Greek Foreign Minister cuts visit to Tripoli short after diplomatic incident

·

Greece’s foreign minister Nikos Dendias called off the first leg of a visit to Libya on Thursday, refusing to disembark from his plane after landing in the capital of Tripoli, Greek authorities said.

Dendias instead flew to the city of Benghazi in Libya’s east.

The Greek Foreign Minister was on a two-part trip that was to include a meeting with the president of Libya’s western, Tripoli-based government, Mohamed Younis Menfi. That was to be followed by a meeting in Benghazi with the east-based administration.

A terse statement from the Greek ministry indicated Dendias did not want to meet with his Tripoli counterpart, Najla Mangoush, yet she came to the airport to greet him.

As soon as Dendias was informed of the presence of Mangoush at the airport, he decided to immediately leave for Benghazi without even getting off the government plane.

Dendias later told reporters that Mangoush “tried to force me, by her presence at the airport, to meet with her.”

Mangoush, who is a minister with the Tripoli caretaker government, signed the Turkish-Libyan agreement for hydrocarbon exploration with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in October.

Athens’ position, with which Egypt is also aligned, is that the term of the current Tripoli government has expired and it cannot legitimately sign international agreements that are binding for the country’s future.

Mohamed Hamuda, a spokesman from the Tripoli-based government, said Mangoush’s presence at the airport was part of diplomatic conventions.

In response, Libya on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Athens and the foreign ministry summoned the Greek chargé d’affaire in Tripoli to protest the Greek foreign minister’s decision to cancel his meeting with the head of the country’s Presidency Council.

Source: AP News.

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Greece moves to ban protests at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, sparking outcry

Greece’s government has proposed a ban on protests at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the monument outside Parliament in Athens.

Greek music legend Dionysis Savvopoulos dies at 80

Renowned Greek singer-songwriter Dionysis Savvopoulos passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80 following cardiac arrest.

‘Compassion, community and purpose’ define the 2025 Jenny Souris Foundation Gala

The Jenny Souris Foundation Gala returned on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, with heart and purpose, drawing around 300 guests.

Thousands attend inaugural Brunswick Greek Festival

Thousands of people attended the Brunswick Greek Festival which was organised and run by the St Eleftherios Albion Street Brunswick parish.

St John’s church in Carlton hosts annual celebration for Patron Saint of police officers

The annual celebration of Saint Artemios’ feast day is one of the key events on the Victoria Hellenic Police Association (VHPA) calendar.

You May Also Like

Dezi and Penny set to serve up a Greek feast on Channel 7’s Plate of Origin

Cousins Dezi and Penny are serious about Greek food. They tell TGH why Team Greece will amaze the judges on Channel 7's Plate of Origin.

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia: Bishop Aimilianos of Meloa ordained on Christmas Day

This year, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia shared two celebrations on December 25th, Christmas Day as well as the ordainment of Bishop Aimilianos of Meloa. The Holy...

Eleftherios Petrounias wins Tokyo Olympics bronze medal in men’s rings final

Eleftherios Petrounias has won a Tokyo Olympics bronze medal for Greece in the men's rings final this afternoon.