes and transnational challenges like migration.
