Cypriot FM Stresses Oil Deal with Israel Will Not be Modified, Seeks Agreement with Lebanon
Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis stressed on Friday that her country will not modify its agreement with Israel over the Exclusive Economic Zone, which Beirut and Tel Aviv are bickering over.
“We have already signed a deal with Israel, we would be very happy if Lebanon and Israel agreed on the matter, which would facilitate implementing our deal with Israel,” Kozakou-Marcoullis told As Safir newspaper.
She revealed that Cyprus is seeking to resolve the dispute, saying: “We are optimistic.”
An exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a maritime zone, in which a state has rights over the exploration and use of marine resources.
A prolonged debate emerged between Lebanon over the maritime border after the discovery of potential offshore energy reserves as both claims a disputed area consists of about 854 square kilometers.
The Israeli map conflicts with Lebanon's proposed borders, which give the Jewish state less territorial waters and was submitted to the U.N. in 2011.
Beirut argues its map is in line with an armistice accord drawn up in 1949, an agreement which is not contested by Israel.
“We are looking forward for a solution, it doesn’t necessary have to be an agreement between the two” as they are in a hostile state, the FM stated.
Kozakou-Marcoullis noted that her visit to Lebanon aims at tackling the cooperation between Nicosia and Beirut in oil exploration, civil defense, rescue operations, tourism and commerce fields.
“Lebanon and Cyprus inked a deal in 2007 for demarking the EEZ but the Lebanese parliament hasn’t approved it yet due to the dispute with Israel,” she said.
The Cypriot FM lashed out at Turkey when asked about Ankara’s stance on the deal between Lebanon and Cyprus as it opposes its implementation.
“Turkey has no role in this matter; we are a sovereign state so is Lebanon, and Turkey has no right to interfere in this bilateral agreement.”
Cyprus is locked in a row with Turkey over maritime gas exploration rights.
Cypriot President Demetris Christofias accused Turkey of threatening Cyprus over its decision to launch a second licensing round for offshore oil and gas exploration blocks.
Kozakou-Marcoullis met separately on Friday with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aound and Phalange Party leader Amine Gemayel.
Concerning the unrest in Syria, she urged the Syrian regime and the rebels to halt the violence, opposing any military intervention in Syria as it would lead to a civil war.
“A military intervention would have unexpected and dangerous repercussions on Lebanon and the region as a whole,” she stressed.
She hoped that all parties would reach a peaceful, political solution that ends the killing and the massacres.
FM Kozakou-Marcoullis arrived in Lebanon on Thursday on a two-day visit at the head of a high-ranking delegation as she met separately with President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Speaker Nabih Berri.
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