UNIFIL to Aid Lebanon in Oil Exploration after 'Political Solution' Reached
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
UNIFIL Commander Maj. Gen. Paolo Serra said on Thursday that the peacekeeping force is waiting for the Lebanese to reach a political solution over the extraction of the country's oil and gas resources to ensure the safety of the its maritime.
The “UNIFIL has nine vessels and will offer all the logistic capabilities to aid Lebanon in the drilling process,” Serra said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper.
UNIFIL's Maritime Task Force comprises nine naval units from Bangladesh (2 ships), Brazil (1 ship - Flag Ship), Germany (2 ships), Greece (1 ship), Indonesia (1 ship), Italy (1 ship) and Turkey (1 ship).
However, Serra pointed out that the matter “reached a standstill.”
Acute discord among Lebanese officials is delaying the awarding of 10 offshore oil blocks as Speaker Nabih Berri is calling for the assigning of the 10 offshore blocks for oil exploration at once.
Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil is calling for designating only two blocks for the meantime and urging caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati to hold an extraordinary session to approve two necessary draft-laws.
The decrees call for demarcating 10 maritime oil exploration blocks and setting up a revenue-sharing model.
However, the March 14 alliance is calling for the postponement of the issue, which is not “urgent” and can wait until the formation of a new cabinet.
According to al-Akhbar newspaper, United Nations Secretary-General Ban K-moon had suggested to extend the term of Serra a month ago.
Serra's mandate ends in January.
Sources told al-Akhbar that Lebanon and the U.N. “agreed to extend Serra's term regarding the delicate situation in Lebanon and the region, in particular, the crisis in Syria.”
The daily said that the concerned parties favor the decision as Serra “is completely coordinating with the Lebanese army and security forces and has acquired the necessary knowledge regarding Lebanon's local complications.”
25 October 2013, 13:01
42
Before UNIFIL can assist Lebanon in its Oil Exploration, there needs to be -
1. Agreement between the parties in Lebanon as to the awarding of the off-shore blocks, but this is looking to be taking too long a time due to the political infighting in the country.
2. Solve the dispute over the 800-odd square kilometers of sea with Israel, something that could easily be solved, if and only if, the Government of Lebanon decided that it was time to sit down face to face with the Government of Israel.
25 October 2013, 15:28
41
"The only way to solve the dispute with Israel is to actually sit around a table with them and start talking. "
Has the Government of Lebanon even tried to sit down with them, even with third party participation? I very much doubt that Israel would refuse to talk.
25 October 2013, 15:54
15
Philippo. How can we talk to Israel if they won't take back the 400,000 pals that belong in their land?
25 October 2013, 16:52
41
"How can we talk to Israel"
The same way that Jordan and Egypt did.
"400,000 pals"
So there are 400,000 who left their homes in 1948?
All over the world millions of refugees from conflicts have settled in their new countries and made a great future for themselves. Why can't those within the Middle East?
26 October 2013, 05:18
10
phillipo,
1) Because they want to go back home and it is their right to do so.
2) Because it is their rightful place
3) Because we Lebanese do not have the capacity or ability to absorb them (we ourselves are a nation of emigrants.
Once the wrong is made right, then I personally think Lebanon should sign a peace treaty with Israel (but taking back those you forced out should be part of any such treaty).
25 October 2013, 20:14
21
"he March 14 alliance is calling for the postponement of the issue, which is not “urgent” and can wait until the formation of a new cabinet."
they are right, there are MUCH BIGGER issues that cannot wait and need to be tackled with before the oil extraction...
25 October 2013, 20:15
11
If politicians were not that eager to fill their own pockets with the oil extraction, they would appoint a neutral commitee made of oil experts and let them handle this issue...
but the impatience they show for this issue prove how greedy they are... since the 60s lebanon has this issue on the table.... why are they soooooo impatient now? LOL
