Suleiman, Cypriot President Agree to Intensify Efforts to Exploit Offshore Oil, Gas Wealth
Cyprus President Demetris Christofias arrived in Lebanon on Wednesday for talks with senior officials on the prospect of cooperation in the exploration of offshore oil and gas.
He kicked off his talks on Thursday with President Michel Suleiman, who thanked him for his country's support for Lebanon at various international meetings, especially at the European Union.
On oil exploration, he said: “We agreed to intensify efforts to help Lebanon and Cyprus benefit from the oil and gas wealth in the Mediterranean.”
Commenting on regional developments, he stated: “We hope security and stability would be reached in Syria with the rights of its people being respected away from the threat of division and extremism.
“We hope that stability in Syria would pave the way for the refugees in Lebanon to return to their country, whose presence in Lebanon is becoming a major problem,” he added.
For his part, Christofias expressed his fear over the ongoing unrest in Syria, while hailing the Lebanese government for distancing itself from the crisis.
Talks between the two officials also focused on bolstering bilateral ties and cooperation between Cyprus and Lebanon in various fields.
They signed a number of agreements on industry and military cooperation.
Christofias later met with Speaker Nabih Berri with talks focusing on regional developments, bolstering bilateral ties, and the exploration of offshore oil and gas.
Berri stressed that the regional developments are the product of the “constructive chaos” strategy and goals to establish a “new Middle East.”
On oil and gas exploration, he emphasized Lebanon's right and determination to exploit this wealth.
Christofias meanwhile highlighted the strength of the historic ties between Lebanon and Cyprus, as well as his country's keenness on Lebanon's stability and security at this point in time.
“The world is in need of balance now more than ever given the developments in the region,” he stated.
Moreover, the Cypriot President met with Prime Minister Najib Miqati with talks highlighting the necessity to enhance economic and bilateral relations between the two countries.
On the issue of offshore oil exploration Miqati pointed out to “the close interrelationship in the oil and gas file and the need for continued cooperation between Lebanon and Cyprus in order to benefit from this great wealth.”
On his part, Christofias hailed the “great efforts exerted by the Lebanese government to aid the Syrian refugees,” adding that “Cyprus will seek within the European Union to provide more aid to Lebanon to face this humanitarian dilemma.”
Christofias visited Lebanon at the invitation of Suleiman who had visited Nicosia in February 2010.
Cyprus has forged ahead with its own energy search, but is anxious to conclude demarcation agreements on maritime Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with its neighbors.
It has also signed delineation agreements with Lebanon, Egypt and Israel to pave the way for exploiting hydrocarbon deposits that criss-cross their boundaries.
But an agreement has been held up in the Lebanese parliament due to Lebanon's own dispute with Israel over sea borders.
Cypriot Speaker Yiannakis Omirou visited Lebanon in December 2012 and discussed ways to bolster cooperation between Lebanon and Cyprus.
The cabinet approved in September 2012 the proposed borders of Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Mediterranean.
In early November, the cabinet approved the appointment of the six members of the petroleum authority and in June, Lebanon was able to restore 530 square kilometers of a maritime zone that it considers it to be within its zone.
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.
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