Ankara welcomes Lebanon-Israel deal as model for Cypriots

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has welcomed the maritime demarcation deal between Israel and Lebanon and underlined it can constitute a good example for the Mediterranean region, particularly for the Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

"We welcome the maritime boundary delimitation agreement signed today [Oct. 27] between Lebanon and Israel, with the mediation of the United States, as a result of indirect talks. We hope that this agreement will contribute to peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean, already facing a number of challenges," read a statement from the ministry late on Oct. 27.

Lebanon and Israel have signed the deal after years of negotiations, ending a dispute over the territorial waters and hydrocarbon reserves. The Turkish Foreign Ministry drew attention to the fact that the agreement also envisages a joint development model and revenue sharing through a third-party operator for certain hydrocarbon license areas within the two countries' continental shelves.

"This model, which reflects similar practices in the world, sets a good example for the region and in particular for the Turkish and Greek Cypriots," read the statement.

"In fact, last July, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus made a cooperation proposal to the Greek Cypriot side based on a joint development approach through determining equitable revenue sharing percentages, without prejudice to the existing rights of international oil companies, and offered to establish a joint committee for this purpose," Ankara reminded.

Having proposed to convene an inclusive eastern Mediterranean Conference in 2020, Türkiye continues to support the off-shore hydrocarbon cooperation proposals put forward by Turkish Cyprus in 2011, 2012, 2019 and 2022, the ministry...