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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Tuesday's summit to Nicosia with the leaders of Cyprus and Greece will focus on the possibility of building a gas pipeline to Italy.
“I will discuss with them a series of issues, first and foremost the feasibility of laying a joint Israeli-Cypriot-Greek gas pipeline to Italy,” Netanyahu said.
“The export of Israeli gas to Western Europe could make a very significant contribution to the Israeli economy,” he added.
“I will discuss with them a series of issues, first and foremost the feasibility of laying a joint Israeli-Cypriot-Greek gas pipeline to Italy”
President Nicos Anastasiades will host the fourth such meeting with Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Alexi Tsipras.
A number of bilateral and trilateral agreements are expected to be signed to enhance cooperation in specific areas like energy, trade and investments.
Cypriot government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said: “The trilateral relationship, which began in January 2016 and continues uninterruptedly, constitutes an important mechanism of geopolitical cooperation, with the three countries working together to secure a common future of safety, stability, and prosperity.”
Last week Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said Israel and Cyprus are turning to an international negotiator to settle a disagreement over the distribution of gas in the joint Aphrodite reservoir located within the maritime boundaries of both countries.
Nicosia confirmed that the two countries were involved in trying to settle the dispute amicably and the energy ministers of Israel, Greece and Cyprus are set to meet this week to discuss a unitization agreement.
The two countries don’t see eye to eye on the issue of potential cross-border quantities when it comes to Aphrodite, the gas field lies in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone block 12 bordering Israel's EEZ.
The Israeli company that has rights to neighbouring “Yishai” field believes that the exploitation of “Aphrodite” will also take away gas belonging to Israel.
