Greece-Egypt agreement on sea boundaries paves way for defining a broader EEZ in East Med - FINANCIAL MIRROR

9 August 2020 
Costis Stambolis

The signing on Thursday in Cairo of an agreement between the Egyptian and the Greek governments for the delineation of a segment of their sea boundaries, paves the way for a broader understanding which will enable the two countries to reach a comprehensive agreement to define their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).

Diplomatic sources in Athens told the Financial Mirror that the agreement reached between Cairo and Athens is only the beginning of a much longer process which will see the two countries submit their case to international arbitration and seek judgment from either the International Maritime Tribunal in Hamburg or the International Court in the Hague.

 

Egypt and Greece signed the agreement designating an exclusive economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean between the two countries, an area containing promising oil and gas reserves, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said at a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Cairo.

Egypt and Greece Sign Maritime Border Deal in Snub to Turkey - BLOOMBERG

August 6, 2020, 5:28 PM GMT+3

Abdel Latif Wahba

Egypt and Greece on Thursday signed a maritime border agreement, a move that comes amid criticism of growing Turkish influence in the eastern Mediterranean region.

The agreement, which lays out the boundary between the two nations’ exclusive economic zones, will allow Athens and Cairo to secure maximum benefits from oil and natural gas in the area, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in a televised press conference with his Greek counterpart, Nikolaos Dendias.

The deal comes as Turkey is looking to issue new energy exploration licenses in the eastern Mediterranean, a move sharply criticized by Greece and the European Union. In addition, Turkish support for the internationally recognized, Tripoli-based Libyan Government of National Accord has upped the stakes in the war-ravaged North African nation.

Libya, Turkey demarcation MoUs hinder efforts to settle Libyan crisis, Shoukry says - ENTERPRISE

Sunday, 8 December 2019

Libya and Turkey’s recently-signed border demarcation agreements will hinder efforts to resolve the Libyan crisis and negatively affect the Berlin political process, Foreign Ministry at the Rome Med 2019 – Mediterranean Dialogue on Friday. Shoukry also highlighted the establishment of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, which does not include Turkey nor Libya, as a model for constructive cooperation among Mediterranean countries to serve the objectives of sustainable development. The agreements signed between Turkey and Libya could potentially infringe upon territorial waters claimed by Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece.

French FM backs Egypt: French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian separately called the agreements “illegal” under international law during a phone call with Shoukry, according to a ministry statement.

Energy cooperation boosts growing trilateral alliance between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus - AHRAM ONLINE

Saturday 10 Aug 2019

The first tripartite gathering between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus was held in 2014 and quickly turned into a broad alliance fostering cooperation across a range of economic, political and strategic interests.

Last week’s visit by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri to Greece and Cyprus lent impetus to the process, boosting relations and enhancing cooperation between the three states, especially in the energy field.

Professor of political science Tarek Fahmi says the tripartite gathering is already working for the benefit of the three countries, and for the region in general, especially after the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) was established.

Egypt is seeking to become a major regional hub for the production, processing and trading of natural gas.

Egypt Says Offshore Gas Discoveries Bolster Ties with Cyprus - THE NATIONAL HERALD / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sameh Shoukry (L) and Nikos Christodoulides meet in Nicosia on July 31

August 1, 2019

NICOSIA (AP) — Egypt’s foreign minister says hydrocarbon finds in the eastern Mediterranean have bolstered an already “strong partnership” with neighboring Cyprus.

Minister Sameh Shoukry said after talks Wednesday with Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides that Egypt looks forward to working with Cyprus in fully utilizing energy reserves.

Egypt’s top diplomat said he’s hopeful the establishment of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum will help open new avenues of cooperation and policy coordination between the two countries.

Shoukry said a trilateral partnership between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece serves as an “important catalyst” for regional prosperity and stability. He said Egypt will host the seventh summit of the three nations’ leaders later this year.

Christodoulides said European Union member Cyprus would continue to advocate for stronger EU-Egypt ties in order to more effectively address regional challenges.

Egypt, Greece, Cyprus FMs hold talks in Cairo - EGYPT INDEPENDENT / AL-MASRY AL-YOUM

September 15, 2018 // 12:44 pm

Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Foreign Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias arrived in Cairo on Friday afternoon to meet Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry for three-way talks.

Egypt and Cyprus likely to build underwater pipeline to move gas between them - ENTERPRISE

Christodoulides (left), Shoukry (right) 

Thursday, 12 April 2018

It seems an underwater pipeline will be the way to move gas from Cyprus’ Aphrodite field to Egypt’s gas facilities, according to statements by Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides. Nicosia and Cairo are considering the construction of an underwater pipeline for the transfer of natural gas from the Cypriot Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) to Egypt’s LNG liquefaction facilities, he told AMAY in an interview yesterday.

That’s if Turkey doesn’t get in the way. Responding to a question as to how Nicosia will face a possible drilling by Turkey in Cypriot waters in the EEZ, Christodoulides said the Cypriot government is working to prevent such an act, which, in practice, will jeopardize any attempt to resolve the Cyprus problem. He added that the matter was discussed with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Tuesday. Christodoulides met with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Prime Minister Sherif Ismail yesterday to discuss gas and other avenues of cooperation ahead of Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades visit to Cairo early next month.

El Sisi, Shoukry talk energy cooperation, improving economic ties with Greek Foreign Minister - ENTERPRISE

Wednesday, 21 March 2018

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Kotzias in Cairo yesterday, according to an Ittihadiya statement. Talks extended to trilateral relations between Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus on East-Mediterranean gas, increased cooperation on economy, trade, and investment, as well as counter-terror and the peaceful resolution to regional disputes. Last month, Oil Minister Tarek El Molla had said that Egypt was in talks with Greece to establish a framework for further energy cooperation, after announcing that it was closing in on an LNG import agreement with Cyprus. The three countries also said last week they would be working on a USD 4 bn 2,000 MW subsea electricity interconnection project that is expected to become part of a larger network linking Europe and Africa.

Egypt denies rift with Saudi, drift toward Iran - REUTERS

Sat Dec 10, 2016 | 4:32am EST
Reporting By William Maclean; Writing by Noah Browning; Editing by Louise Heavens

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri on Saturday hailed a "special relationship" with Saudi Arabia, denying reports that the two powerful Arab nations had fallen out after Egypt expressed support for the Russian intervention in Syria.

Egypt voted in favor of a Russian-backed U.N. resolution on Syria in October that excluded calls to stop bombing Aleppo, which Saudi Arabia strongly opposed.

The kingdom informed Egypt last month that shipments of oil products expected under a $23 billion aid deal had been halted indefinitely, but Shukri denied the nations were at loggerheads and said any disagreements had been exaggerated.

Libyan Unity Prime Minister Visits Egypt After Oil Exports Resume - VoA

September 16, 2016 7:52 PM
Edward Yeranian

CAIRO — Libya has resumed oil exports for the first time since military forces under the command of army General Khalifa Haftar, loyal to the parliament in Tobruk, recaptured oil installations west of Benghazi this past week.

Meanwhile, Fayez Saraj, who heads Libya’s U.N.-brokered national unity government, met in Cairo with the head of the Tobruk-based parliament, Aquelah Saleh, according to Arab and Egyptian media. The men reportedly have been trying to cobble together an agreement on a new government acceptable to rival political factions.

Parliament Speaker Saleh has repeatedly insisted on the need for a limited-size government acceptable to all parties. The Tobruk parliament refused to approve a unity government, composed of 30 ministers, earlier this year.

Cyprus-Greece "value security" says Egypt's FM Sameh Shoukry - SIGMA LIVE

11.09.2016 12:19 Mario Hajiloizis

Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sameh Shoukry, told Independent Balkan News Agency on Sunday that the tripartite with Greece and Cyprus shows that the two countries “value security and understand the potential dangers for instability in Egypt.”

Shoukry was speaking after Cyprus and Egypt signed a landmark deal to transport natural gas from Cyprus’ EEZ to Egypt on August 31.

Egypt is also due to host the third summit between the three countries next month to discuss other projects agreed upon during the past two summits in Greece and Cyprus.

Prime minister, foreign minister meet with Cypriot foreign affairs minister - DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Tuesday August 9, 2016

Sarah El-Sheikh

Developing cooperation in energy discoveries and natural gas extraction fields were at the forefront of the officials’ discussions
Prime Minister Sherif Ismail met with Cypriot minister of foreign affairs loannis Kasoulidis early on Tuesday in the presence of Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and Cyprus’ ambassador in Egypt to discuss bilateral relations, according to a statement from the prime minister’s spokesperson Hossam Qawesh.

During the meeting, Ismail pointed out the depth of Egyptian-Cypriot relations, confirming that recently these have developed significantly through enhancements in joint cooperation between both countries.

The Israel-Egypt partnership deepens - THE HILL

August 05, 2016, 02:26 pm
By Oren Kessler, contributor

Egypt last week marked Revolution Day, the day commemorating the 1952 Free Officers' revolt that toppled the playboy King Farouk. Next door in Israel, the Egyptian embassy threw a party.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife attended, as did its president. Flags of both nations flew; anthems of both were sung. Balloons in the Egyptian colors were strewn over the embassy pool, and a woman dressed like Cleopatra delivered remarks. It was the first time in six years that Egypt's embassy in Tel Aviv publicly marked the event.

It was an extraordinary gesture, and these are extraordinary times in the relationship between two of Washington's keystone allies in the Eastern Mediterranean. Two weeks prior, Sameh Shoukry became the first Egyptian foreign minister in nine years to visit Israel — breaking years of unwritten government protocol that ties with the Jewish state would be handled by the intelligence services.

Will Israeli natural gas flow in Egypt’s pipelines? - DAILY NEWS EGYPT

A recent visit by Egypt’s Foreign Minister could signal potential cooperation between Israel and Egypt in the eastern Mediterranean gas fields. However, given domestic market needs mixed with a complicated history in Egypt-Israel business relations in the energy sector, the future remains unclear

Mohamed Samir, July 14, 2016

In a rare trip, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry paid Israel a visit on Sunday, marking Egypt’s first high-level official visit in almost a decade. While pundits antagonise whether this may be a sign of warmer relations between Israel and Egypt, the latter continues to face an ongoing energy crisis.

While Egypt’s energy crisis may be a domestic concern, a long history of cooperation between Israel and Egypt over gas imports and exports raises questions of whether such a topic was broached during conversations between Shoukry and the Israelis.

Egyptian Foreign Minister in Israel to discuss gas exports - GLOBES

10/07/2016, 18:28
Nadav Shetreet

The visit by Sameh Shoukry is the first to Israel by an Egyptian foreign minister in nine years.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is arriving today on a visit to Israel, ending a nine-year period without any visits to the country by the Egyptian foreign minister. Talks about natural gas exports to Egypt and regional cooperation in building joint infrastructure for gas exports to Asia or Europe are scheduled.

Letters of intent for exports of Israeli gas to Egypt have already been signed. One deal was to have made possible the expanded development of the Tamar gas reservoir, and the second to facilitate the development of the Leviathan reservoir, because Egypt was regarded as the anchor customer for Leviathan. Several changes in the regional gas sector, however, have changed the situation completely, including Egypt's improving situation, the low level of global gas prices (the partial recovery in global oil prices has not affected gas prices), and the acquisition of British Gas by Royal Dutch Shell.

Nicosia to host next ministerial meeting between Cyprus-Greece-Egypt | Famagusta Gazette

Sunday, 28 September, 2014

Nicosia is going to host the next trilateral meeting on the level of Foreign Ministers of Cyprus, Greece and Egypt. At the same time the three countries have expressed their common willingness and intention to organize a trilateral summit as soon as possible in Cairo.

The Foreign Ministers of Cyprus, Ioannis Kasoulides, Greece, Evangelos Venizelos and Egypt, Sameh Shoukry met Friday in New York and reaffirmed their political cooperation.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, the Cypriot FM expressed satisfaction because him and his counterparts had the opportunity to exchange views on issues related to the region of the Eastern Mediterranean. He described countries like Egypt as "the pivot for the stability in this area".

"It has been proven so in the efforts for the cease fire in Gaza and for the efforts of finding a political solution in Libya".

Kasoulides added that the three countries have decided practical ways to work together "in order to contribute to the stability and to peace in our region and to be present in a way that shows that we are not just following the events without reacting".

Greek FM Venizelos in his statements said that the trilateral format is an excellent instrument for the three countries` political cooperation , adding that "Egypt is always the key factor for everything in the Arab world and we have some very concrete proofs in the last weeks with the cease fire in Gaza and also with the Egyptian initiatives on Libya". He also added that the role of Greece and Cyprus as countries members of the European Union for the stability in the wider region, is always very important.

"From this point of view our trilateral cooperation is a platform of stability for the wider region. I repeat once again my thanks and please take the floor", he added.

The Egyptian Minister said that his country is committed to the trilateral relationship and to consolidating its mutual cooperation with both Greece and Cyprus. "We certainly have joint ambitions and also challenges that we need to meet and we must meet them collectively", he added.

He went on to say that the three countries` proximity in terms of the Eastern Mediterranean "makes it imperative for us to be able to coordinate our positions and to contribute positively to meet the challenges that face us and to establish greater security and stability in our region, so that to provide us the necessary ability to forge ahead of economic and political coordination". — (KYPE)

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