On 27 November 2019, in Istanbul, the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of National Accord-State of Libya signed the Memorandum of Understanding on delimitation of the maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean. Two originals, in Turkish, Arabic and English, all equally authentic; in case of divergence the English text prevails. For the GNA, Mohamed Taher Siyala, Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed; for Turkey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Article VI: it enters into force on the date of receipt of the last written notification that internal legal procedures have been completed. Entry into force: 8 December 2019. A separate memorandum on security and military cooperation was signed the same day; it is not this instrument.

The preamble: the Charter of the United Nations; a precise and equitable delimitation of the maritime areas in which the Parties exercise sovereignty, sovereign rights and/or jurisdiction in accordance with applicable rules of international law, taking into account all relevant circumstances. Article I: the boundaries of the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone begin at Point A (34°16′13.720″ N, 026°19′11.640″ E) and end at Point B (34°09′07.9″ N, 026°39′06.3″ E). Maritime chart INT 308, scale 1:1,102,000. Coordinates in WGS 84. Base-point coordinates used to determine the equidistance line are in Annex 2. Article II: the annexes form an integral part. Article V: Articles I and II are excluded from the amendment procedure provided for the rest of the text.

Article III: upon entry into force, registration with the United Nations Secretariat pursuant to Article 102 of the Charter. Turkey registered the instrument on 11 December 2019 (UNTS I-56119). The Grand National Assembly of Turkey authorised approval by Law No. 7195 of 5 December 2019. Article IV: disputes between the Parties are settled through diplomatic channels in accordance with Article 33 of the Charter; the Parties may cooperate on transboundary natural resources; a Party negotiating an EEZ delimitation with another State shall notify and consult the other Party before a final agreement.

The memorandum is a bilateral instrument between Turkey and the GNA. It does not, of itself, bind third States. The European Union, Greece, Cyprus and Egypt stated that it did not comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and could not produce legal consequences for third States. The Tobruk-based House of Representatives rejected it. United Nations registration under Article 102 is a publicity procedure, not a validation of the content as against non-parties.

Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul. The city of signature, not the signing hall. Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

For context: Libya (GNA)–Turkey maritime deal. The text: DOALOS, Memorandum on delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas.