Suleiman, Cypriot President Agree on Exploiting Offshore Oil, Gas Wealth

Local Editor

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman received Thursday his Cyprus counterpart Demetris Christofias and held talks on top of which is the cooperation efforts toward investing the energy resources in the Mediterranean sea.

After a meeting with Christofias, Suleiman stated: "We have placed a special focus on the oil and gas resources in our sea and agreed to speed up the cooperation to implement safe principles and mechanisms enabling our two countries to explore these resources.
He also announced that a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Lebanese and Cypriot Industry and Tourism Ministries, as well as Defense Ministries.

The Lebanese president also said that the two parties discussed the latest regional developments, especially those regarding the Syrian crisis.

"It is important for diplomatic efforts to come up with a solution that allows the Syrian to achieve the reforms and the democracy they long for," he confirmed, and hoped that "stability in Syria would pave the way for the refugees in Lebanon to return to their country, whose presence in Lebanon is becoming a major problem."

In turn, Christofias voiced his concern over the "bloodshed in Syria."

In parallel, he hailed the Lebanese government's dissociation policy with regard to the violence in Syria, as well as the support provided for the Syrian displaced on its territories.

"Cyprus will do everything it can with the European Union to increase the level of EU support for Lebanon to tackle the issue of Syrian refugees," the Cyprus President vowed.

it is worth mentioning that he Cypriot president arrived in Lebanon Wednesday evening for an official visit that will last until Friday morning.

Source: News agencies, Edited by moqawama.org