Hochstein to visit Beirut, says working on reviving Egypt-Jordan energy deal
U.S. energy mediator Amos Hochstein will visit Beirut next week to submit a U.S.-signed demarcation proposal, Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab said.
Last week, Lebanon and Israel said they agreed on the terms of the U.S.-mediated deal over a maritime border dispute involving offshore gas fields.
Bou Saab said, in a statement late Tuesday, that Hochstein will submit the proposal signed by the U.S. government.
As soon as the U.S. sends a notice confirming it has received from Lebanon and Israel their separate approvals, the demarcation deal will go into force.
Lebanon and Israel will then deposit maritime border coordinates with the United Nations -- in a move that will override 2011 submissions by both countries.
Hochstein had said on Tuesday that he is also working on finalizing a deal that would provide gas and electricity to Lebanon from Egypt and Jordan via Syria.
"We are going to work with the World Bank and Treasury Department to make sure that it first doesn’t affect any sanctions, which I think we are okay on, but we will have to have a determination formally," Hochstein said.
Despite sanctions on Syria, Washington had offered reassurances to Lebanon and waivers from sanctions to companies sending gas and electricity through Syria. But there has been some push back from Congress against offering what seems to be a relief for the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"It’s going to take a few years to get gas out of the Qana field. If we can get as much gas into Lebanon from Egypt and electricity from Jordan in the meantime, that would be very important," Hochstein said.
Source: Naharnet
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