Siniora: Conflict between Cyprus and Lebanon over EEZ to be solved

A Future Bloc delegation, presided by Former PM Fouad Siniora, met on Tuesday Cypriot House Speaker Yiannakis Omirou who is currently in Lebanon.  

Following their meeting, Siniora stated that it is necessary to solve the conflict between Cyprus and Lebanon over the exclusive economic zone, stressing that a solution that both countries benefit from can be reached.

Siniora added that Cyprus is the closest European country to the Arab region, especially Lebanon, describing it as the major role player in the relations between the European Union and the Arab East.

Cyprus has offered to mediate between Lebanon and Israel over a maritime border dispute that is delaying some oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean, a Cypriot official said Monday.

Both Lebanon and Israel claim a small maritime area of 850 square kilometers. The dispute has held up ratification of the 2007 Lebanese-Cypriot agreement, defining Exclusive Economic Zones among the three countries. It has also led to bitter exchanges and threats between Israel and Lebanon.

Lebanon says that a bilateral agreement signed in 2010 between Cyprus and Israel and ratified a year later conflicts with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Lebanon demands that it be amended in accordance with international laws that govern the demarcation of maritime borders among states.


LBCI/AP