NPA, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 30: Letter by the head of Greek delegation to the NATO PA

NATO's Parlamentariske Forsamling 2019-20
NPA Alm.del Bilag 30
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MARIETTA GIANNAKOU

MEMBER OF THE HELLENIC PARLIAMENT

–

NEA DΕMOKRATIA

Athens, 2

of April 2020

Dear President, Dear Colleagues,

I hope my letter finds you, your families and your fellow citizens in good health and

spirit. The world is facing an unprecedented health, economic and social crisis. The

invisible enemy

“coronavirus”,

continues to ruthlessly strike the global community,

knowing no borders and limits. It is then, under these circumstances, for all of us to show

responsibility, solidarity and unity and take actions, in order to combat this enemy and

overcome this terrible situation.

At the same time, we can continue our work as Parliamentarians and

communicate via all means of technology, staying at home and following all measures

taken by our governments for protecting each other and ourselves, supporting each

other, showing courage and strength and hoping that soon we will be all back, healthy

and strong.

Consequently, I take this opportunity to share with you some facts regarding the

– called “Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Turkey and the

Government of National Accord

–

State of Libya on delimitation of the maritime

jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean

”, which was signed by the two sides in Istanbul

on 27

of November 2019. As you may be aware of, during the Joint meetings of NATO

PA in Brussels last February, under the presidency of the Hon. Lord Campbell, we,

members of the Hellenic delegation, came up with un unfortunate event, I want to believe

an unfortunate misunderstanding, that did not allow us continuously and unjustifiably, to

speak and present our points.

In this context, I would like to underline upfront that this agreement was concluded

in bad faith and in violation of the rules of the International Law of the Sea on maritime

delimitation because, first and foremost, Turkey and Libya have neither overlapping

NPA, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 30: Letter by the head of Greek delegation to the NATO PA

maritime zones nor common boundaries and consequently, there is no legal basis to

lawfully conclude a maritime delimitation agreement.

Likewise, the agreement disregards the presence of the Greek islands in that

maritime area, including the island of Crete, and violates their right to generate maritime

zones, as any land territory, as Article 21 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of

the Sea, clearly stipulates.

Furthermore, the boundaries of the purported “continental shelf and exclusive

economic zone”, as they are defined in the text of this agreement, are fictitious, unlawful,

arbitrary and provocative

and openly infringe on Greece’s sovereign rights in that

maritime area, thus seriously endangering regional peace and stability.

What is also striking in the said agreement is that, in spite of the declared position

of Turkey that Greek islands in the Eastern Mediterranean have no weight for the

delimitation of the maritime boundaries in that area, the drafters of this agreement have

used Turkish islands and rocks as base points for the construction of the purported

“equidistance line”, as stated in article

1, paragraph 3, of the said agreement and shown

in the annexes thereto. This shows the hypocritical and contradictory stance of Turkey,

concerning maritime delimitation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In addition, this agreement is null and void, since it was not endorsed by the

House of Representatives of Libya, as required by Article 8, paragraph 2 (D of the Libyan

Political Agreement of 2015, approved by the United Nations Security Council through

Resolution 2259 of 2015). Likewise, this agreement was unequivocally rejected by the

President of the House of Representatives of Libya, Aquila Saleh Issa, in a letter sent to

the United Nations Secretary General.

The Greek Government has repeatedly expressed its strong opposition to the

unlawful delimitation aimed at by the above agreement, which illegally overlaps on zones

of legitimate and exclusive Greek sovereign rights.

Let me also stress, that the European Council, has clearly stated, in its December

2019 Conclusions, that the said Memorandum infringes upon the sovereign rights of third

stated, does not comply with the Law of the Sea and cannot produce any legal

consequences. Furthermore, several other countries condemned it outright and

expressed their concern about the destabilizing effects on the region.

On this occasion, I would like to underline once more my country’s strong

commitment to resolve any delimitation issues with neighbouring countries in the Eastern

Mediterranean by peaceful means, in good faith and in accordance with the International

NPA, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 30: Letter by the head of Greek delegation to the NATO PA

Law of the Sea. It is in that spirit, that negotiations are currently taking place between

Greece and other neighbouring states, regarding the delimitation of common maritime

boundaries.

Finally, thinking of those who lost their lives by the virus and to those who are

hospitalized and fight for their lives, I express my admiration and deep gratitude to all

people involved to the common battle. We, together, can win this war, with unity and

cooperation.

Dear President, Dear Colleague,

Please accept, the assurance of my highest consideration,

Marietta GIANNAKOU

Member of the Hellenic Parliament

Head of the Greek Delegation to the

NATO Parliamentary Assembly