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11:23 a. M.
Tuesday 22 September 2020
Books – Ahmed El-Sayed:
Tarek El Molla, Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, announced that the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum has officially become a large intergovernmental organization in the Mediterranean region based in Cairo, after the forum’s founding countries signed today, Tuesday, in Cairo, his status.
During the signing ceremony, the minister said that the transformation of the forum into an international organization represents a great advance on the path of the constitution of this entity, which has gradually developed until reaching this position.
He added that this organization is concerned with strengthening cooperation and developing an organized and systematic political dialogue on natural gas, in order to contribute to the optimal economic use of state reserves of this vital resource using existing infrastructure, in addition to establishing new infrastructure. when necessary for the mutual benefit and welfare of the peoples.
The signing ceremony, which took place through a virtual meeting via videoconferencing technology, was attended by the oil and energy ministers of the member states, namely Tariq Al-Mulla, representing Egypt, Hala Zawati, Jordan’s Minister of Energy, Natasha Palides, Cyprus Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry, and Costis Hatdzakis, Greece’s Minister of Environment and Energy.
Alessandra Todi, the Italian Minister of Economic Development, Yuval Steinitz, the Israeli Minister of Energy, Victoria Coates, Senior Advisor to the United States Secretary of Energy, and Christina Lobello, Director of Energy Administration, on behalf of the Energy Commissioner of the European Union, also participated in the signing ceremony as observers.
Palestine did not participate in the signing and a representative did not attend today’s conference, although it is one of the founding member states of the forum.
The signing was attended by the ambassadors of Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Jordan, the United States, France and Israel in Cairo, the deputy head of the European Union delegation in Cairo, Badr Abdel Ati, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs , Omar Abu Aish, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Economic Affairs, and Sherine El Shahawi, Director of the Energy Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum highlighted the importance of the role played by the member states and their great enthusiasm for the rapid completion of the charter in a record time of no more than 20 months, in addition to shaping the Forum bodies and implementing their activities despite volatile global circumstances, reflecting the founding countries’ deep belief in the importance of cooperation between them in Marco for this forum.
Al-Mulla explained that the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum countries achieved this step by creating history and common success and contributing together to promote peace.
He said that the forum expects the membership of other countries in the region as long as they are in line with the objectives of the forum and share the same objectives to achieve the common goal for the well-being of the countries and peoples of the region, with emphasis on rejecting any act of violence that hinders the achievement of prosperity in the region.
The minister added that history will recognize that this forum has managed to be an exception to the historical rule through its unique efforts to make energy resources a motive to end the conflict in the region.
He added that the founding countries of the forum put trust and solidarity as the basis on which to work together to overcome and overcome the differences of past eras, as well as work together to overcome all obstacles, barriers and geographical borders in order to launch this successful cooperation in the field of natural gas.
Al-Mulla thanked all the founding member states for the effort made to launch the forum and turn it into an international organization in a way that contributes to making the region more open and prosperous, expressing his gratitude to all countries and international entities that support the forum, among which are the European Union, the World Bank, the United States of America and the French Republic.
The minister also highlighted the vital role of the private sector in achieving the objectives of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum through the Gas Industry Advisory Committee, praising the efforts of the high-level working group in coordination with the Gas Industry Forum. Eastern Mediterranean Gas and the finalization of the basic regulation.
Al-Mulla concluded that the signing of the letter today is the beginning of the continuation of the existing dialogue between countries on constructive cooperation and participation, with the aim of focusing on the exploitation of energy to achieve peace, spread development and achieve aspirations. and the welfare of the peoples.
After his speech, engineer Tariq Al-Mulla presented the Pharaonic Key of Life, or the “Ankh” symbol, to the forum participants, in appreciation for their efforts to advance the fundamental steps.
