Given the de facto possibility on the part of the Libyan Authorities to issue instructions to seafarers for anything, the competent directorate for the notification of NAVTEX in the Mediterranean, the Spanish NAVAREA III requested the Greek hydrographic station of Heraklion to issue NAVTEX for an area of Libyan jurisdiction.
In particular, it is an underwater cable repair that will be carried out from March 29 to April 6 by the RAYMOND CROZE vessel
This, if nothing else, is a recognition of the capabilities of the competent Greek authorities and a small but resounding slap in the face of Turkey's ambitions in the region.
Greece's political relations with Libya as defined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are defined as follows:
"The geographical proximity and the centuries-old Greek presence on the Libyan coast make the two countries natural partners. The friendly relations of the two countries were also traditionally reflected in the network of bilateral agreements, which covered a wide range of sectors.
During the revolution of 2011, but also after its end, our country helped Libya politically and humanitarianly, while a large number of Libyan wounded were treated in Greek nursing institutions.
Since July 2014, when the country entered a period of civil conflict, the diplomatic missions of foreign states, with very few exceptions, suspended their operations for security reasons, including the Greek Embassy in Tripoli (from 31.7.2014) . At the same time, Greece carried out an operation to free a total of 186 Greek and foreign citizens (Chinese, Cypriots, Belgians, British), who arrived at the port of Piraeus with the Navy frigate "Salamis".
With the signing between the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya and Turkey (19.11.2019) of the illegal Maritime Zone Delimitation Memorandum, bilateral relations with the GNA suffered a blow.
In fact, as a sign of its strong dissatisfaction with the GNA, given that the then Minister of Foreign Affairs had denied the possibility of signing such an agreement, Greece declared the Libyan Ambassador undesirable.
The Ceasefire Agreement (23.10.2020) allowed the intensification of efforts, with the mediation of the UN, for a political settlement of the Libyan crisis within the framework of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF). These efforts resulted in the election of a new transitional Executive Authority under the President of the Presidential Council Mohammed Younis Menfi (5.2.2021) and then the vote of confidence of the Libyan Parliament in favor of the new Transitional Government under Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeiba (15.3. 2021). The aim of the latter is to lead the country towards elections on 24.12.2021.
In light of these important developments, Greece immediately expressed its support to the new transitional Libyan leadership, and decided to reopen the Embassy in Tripoli. Following the invitation of Prime Minister Dbeiba, Prime Minister Mr. Mitsotakis will travel to Tripoli on 6.04.2021, where he will meet with the President of the Presidential Council and the Prime Minister, and will also attend the reopening ceremony of the Embassy.
Greece firmly supports the completion of efforts to achieve a final political solution, Libyan ownership, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UNSC and the Conclusions of the Berlin Process. A basic condition for the smooth development of the political process, but also for a sustainable solution, he considers the observance of the truce and the arms embargo, the withdrawal of all foreign forces, mercenaries, and military bases, as well as the end of the interventions of third countries.
Together with its partners in the EU, Greece participates in the international community's efforts to consolidate appropriate conditions for stability and security, as well as the creation of a modern rule of law in Libya."
The Embassy of Greece in Libya, whose operation was suspended on 31.07.2014, reopens from 06.04.2021. Libya maintains an Embassy in Athens.
