Nikos Appelaios II argued that the ratification of the Turkey-Libya memorandum by the eastern Libya parliament, following its ratification by the western Libya parliament in 2019, would provoke diplomatic reactions and strengthen Turkish activity in the eastern Mediterranean. He estimated that energy and bilateral relations would be affected, without changing Greece's legal position. He noted that Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, Israel, and the EU were expected to reiterate that the memorandum is null and produces no legal effects against third countries, as, in his view, it disregards the rights of Greek islands, especially Crete, based on UNCLOS. He added that verbal notes and coordinated European and international positions would be significant. Appelaios called on Athens to intensify pressure on Libya for the delimitation of maritime zones or to finalize the Greece-Egypt agreement of 2020, which, he noted, overlaps with Turkish-Libyan claims. He estimated that Turkey could interpret the ratification as a "green light" for further seismic surveys, geophysical studies, or drilling in the contested areas, as well as for increased naval presence and pressure to accept its claims. According to him, such moves would increase the risk of incidents. He characterized the ratification as a blow to the Greece-Cyprus-Israel axis and said it would complicate Greek research south of Crete. He mentioned that Libya had already reacted to the surveys since August, with a verbal note and a threat to freeze talks. He also estimated that Turkey would seek to exploit the now united Libyan position as leverage for multilateral negotiations. He predicted further rapprochement between Haftar and Turkey at economic, political, and possibly military levels, following the lifting of the 2020 boycott. According to him, this could alter the balance in eastern Libya and have serious implications for cooperation with Greece and Egypt. He clarified that the ratification would not resolve Libya's internal divisions nor would it automatically confer international legitimacy on the memorandum against third parties, but would politically strengthen Turkey and complicate Greek diplomacy. He added that Greece's legal position remained strong and that any potential escalation would depend on Turkish actions and the Greek response. Finally, he criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that it had not acted in a timely manner, and mentioned that if he were prime minister, he would have already requested the resignation of George Gerapetritis. #Λιβύη #ΕλληνικήΔιπλωματία #ΑνατολικήΜεσόγειος (translated)

e-Defence reported, citing Reuters, that the Libyan parliament approved the Turkey-Libya memorandum of 2019 for the delimitation of maritime zones with Turkey and rescinded the decisions of 2020 that rejected it and called for a cessation of relations with Turkey. It linked the development to the replacement of the long-standing president of the Libyan Parliament, A. Saleh, by A. Nabili, a former head of the parliamentary friendship committee with Turkey. It was noted that the change occurred with the agreement of the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Government of National Stability, which were described as the two opposing sides in the country. e-Defence characterized the decision as a blow to Greek interests and noted that the lack of ratification by the Libyan parliament was a key argument against the memorandum. It argued that the memorandum remained illegal under international law because, in its view, it did not take Greece into account as a neighboring state and violated the rights of Greek islands to continental shelf and EEZ, according to UNCLOS. It added that while Greek foreign policy was based on legal arguments, Turkish policy invested in showcasing hard power and argued that the developments in Libya demonstrated which approach prevailed. https://t.co/lL3A1AkPbp #Λιβύη #Τουρκία #Ελλάδα (translated)

This morning,Pina Picierno,Vice-President of the European Parliament,began a hunger strike to draw attention to the situation in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky,which is under Russ occupation,to help save the lives of civilians,including children.Russia is starving the city's residents #SaveOleshky

Nikolas Boyiopoulos wrote that the rulers in France were promoting a austerity package of 54 billion euros for 2027, with cuts to social spending, pensions, social benefits, and employment. He contrasted this with the projected military spending, which he estimated at 64 billion euros for 2027, 68.3 billion for 2028, 72.8 billion for 2029, and 76.3 billion for 2030, totaling 436 billion euros for the period 2024-2030. Boyiopoulos criticized those who, as he wrote, attributed the social and youth explosion in France to agents of Islamism and instigators of anarcho-communism. He mentioned Trump and Soti, as well as other individuals whom he described with derogatory terms. He added that, in his opinion, such rhetoric prepared plans for unprecedented repression practices, not only in France. #Γαλλία #λιτότητα #κοινωνικάδικαιώματα (translated)