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Source: Dubai – Arabia.net
Representatives of six countries bordering the Mediterranean coast signed an agreement in Cairo on Tuesday to transform the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum into a regional organization.
The six countries that signed are Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Jordan.
Egypt’s accession to the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Organization is part of its efforts to transform itself into a regional energy hub in the region.
The forum, which was established in 2019, aims to create a regional gas market, secure trade relations, ensure that supply and demand from constituent countries are met, rationalize the cost of infrastructure and offer competitive prices. .
Israeli energy sector officials said yesterday that the ministers of seven countries will sign a letter for a new energy forum in the Middle East that will support and promote natural gas exports from the eastern Mediterranean region to Europe and other markets.
Greek President Katrina Saklaropoulou affirmed the unity and solidarity of Greece and Cyprus in the face of Turkish provocations; During her visit to the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, on Monday.
Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said on Monday: “The Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, which until now was only a platform for discussions, will in fact become an international organization.”
A senior Israeli energy sector official said yesterday that the energy ministers of Egypt, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Italy will finalize the status of that organization on Tuesday, in a ceremony to be held via the Internet, and will work to develop a “common vision” for the region, he reported. Reuters news agency.
He added: “The forum will help bring about a welcome normalization in relations in the region, which in turn will help strengthen and develop the gas sector in Israel and, of course, Israel’s gas exports to its neighbors, Europe. and other regions “.
Other countries such as France and the United States can also join this forum. In recent years, large gas deposits have appeared in the waters of Israel, Egypt and Cyprus. Israel has already started exporting gas to Jordan and Egypt, which it hopes will become a regional energy hub.
Egypt has two LNG facilities that have been suspended or are operating at less than capacity and can be used for export.
On the other hand, Greek President Katrina Saklaropoulou affirmed the unity and solidarity of Greece and Cyprus in the face of Turkish provocations; During her visit to the Cypriot capital, Nicosia yesterday.
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