Berri Heads to Cyprus to Discuss Maritime Border
Speaker Nabih Berri arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday to follow up discussions on demarcating the maritime border, As Safir newspaper reported.
Berri kicked off the visit by meeting with President Demetris Christofias.
He will later hold talks on the border demarcation with other high-ranking officials.
According to the daily, he will announce his stance on the maritime border agreement signed between Cyprus and Israel, which was held at Lebanon’s expense.
In January, the Cabinet approved the oil and gas decrees after lengthy discussion over who should administer the tender and oil and gas exploration in its offshore territorial borders.
U.S. Special Coordinator for Regional Affairs Frederic Hof revealed that his country is willing to help Lebanon and Israel resolve the issue of disputed maritime borders.
On February 16, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks in Nicosia with Cypriot leaders on energy cooperation and economic ties.
Israel, Cyprus, and Lebanon have discovered huge offshore natural gas deposits beneath the Mediterranean Sea separating them.
However, the Israeli map conflicts with Lebanon's proposed maritime border. Beirut argues its map is in line with an armistice accord drawn up in 1949, an agreement which is not contested by Israel.
A prolonged debate emerged between Lebanon, Cyprus, Turkey, and Israel over the demarcation of maritime border for its Exclusive Economic Zone.
The disputed zone consists of about 854 square kilometers, and suspected energy reserves there could generate billions of dollars.
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.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/31644 |