Cypriot Delegation in Beirut on Wednesday to Settle Demarcation of Maritime Border Dispute

A delegation from Cyprus will arrive on Wednesday in Beirut to continue the discussions with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and Lebanese experts over the demarcation of the maritime borders between the two countries.

As Safir newspaper reported on Tuesday that the delegation will hold talks with Mansour as Cypriot experts will visit Lebanon later on.

The delegation is expected to sign agreements with some modifications approved by the two parties.

Lebanese diplomatic sources told the daily that the modifications “fall in Lebanon’s best interest.”

In November, Mansour headed a delegation to Cyprus to resume negotiations concerning the Economic Exclusive Zone.

The Lebanese cabinet approved the line of demarcation for EEZ, in an attempt to drill for oil and gas in the territorial waters and amid a dispute with Israel over a maritime area which is around 860 square kilometers.

The Israeli cabinet in July approved a map and submitted it to the United Nations.

The Israeli map conflicts with Lebanon's proposed borders, which give the Jewish state less territorial waters and was submitted to the United Nations last year.