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BEIRUT — Lebanon and Cyprus agreed Friday to maneuver forward with sea border talks a day after Beirut inked a maritime boundary take care of Israel that opens up profitable offshore gasoline fields.
“There’s no drawback between Lebanon and Cyprus that can not be resolved simply,” mentioned Cypriot envoy Tasos Tzionis following a gathering with Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
“We had very pleasant and very constructive discussions” on demarcating maritime borders between the 2 Mediterranean international locations, Tzionis mentioned, expressing hope an settlement was inside attain.
In 2007, Lebanon and Cyprus signed an settlement to delineate their respective unique financial zones, but it surely was by no means ratified by the Lebanese parliament as a result of then-unresolved dispute with Israel.
Neighbors Israel and Lebanon, that are technically nonetheless at warfare, signed on Thursday a US-brokered settlement eradicating hurdles for pure gasoline manufacturing by each international locations off their coast.
Cyprus, which has aspirations of turning into a serious vitality participant within the jap Mediterranean, has a key unique financial zone, divided into 12 blocks and, probably, wealthy in gasoline.
An Israeli delegation arrives on the Israeli border with Lebanon in Rosh Hanikra, Israel, October 27, 2022. (AP Photograph/ Maya Alleruzzo)
“The cooperation with Cyprus is just not just like the cooperation with the Israelis, the enemy state,” mentioned Elias Bou Saad, deputy speaker of the Lebanese parliament who performed a serious position within the oblique talks with Israel.
However Lebanon should additionally full talks with its northern neighbor Syria earlier than the maritime border with Cyprus could be lastly demarcated.
“We now have defined to the Cypriot celebration that we aren’t ready to unilaterally delineate the border… with out an settlement with Syria,” mentioned Bou Saad.
Syria, as soon as politically highly effective in Lebanon, has repeatedly refused border talks.
The Lebanese presidency introduced this week {that a} delegation would go to Damascus to debate the problem, however that journey has not occurred.
The Syrian ambassador in Beirut, Ali Abdel Karim Ali, mentioned it was as a consequence of “confusion” over the proposed dates.
Bou Saab mentioned, “now we have demanded to fulfill once more with our Syrian associates.”
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