Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs proceed Tuesday with an urgent scrutiny of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Statute of EastMediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), at the presence of the Cypriot Energy Minsiter Natasa Pilides. The Committee decided that the ratifying law will be put to the vote in the next plenary session, on Thursday.

Energy Minister told CNA after the meeting of the Committee that the Forum is of particular importance concerning the geopolitical role of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean but also concerning the practical aspects of the exploitation of the natural gas of the region.

EMGF has seven founding members Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestinian Authority, while the EU, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Russia, have expressed strong interest to obtain observer status, the Minister said. She added that France expressed interest to be a full member.
 
The Minister explained that the Forum also promotes technical and commercial cooperation on the issue of natural gas, and to this end has established committees in which companies operating in the region participate.
 
Pilides said that so far Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan and Israel have ratified the agreement, while in Greece, Cyprus and Italy the procedures for ratification are underway. She also stressed the importance for Cyprus to immediately ratify the law, as at early February a teleconference of the founding members of the Organization will take place.
 
Asked to comment on a media report that Israeli Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz stated that he would like to see Turkey participating in the Forum, Pilides said that the Forum is open to all countries in the region that may want to become members, in accordance with its principles which have to do with respect for the rights of member states regarding natural gas resources, but also respect for international law and the law of the sea. She added that Cyprus would also like to see Turkey participating, given the country would be ready to take part under these conditions.
 
At the same time, Pilides said that talks are also progressing at a trilateral level and that on 28 January she will have a  teleconference with her counterparts of Greece and Israel, to discuss the planning of the projects of common interest, which as she said remains the same.
 
On his part the President of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs Yiorgos Lillikas said that he called for the bill to be considered urgent, as the first meeting of the founding members who have ratified the agreement will take place in early February. He also said that all members of the parliamentary Committee agreed on the need for the law to be ratified.
 
Lillikas spoke about a substantial and important development, which, as he said, is related to the work that has been produced so far through the various tripartite collaborations with the countries of the region.
 
At the same time, he added that it would be good for Lebanon and Syria to also participate in this Forum and that the Republic of Cyprus must play a bridging role to that end, as it maintains excellent relations with all of its neighbors.