Cyprus and Egypt drill for oil, gas
NICOSIA (AP) – New oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean is set to proceed after Cyprus and Egypt agreed yesterday to cooperate on finding new deposits in the sea between both countries. Cypriot Trade Minister Nikos Rolandis and Egyptian Oil Minister Sameh Fahmy made the agreement following their discussion on Mediterranean oil and gas deposits. A committee will be formed to delineate the area of each country’s economic zone, continental shelf and the location of possible deposits within each zone, Rolandis said. We hope we will be able to reach a comprehensive agreement in the next few months so that Cyprus will be able to proceed with the exploration and utilization of sea deposits, Rolandis said. A Cypriot government statement said both nations will also form a tripartite ministerial committee with Syria to look into building an underwater pipeline to deliver natural gas to Cyprus from Syria. We hope it may be completed by 2005, Rolandis said. Drivers and passengers aged 15-24 had a higher accident rate than others, with 80 percent of deaths resulting from accidents. Alcohol is a primary factor in deaths.
