Foreign Minister on Middle East tour
Egypt assured Greece on Wednesday that it will honor an agreement with Cyprus delineating an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between the two countries — a deal seen as crucial for Nicosia?s ongoing exploration for oil and gas off its southern coast that has irked neighboring Turkey.
The pledge was made by Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr during a meeting with his Greek counterpart Stavros Lambrinidis in Cairo Wednesday.
Lambrinidis is currently touring countries in the region in what is seen as a bid to strengthen Greece?s ties with the Middle East which, some analysts claim, could be damaged by the Socialist government?s recent overture to Israel.
The Greek minister is scheduled to visit Jordan on Thursday and Lebanon on Friday.
?[Egypt] is a key pillar of geopolitical stability,? Lambrinidis said during the meeting which centered on recent developments in the region, as well areas of bilateral cooperation — especially energy. On November 28, still-volatile Egypt is set to hold the first parliamentary election since Hosni Mubarak was ousted.
The Greek official, who is accompanied by diplomats as well as business representatives, also met with Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi. Greece has observer status at the Cairo-based organization.
The Greek minister stressed the need for stronger ties between Athens and the Arab League, which ?at this crucial conjuncture plays a decisive role because of the respect it inspires among the countries in the region.?
Al-Arabi praised Greece?s positive role in the Palestinian issue. The Quartet of the EU, Russia, the UN and the US has called on Israel and the Palestinians to hold a preliminary meeting by October 23 that will lead to full-fledged peace negotiations.
Greece, a longstanding champion of Palestinian statehood, has forged closer ties with Israel as the latter?s ties with Turkey have deteriorated.
Meanwhile, Cyprus has signed deals with Israel and Egypt demarcating sea borders to facilitate maritime exploration off its southern coast.
