Tripoli: Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdul Hamid Dabaiba, chaired a meeting on Tuesday to discuss developments in the Libyan maritime border issue. Dabaiba emphasized that the maritime border issue is a sovereign matter that impacts the essence of national security.
According to Libyan News Agency, the meeting was attended by key figures including Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs Walid al-Lafi, Minister of Transport Mohammed al-Shahoubi, Chairman of the Land and Maritime Borders Committee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammed al-Harari, Chairman of the National Oil Corporation Masoud Suleiman, and Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers Rashid Boughafa. They discussed technical and legal aspects related to the demarcation of Libya’s maritime borders and assessed the political and regional challenges associated with Libya’s sovereign rights in its maritime areas, focusing on natural resources in exclusive economic zones.
Dbaiba underscored that the maritime border issue touches on the core of Libyan national security and cannot be approached with a technical perspective separate from national political decisions. He emphasized the need for complete institutional harmony, combining technical precision, legal authority, and a clear sovereign decision.
Mohamed Al-Harari provided a briefing on the current situation and the progress of the committee’s work, highlighting the obstacles in completing the demarcation and control of maritime points. He stressed the importance of coordination between technical and sovereign authorities to secure a firm Libyan position amidst potential regional disputes.
The Chairman of the National Oil Corporation addressed the repercussions of any legal or geographical confusion on offshore exploration and production activities. The need was emphasized to secure full legal cover for concession areas to protect Libya’s resources from external disputes.
The media office of the Prime Minister stated that the meeting concluded with an emphasis on establishing a technical sovereignty chamber. This chamber would coordinate between relevant parties, monitor the implementation of maritime demarcation and monitoring plans, and strengthen Libya’s position on the regional map in accordance with the Law of the Sea and approved international agreements.
The office indicated that this meeting is part of the Government of National Unity’s strategy to regain initiative in all matters related to national sovereignty, both on land and at sea, and to unify Libya’s position in handling strategic issues that cannot be postponed or disputed.