Cypriot Speaker Arrives in Beirut as Berri Hopes Tenders Will be Issued to Begin Oil, Gas Exploration

Speaker Nabih Berri emphasized on Monday that Lebanon and Cyprus have no problems over the offshore oil and gas wealth in the Mediterranean.

He said after holding talks with visiting Cypriot Speaker Yiannakis Omirou: “I hope that tenders would be issued before the end of the year to begin oil and gas exploration.”

He stressed that Lebanon only has quarrels with Israel over this issue.

The two officials also stressed the importance of bolstering cooperation between the two countries, with Berri reiterating Lebanon's readiness to provide Cyprus with potable water.

Berri had visited Cyprus in February to tackle cooperation between Lebanon and the island state and the offshore oil and gas.

For his part, Omirou said: “We must work on exerting efforts to bolster ties between Cyprus and Lebanon on all levels.”

“Both countries strive to achieve the same values of freedom and justice. They both advocate international law and resolving problems based on it,” he added during a joint press conference with Berri at Ain el-Tineh.

“We are obligated to cooperate to benefit from the natural resources, such as gas and potable water,” remarked the Cypriot speaker.

Omirou arrived in Beirut on Monday for talks with senior officials aimed at improving relations between the two countries, the state-run National News Agency reported.

“Cyprus and Lebanon are friendly countries and have excellent relations,” he said upon his arrival at Rafik Hariri International Airport.

The two countries face similar problems and “efforts should be exerted to improve ties,” he said.

NNA said over the weekend that the talks between Omirou and the Lebanese officials will highlight ways to develop parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

He met with President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour on Monday. He is also expected to hold talks with several religious officials, including Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Monday.

He is also scheduled to hold talks with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on the first day of his three-day visit to Beirut.

Lebanon and Israel are bickering over a zone that consists of about 854 square kilometers and suspected energy reserves there could generate billions of dollars.

The cabinet approved in September the proposed borders of Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Mediterranean.

In early November, the cabinet approved the appointment of the six members of the petroleum authority and in June, Lebanon was able to restore 530 square kilometers of a maritime zone that it considers it to be within its zone.

Lebanon has been slow to exploit its maritime resources compared with other eastern Mediterranean countries. Israel, Cyprus and Turkey are all much more advanced in drilling for oil and gas.