FM Dendias: Libyan ambassador to leave if he does not present agreement by Friday

Specifically, the Greek Foreign Minister, speaking on SKAI television, explained that Turkey is trying to present a perception that the islands have no continental shelf. "This is historically pursued, not only now with Kastelorizo, but also for the Aegean islands, which are very large islands," Mr Dendias told the television station.

"This is a perception of Turkey which in our view is completely unfounded. There are dozens of rulings by international jurisdictions that support exactly the opposite. Turkey is also covered by the fact that it has not signed the maritime law convention in the context of its negotiating tactics. It invokes groundless issues," he continued.

Dendias' ultimatum to the Ambassador of Libya
Commenting on the Libya-Turkey agreement, Mr Dendias noted that what appear to be two memorandums, one dealing with maritime issues and the other with military cooperation. In fact, the foreign minister made a special reference to the second memorandum which, he said, is likely to violate the embargo imposed by the Security Council on arms shipments to Libya.

He also added that the moves between Ankara and Tripoli were known to Athens, so he had a conversation with his Libyan counterpart on the issue last September at a UN meeting where the latter had acknowledged that an agreement with Turkey is problematic on this issue and cannot be signed.

As for Libya's ambassador to Athens, Nikos Dendias was categorical in his remarks on the television: "If he does not reach agreement by Friday (6/12), he will be declared persona non grata and will leave."

Concluding, the Foreign Minister stressed that Greece and Egypt are accelerating their delimitation between the EEZs. It is recalled that on Sunday Nikos Dendias went to Egypt, where he met with his Egyptian counterpart.