CYPRUS: Lebanon warns over EastMed gas pipeline project

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Lebanon has asked the developer of the EastMed natural gas pipeline to respect claimed maritime borders, Kallanish Energy reported Monday.


The $7 billion project, developed by IGI Poseidon, is an 1,180-mile offshore/onshore natural gas pipeline connecting Israeli resources to Greece and Italy, via Cyprus.

 

However, Lebanon and Israel have yet to agree on the ownership of 330 square miles of offshore.

 

Lebanese foreign minister Gebran Bassil issued a warning last week to the U.N., Cyprus, Greece and Italy to be sure the pipeline does not breach what Lebanon claims to be its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

 

Bassil wrote a letter to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, EU foreign policy head Federica Mogherini and the foreign ministers of the countries involved.

 

He said Lebanon would not allow an infringement of jurisdiction.

 

“In a few days, the leaders of Cyprus and Greece will come here, with U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo, in order to advance the gas pipeline from Israel to Europe via these countries. The navy will also protect this pipeline,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tweeted.