Greek foreign minister causes a stir after refusing to leave plane on visit to Tripoli

Greece’s international minister known as off the primary leg of his go to to Libya simply moments after touchdown in Tripoli on Thursday.

Nikos Dendias was on a two-part journey to satisfy Libya’s rival western administration within the capital and the east-based administration in town of Benghazi.

However he refused to disembark from his airplane in Tripoli when his counterpart, Najla Mangoush, got here to the airport to greet him. As an alternative, Dendias flew to Benghazi forward of schedule.

Mangoush signed the controversial Turkish-Libyan oil and fuel exploration deal in October -- a transfer Athens blasted, claiming the Tripoli authorities was not authorised to take action.

Dendias earlier requested to be greeted by the president of Libya’s Nationwide Transitional Council, Mohamed Younis Menfi, and that nobody else can be current for the assembly, the Greek press reported. 

The Greek Overseas Ministry described the incident as a violation of protocol and the agreed phrases for the go to.

In a terse assertion, Athens condemned the transfer and promised to retaliate "with acceptable diplomatic measures".

Gasoline deal fuels additional Mediterranean feuds

Since March, two governments have been battling for energy in Libya after the 2011 rebellion.

A spokesperson for the Tripoli-based authorities mentioned Mangoush’s presence on the airport was a part of diplomatic conventions and that Dendias had left town "with out providing explanations".

In response, Tripoli mentioned it had recalled the Libyan ambassador in Athens and had summoned the Greek chargé d'affaires.

Tensions have been rising within the Mediterranean following a controversial maritime and fuel deal between Turkey and the Tripoli authorities.

Final month's preliminary deal has been rejected by each Greece and Egypt, who additionally accuse Turkey of utilizing the settlement to attempt to develop its affect within the area. 

Throughout a Cairo go to final month, Dendias mentioned the deal infringes on Greek maritime borders.

In 2019, Turkey signed one other controversial maritime border take care of Tripoli, granting it entry to a contested financial zone within the japanese Mediterranean. 

The deal ignored the existence of a number of Greek islands, together with Crete, and reignited tensions over oil and fuel drilling rights.

In the meantime, Cairo and Athens have strengthened ties in recent times, together with signing new maritime border agreements with Cyprus.