ATHENS 

Greece seeks a restart with Libya’s National Unity Government (GNA), a major Greek daily reported Thursday.

The Kathimerini newspaper noted contacts between the parties “are at a turning point in the effort to build functional channels of communication,” citing Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis’ phone call Wednesday with his Libyan counterpart, Najla Mangoush.

It argued that the development is also related to an ongoing thaw in Greek-Turkish relations as the Turkish-Libyan Memorandum of Understanding in 2019 on the delimitation of the maritime borders which was seen as a stumbling block by Athens.

Gerapetritis underscored the need to relaunch relations between Athens and reiterated Greece’s decision to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Libya by accrediting an ambassador in Tripoli after almost a decade, the newspaper said, citing diplomatic sources.

Drawing attention to extensive strategic relations between Türkiye and the GNA, it said: “​​​​​​Despite the fact that the current government is not authorized by the letter of international law to sign treaties, it is well known in Athens that the main game in Libya is being played out in Tripoli.”

It also emphasized that “despite Libya’s unique circumstances, everyone is keen to engage with the current leadership, as indicated by recent accords signed between Tripoli and the Georgia Meloni-led Italian government.”