Lebanese-Cypriot Talks to Resolve Natural Resources Dispute

A Cypriot foreign ministry official, tasked with following up the natural resources issue with Lebanese authorities, held talks with a number of senior officials during an undisclosed visit to Beirut.

According to As Safir newspaper published on Friday, the result of the visit was described as “positive.”

Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis is set to also visit Lebanon before Speaker Nabih Berri’s scheduled trip to the island state end of February, the daily reported.

Berri held talks on Thursday with U.S. State Department special coordinator on Middle East affairs Frederick Hof, stressing that Lebanon is committed to the drilling of oil within all of its maritime borders.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper quoted Berri as saying “Lebanon will not retreat one iota from its rights” concerning the issue.

An Nahar daily reported that Hof described his visit as a chance to resolve the dispute over the maritime border in order for Lebanon to start excavating for its natural resources.

Lebanon has been slow to exploit its maritime resources compared with other eastern Mediterranean countries. But the government has warned that it will not give up its maritime rights and accuses Israel of violating its waters, territory and air space.

In January, the cabinet endorsed plans to implement legislation that will clear the way for offshore oil and gas exploration as it aims to invite tenders to explore for offshore gas within three months, downplaying the risk of conflict with Israel despite a dispute over the maritime border.

In August, Parliament passed a law setting Lebanon's maritime boundary and Exclusive Economic Zone.

Lebanon has also submitted to the United Nations a maritime map that conflicts significantly with one proposed by Israel. It argues its map is in line with an armistice accord drawn up in 1949, an agreement which is not contested by Israel.

The disputed zone consists of about 854 square kilometers, and suspected energy reserves there could generate billions of dollars.