Lebanon, Cyprus start border demarcation talks in Baabda
A Cypriot delegation met Friday with President Michel Aoun over the maritime border demarcation between Lebanon and Cyprus, in the presence of Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab.
After the maritime border deal with Israel, Lebanon reached out to Syria and Cyprus to start direct negotiations over their northern and western maritime borders.
"Dealing with Cyprus is not like dealing with an enemy state," Bou Saab stated, after the meeting. "This speeds up the work," he added.
Bou Saab said that from now on Minister of Public Works & Transport Ali Hamiyeh and Minister of Energy Walid Fayyad will follow up on the demarcation with Cyprus.
Hamiyeh will meet, later today, with the Cypriot delegation to resume the talks.
The Cypriot presidential envoy said he feels at home in Lebanon, lauding the friendly ties between the two countries.
"There is no problem that cannot be resolved between Lebanon and Cyprus, and the demarcation issue is not that difficult," he said.
Bou Saab stressed the two sides' keenness on finalizing the demarcation deal.
He added that Lebanon is also awaiting an appointment from Syria, negating any disagreement between the two neighboring countries.
"The call between President Aoun and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was very positive," Bou Saab said. "And time will prove that there will be cooperation between Syria and Lebanon."
Source: Naharnet
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