Mitsotakis and Libyan President agree to resume EEZ delimitation talks

Defence Redefined

14/04/2021

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a meeting with the President of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Menfi, in Athens today.

During the meeting, the Greek Prime Minister and the President of the Libyan Presidential Council agreed on the immediate resumption of talks between Greece and Libya on the delimitation of the maritime zones under the responsibility of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries.

The prospects of expanding economic relations were also discussed, which will be the subject of the visit of the Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece, Costas Frangogiannis, to Libya soon. Emphasis was also placed on cooperation in the field of Culture.

Also read: Mitsotakis’ visit to Libya | “Greece is ready to support Libya in all ways”  

“I want you to know that Greece will stand by you and the Libyan people in your difficult task of rebuilding your homeland. Lead the country to elections at the end of the year, so that the Libyan people themselves can take the country’s fate into their own hands. As we had the opportunity to discuss in Libya, a prerequisite for this is the withdrawal of all troops from Libya. And I welcome the intention of you and the Prime Minister of Libya, regarding your country’s discussion of critical issues such as the delimitation of maritime zones with Greece. Greece – to conclude – is a friendly country to Libya, the Greek people are a friendly people to Libya, our relations go back in centuries and I want you to know that in Greece Libya will always have a stable friend and ally within the European Union, so that your beautiful but tried-and-true country finds the path to stability and prosperity again,” said Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcoming Mohamed al-Menfi.

“Our main concern was for Greece to become the gateway to the European Union,” Mr Menfi said, adding that Greece had been a helping hand to Libya and that was clear so far. “My visit today is a reflection, an expression of our desire to cooperate with Greece in all sectors and fields. For example, one of the sectors is Health, where Greece is distinguished for the know-how and experience it has acquired, as well as in other areas that we can discuss,” he concluded.

Also read: Ν. Dendias | Greece at the disposal of Libya for the delimitation of maritime zones