Russian Delegation Seeks to Clinch Oil Exploration Deal with Lebanon
A Russian team is visiting Lebanon in an attempt to sign contracts with Lebanese authorities to have oil exploration rights in Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone, media reports said Saturday.
As Safir daily reported that the delegation was carrying a message from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to his Lebanese counterpart.
It met on Friday with PM Najib Miqati, Speaker Nabih Berri, Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn and Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji.
While Miqati’s sources told An Nahar that the issue of oil was not at the top of the agenda of the delegation’s talks with Lebanese officials, As Safir said the two sides discussed the revival of cooperation protocols in all sectors and mainly investment in gas and oil in Lebanon’s territorial waters.
The delegation and the Lebanese officials also discussed energy, dam and infrastructure projects and the possibility of the contribution of Russian companies to such projects.
Its mission also included discussions of military cooperation between the two countries. The delegation informed Ghosn and Qahwaji Russia’s readiness to fully support Lebanon in that regard.
Meanwhile, opposition MP Butros Harb said that he was still waiting for an answer from Miqati’s cabinet on Syrian President Bashar Assad’s alleged request from Bassil to give Russian companies rights to explore oil and natural gas in Lebanese waters.
Bassil “should have taken permission from the president and the premier before travelling (to Damascus) and should have immediately informed the cabinet about his talks (with Assad) but this didn’t happen,” Harb said.
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