Greece and Egypt have signed an agreement for the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between the two countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The agreement was signed by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and his Egypt counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo on Thursday afternoon.
Unofficial map as posted by Greek media: The blue line marks the delimitation of the EEZ between Greece and Egypt
“It is a historic day, it is an exemplary and important agreement between two neighboring, friendly countries,
Dendias said in statements live streamed from the capital of Egypt.
“Our agreement today confirms and secures the right and influence of our islands on a continental shelf and in an Exclusive Economic Zone,” Dendias stressed.
He stressed that the agreement has been concluded in the framework of International Law and that it respects the provisions of International Law and the Law of the Sea.
“It also respects good neighborly relations. It contributes to stability and security in our region. It resolves a timing issue. “It is an agreement between two friendly, neighboring countries that respect their history,” he added.
He pointed out that the agreement between Greece and Egypt is the complete opposite of the illegal, invalid and legally non-existent memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Tripoli. He added that after the signing of the EEZ agreement, “the non-existent Turkey-Libya memorandum belongs to where it belonged form the first moment, that it to the garbage bin.”
Dendias stressed the determination of Greece to continue to move with the same determination, aiming at the borders with the other neighboring countries, but always within the framework of International Law and International Law of the Sea.
“Greece calls on any other country in the region to follow the example of the current agreement and the corresponding one with Italy,” the Greek Foreign Minister stressed.
The EEZ agreement strikes a blow to the agreement on maritime boundaries between Turkey and Libya, as featured in the map below.
Dendias flew to Cairo in the morning, where the final details of the agreement were fine tuned. He had visited Cairo on June 18.
