ATHENS — The president of the Hellenic Parliament, Costas Tassoulas, and his Libyan counterpart, Aguila Saleh expressed the common position on Friday that the Turkey-Libya memorandum is illegal and invalid and has no force in the Libyan legislature.

They also expressed the belief that the two parliaments will further strengthen their friendly long-standing relations, with the aim of peace and security in the region. Tassoulas also mentioned the upcoming elections in Libya in December, emphasizing that "Greece wants credible normal, credible elections and the people of Libya to decide unhindered for their future, leaving behind the civil conflict."

"Everything that constitutes a credible relationship between our countries must be done. We look forward to further strengthening the relations between the two parliaments," he said pointing out at the same time that "the Turkey-Libya memorandum is illegal and violates international law ".

On his part, Saleh said that "the Turkish-Libyan agreement is completely invalid for the Libyan Parliament, which did not ratify it," and added that "nothing is recognized by the Libyan legislature."

"Libya rejects the presence of foreign troops and will demand their withdrawal from the country. The one who signed the memorandum is incompetent. For the Libyan Parliament, the agreement is completely invalid and it has not been ratified", the Libyan Speaker of the Parliament stressed.

Finally, he expressed the hope that "the elections in Libya will be peaceful, otherwise we will return to the same situation."

The memoranda are invalid, Saleh says

A joint message that "all foreign forces and mercenaries must leave the territory of Libya" was sent on Friday during the meeting of Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Libya, Aguila Saleh.

"What is needed – and you represent it in the clearest way – is to allow the Libyan people to express their overriding will in the elections. And in order for this to happen, all foreign forces and mercenaries must leave the territory of Libya," Dendias undrelined. In this context, he assured that Greece will do everything it can to help in this direction.

Saleh made it clear that "the Presidential Council, whose term has expired, did not have the power to conclude any agreements or memoranda that have not been ratified by the House of Representatives."

The House of Representatives rejected the ratification of such an agreement, declaring it invalid, he added.

Regarding the importance of the Mediterranean as a safe route for trade, Saleh said that "the Greek and Libyan people can ensure peace" and stressed that "there is a huge difference between one who defends his homeland and the right to life and to anyone who wishes to impose his hegemony on another country and seize the property of that country."