Berri Makes Series of Contacts over Appointment of Members of Petroleum Authority

Speaker Nabih Berri urged on Wednesday the need to activate government work in order to tackle pending issues and the people's daily concerns.

He revealed that he had conducted over the past few hours “intense” contacts over the appointment of members of the petroleum authority.

He made his remarks during his weekly meeting with MPs at his Ain el-Tineh residence.

The speaker highlighted the importance of the appointments at the petroleum authority, saying that its achievement will help improve the poor economic situation in Lebanon.

Moreover, Berri stressed the need for the continuation of the work of the parliamentary committees “that serve as the heart of parliament's legislative work.”

He had stated over the weekend that a recent international study had revealed that Lebanon sits on the greatest oil and gas wealth in the region.

Disputes had emerged between Berri's AMAL movement and MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc over the appointments in the petroleum authority.

Lebanon and Israel are bickering over a zone that consists of about 854 square kilometers and suspected energy reserves there could generate billions of dollars.

The cabinet approved in September the proposed borders of Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Mediterranean.

In June, Lebanon was able to restore 530 square kilometers of a maritime zone that it considers it to be within its EEZ.

Media reports said that, the United States and the United Nations acknowledged Lebanon’s rights to control the 530 square kilometer disputed area after prolonged diplomatic and political efforts.

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.