by Mahmoud Darwesh

TRIPOLI, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- The maritime memorandum of understanding (MoU) that Libya and Turkey recently signed has been raising controversy even before it enters into force.

On Nov. 27, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj signed two MoUs on security and maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean.

Libyan analysts believe that the maritime MoU raises regional tensions, which could escalate the regional situation and open the confrontation between Tripoli and Ankara.

"The MoU recently signed between Tripoli and Ankara will certainly not go quietly, especially with the position of the Eastern Mediterranean countries, namely Greece, Egypt and Cyprus. The three countries regard the MoU as an attempt to expand Turkey's influence in the Mediterranean which has enormous economic wealth," Khaled Tarhouni, a Libyan political analyst, told Xinhua.

"The MoU is ambiguous because its terms have not been revealed, as if the two parties are trying to hide details that are economically harmful to the interests of countries in the region," Tahouni said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the maritime MoU signed with Libya aims to protect Turkey's rights in the Mediterranean.

The signing of the MoUs came amid differences between Turkey on one hand, and Egypt, Greece and Cyprus, on another hand, over the exploration rights for oil and natural gas in the Mediterranean.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry warned on Tuesday the MoU would further deepen the rift between Libyans.

Kamal al-Mansouri, a Libyan economic analyst, believes that the maritime MoU should be agreed upon by all countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, in order to avoid tension that may amount to a clash between the countries of the region.

"Economic wealth, especially at sea and at border points, creates deep disagreements between countries concerned. Therefore, escalation and tension between countries increase, as each country believes that its interests are affected by a bilateral agreement," al-Mansouri told Xinhua.

"Libya, Turkey, Greece, Egypt and Cyprus should all sit down and decide on the type of agreement on the use of maritime sites overlooking each country and their equitable demarcation. Thus, the relations (between those countries) would guarantee each country's rights towards the other," al-Mansouri explained.

"Without that, signing bilateral agreements in such a heated environment means resorting to war options to defend economic interests," al-Mansouri added.

The European Union demanded the Libyan authorities to explain the contents of the maritime MoU, stressing full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus against Turkey.

"It is imperative that the international law of the sea, the principle of good neighbourly relations and the sovereignty and sovereign rights over the maritime zones of all neighbouring coastal states, including those generated by their islands, need to be respected," the EU said in a statement on Wednesday.

"All members of the international community must abide by these principles and should refrain from any actions undermining regional stability and security," it added.

In a phone call with the EU Ambassador to Libya Alan Bugeja on Saturday, the foreign minister of the UN-backed Libyan government said that "Libya is cooperating with all countries for the common interests as guaranteed by international law."

The eastern-based House of Representatives of Libya called on the United Nations and the Arab League not to recognize the MoU, considering it "void" as the House of Representatives had not approved it.

Libya has been suffering escalating violence and political instability ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. The country is politically divided between the eastern- and western-based governments, leading to escalation of violence and instability.

The eastern-based army, which is allied with the eastern-based House of Representatives, has been leading a military campaign since early April in and around the capital Tripoli, attempting to take over the city and overthrow the UN-backed government.

The armed conflict has killed and injured thousands of people, while displacing nearly 120,000 civilians. Enditem

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