Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (left) talks with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on the sidelines of COP27 on Nov. 6, 2022. (Credit: Twitter/@grandserail)
Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, assured Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on Sunday that there is "no obstacle" in the follow-up of the file on the maritime border between Lebanon and Cyprus. Mikati's assurance follows an announcement at the end of October by the Lebanese presidency that a formula had been found to change the route of this border, after a visit by a Cypriot delegation to Beirut.
Mikati met with the Cypriot president on the sidelines of the UN climate conference COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. COP27, which will continue until Nov. 18, brings together delegates from nearly 200 countries in the fight against global warming. Mikati is attending COP27 at the head of a delegation including the caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin and Lebanon's ambassador to Egypt, Ali Halabi.
President Anastasiades reminded Mikati of "the need to follow up on the maritime border issue, which has not changed since 2007," between Lebanon and Cyprus. In remarks reported by the Grand Serail on Twitter, Mikati assured that caretaker Transport Minister Ali Hamieh "continues to work" on this issue and that there is "no obstacle" in this field.
Beirut and Nicosia had already initiated the process of exploration of offshore resources separately and signed an agreement in 2007 delimiting their respective exclusive economic zones. But it had not been ratified by the Lebanese Parliament due to the maritime dispute between Lebanon and Israel, which was recently resolved by the conclusion of a historic agreement under the aegis of the United States.