The Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, has asserted that Libya will remain neutral in the ongoing maritime dispute between Ankara and Athens, insisting that national interests must take precedence over regional axis politics. Following a successful diplomatic visit to Greece, Saleh struck a defiant tone against foreign interference, stating that the parliament would not yield to external dictates regarding its international engagements. “We will not accept being told where to go or who to meet,” he declared, “we are pursuing our national cause solely for the benefit of Libya.”
Addressing the contentious maritime agreement with Turkey, Saleh highlighted significant legal and technical hurdles. He noted that the deal was struck with a government that lacked the parliament’s confidence, rendering it ineligible for ratification at this stage. To resolve the impasse, the Speaker proposed the formation of joint technical committees involving experts from Libya, Egypt, Turkey, and Greece to accurately define maritime borders. He revealed that a specialised parliamentary commission is already auditing potential overlaps in territorial waters and is expected to deliver its findings within days.
Saleh maintained that any international treaty would be judged strictly on its benefit to the Libyan state, regardless of the partner involved. While describing Turkey’s request for parliamentary ratification as a positive step, he argued that definitive border demarcation must come first so that the nation knows “exactly what we are signing.” Reaffirming his commitment to international law, Saleh vowed that Libya would not allow its current period of political division to be exploited to compromise its sovereign rights.
