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POST TIME: 7 December, 2019 00:00 00 AM
Greece expels Libyan envoy over Turkey maritime deal
AFP, Athens

Greece expels Libyan envoy over Turkey maritime deal

Greece’s foreign ministry yesterday said it was expelling the Libyan ambassador for failing to disclose the contents of a disputed maritime jurisdiction deal with Turkey that has raised hackles in the region.

“I regret to announce that the Libyan ambassador was summoned to the ministry this morning and was informed of his expulsion,” Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias told reporters, adding that the envoy had been given 72 hours to leave Greece. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week met with the head of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), Prime Minister Fayed al-Sarraj, to sign agreements on security and military cooperation, as well as maritime jurisdictions.

Part of the deal sets a maritime boundary between the two countries, which Greece says fails to take into account the island of Crete.