Turkey ready to sign maritime boundary deal with Egypt, defense ministry says

Turkey's Ministry of National Defense said it is ready to sign an agreement with Egypt to delimit maritime zones, following the Libyan House of Representatives' approval of the Libya Agreement. Spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk stated that if Egypt signs such an agreement with Turkey, it would gain more than 15,000 square kilometers of maritime jurisdiction compared to a potential deal with Greece.

Aktürk made the remarks at the ministry's weekly press briefing held at the Martyr Journalist Hasan Tahsin Press Briefing Hall in Ankara. He also offered condolences to the family of Intelligence Colonel Sayit Gökgöz, who was killed in a military vehicle accident in Ankara on October 24.

“If Egypt signs such an agreement with our country, it will have more than 15,000 square kilometers of maritime jurisdiction compared to a possible agreement it could make with Greece.”

The briefing, held on the 103rd anniversary of the Republic, also honored Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the heroes of the National Struggle. Aktürk announced Republic Day events for October 29, including a ceremony at Anıtkabir, congratulations at the Presidential Complex, and a passing ceremony in Ankara.

The Turkish Naval Forces will conduct port visits with 29 ships to 29 ports, opening the vessels to public visitation. The Turkish Stars will perform an honorary flight over Anıtkabir, while SOLOTÜRK will stage an air show in Eskişehir. Mehteran, Harmony Band, and Band Command will hold concerts in Ankara, and military museums will be open to the public free of charge on October 29.

On security, Aktürk said two PKK terrorists surrendered during the past week. He added that 422 people were caught at the borders attempting illegal crossings in the same period, one of whom was a member of a terrorist organization.