Libyan warlord General Khalifa Haftar is seeking to possibly ratify the illegal hydrocarbon maritime deal with Turkey, Libyan news agency Lana reported on Tuesday.
Haftar, who is not the internationally recognized leader of Libya, has the eastern part of the country under control as well as the House of Representatives.
The deal was signed on 27 November 2019 by Turkey and Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) under then head of government Fayez al-Sarraj.
However, the agreement was never ratified by Libya’s parliament, a factor that comprises a key argument – beyond its violation of UNCLOS – over its baselessness. A Libyan appeals court in Al-Bayda subsequently annulled the agreement, while the Tobruk Parliament, under Haftar’s control, had denounced the memorandum as illegal.
In January 2020, Haftar visited Greece and upon invitation if the Greek conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and was featured as the man who will defend the Greek interests.
According to reports, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis was planning to visit Tripolis over the weekend, however, armed clashes between rival groups in the Libyan capital made the visit too risky.
PS Haftar is and remains a warlord. Given the ongoing unstable situation in Libya, with two warlords ruling east and west parts of the county plus a third armed group making claims, Haftar would be on the side of whoever offers him more to stay in power. As someone who has been in this country for professional reasons in the past, I can tell you that the establishment of a “technical committee” in Parliament could take ages until it comes to results or in contrast it can come to a speedy conclusion depending on the weapons and money needs of Haftar.
Play ball, kitties!
Why would Haftar want to be on the side of weakness. He chose to be on the side of the powerful plus he is reconciling with the other half of his country. Win win, for Libya.