Cyprus and Lebanon have signed an agreement on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the two countries and agreed to promote an investigation into a Cyprus-Lebanon electricity interconnection by creating technical teams and conducting a viability study.
The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, spoke of a “milestone of strategic importance”, referring to the agreement on the delimitation of the EEZ.
President Christodoulides travelled to Lebanon on Wednesday morning, where he held a private meeting with his counterpart, Joseph Aoun. An expanded meeting followed, after which the two leaders proceeded to sign the agreement on the delimitation of the EEZ.
In his statements after the signing of the agreement, President Christodoulides said, "it is with feelings of joy and pride that I am in Beirut today. Feelings of joy, because this is the third visit we have exchanged in less than a year, an event that reflects, among other things, the close and timeless ties that unite our countries, as well as our personal friendship."
He described his presence in Beirut for the signing of the Agreement on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone between Cyprus and Lebanon as an "important and historic occasion" and "a milestone of strategic importance which seals, in the clearest way, the level of our relations."
He emphasised that by signing this very important Agreement, "we are sending a strong, political message: that Cyprus and Lebanon, on the basis of International Law, the relevant United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and of course good neighborly relations, continue to invest in strengthening trust and mutual respect.
They continue to invest in promoting bilateral and regional cooperation and stability, for the benefit of our citizens and the wider Middle East region."
As he said, with today's historic agreement, "we are bringing to an end a long-standing issue and are now looking to the future and to what, based on this, our countries can create together."
President Christodoulides thanked his counterpart, as, as he said, the signing of the Agreement would not have been possible "without your own political will and determination, as well as the contribution of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the government, and the political leadership of Lebanon."
He also added that the successful completion of the negotiations is the result of "tireless and methodical work, in a spirit of trust and transparency, by our two negotiating teams" and expressed appreciation and gratitude to their leaders, the Minister of Transport and Public Works, Fayez Rasamni, and the National Security Advisor of the Republic of Cyprus, Tasos Tzionis, while he also thanked the members of the Negotiating Team of the Republic of Cyprus, "who, with their expertise and dedication, contributed to today's success."
The history of the agreement
It is noted that the signing of the EEZ Delimitation Agreement closes a pending issue of almost twenty years.
As reported by CNA, the Agreement is based on the Median Line, which is a long-standing position of the Republic of Cyprus.
The initial Cyprus-Lebanon EEZ Agreement was signed in January 2007, but was not ratified by Lebanon due to internal issues. After the signing of the Cyprus-Israel EEZ Agreement in 2010, the Lebanese side made claims of loss of maritime area, which were linked to the dispute between them.
The Lebanon-Israel dispute was resolved in 2022 through an agreement brokered by the United States, defining their lateral maritime boundary.
Following the election of President Aoun in January 2025, the Cyprus and Lebanon negotiations resumed at an intensive pace. In September 2025, negotiations were held in Beirut and a revised text of the Agreement was agreed upon, which was approved by the Councils of Ministers of Cyprus and Lebanon on 15 and 23 October 2025 respectively.
Turkey has consistently expressed opposition and taken actions to avoid signing this agreement. "Negotiations and discussions were conducted intensively, discreetly and methodically with the aim of achieving this historic agreement," a source from the Presidency said.
The same source notes that the agreement "confirms the dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean, with the Republic of Cyprus as a stable and reliable factor."
"The signing of the Agreement substantially upgrades Cyprus' sovereign rights over its EEZ, strengthens the overall framework of energy security and interconnectivity in the region and functions as a pillar of stability in a period of increased challenges."
"It also constitutes a clear political message about the ability of the Republic of Cyprus to conclude agreements with its neighbors on the basis of international law and mutual respect," the same source notes.
Prospects for cooperation in Energy and Infrastructure are opening up
"The Agreement we have just signed substantially strengthens the prospects for cooperation in critical sectors, such as Energy and Infrastructure. It also provides the necessary legal and economic certainty and security to potential investors, while at the same time strengthening the efforts of the two countries to further develop our energy programs," the President of the Republic continued in his statements.
At the same time, he noted that the agreement strengthens the prospects for energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, for the benefit of citizens, but also the prospect of the region functioning as an alternative energy corridor for Europe.
"However, beyond its energy and economic footprint, I must also underline the indisputable fact that such agreements constitute a strategic foundation for regional stability and security in a difficult region with many challenges."
And today, with determination, with vision, with deep faith in the capabilities of our countries, and through a positive approach, we are taking a substantial step towards a safer future for our countries and the wider region," President Christodoulides emphasized.
Joint request to the World Bank for a study on electrical interconnection
The two Presidents also welcomed the dialogue that has already begun on the Cyprus-Lebanon electricity interconnection.
In this direction, said President Christodoulides, today "Cyprus and Lebanon jointly approached the World Bank to prepare a relevant feasibility study" for this specific project.
Cyprus' support for Lebanon-EU relations
In addition to the signing of the Agreement and discussions on broader energy issues, the President of the Republic noted that the two leaders also had the opportunity to exchange views on the further expansion of bilateral cooperation, regional developments that directly affect the two countries, and Lebanon-EU relations, "which Cyprus supports practically and substantially", as he said, while he also informed Mr. Aoun about the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.
"Friend President, I want to reiterate publicly, once again, that we are very well aware of the challenges facing Lebanon, just as we of course recognize and support the efforts you have been making since the first day of your election to address these challenges.
"We welcome your determination and contribution to bring Lebanon and its people to a new, clearly better era. And today I want to assure you that the Republic of Cyprus remains Lebanon's most stable, reliable and predictable partner in this great endeavor," he said.
In this context, he stated that Cyprus fully supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. “We look forward to the full implementation, by all parties, of the relevant Security Council Resolutions regarding UNIFIL.
Moreover, as the Republic of Cyprus, we know very well that a stable and strong Lebanon is a foundation for a peaceful and secure Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, and Cyprus supports efforts to achieve this goal," he noted.
In this direction, he said, and as the closest EU Member State to the region, but also in view of assuming the Presidency of the EU Council in approximately 40 days, "we will further strengthen our role as a channel of communication and a vehicle for substantially strengthening cooperation between Lebanon and the EU. We will continue to be pioneers in the region, actively contributing to the deepening of strategic dialogue and joint actions," he emphasized.
"I will be happy to welcome you to Cyprus and to the Presidency ceremony on January 7" and to the Council in April, he added, where we will discuss specific areas, such as energy and education. We will work, he said, to start the EU-Lebanon talks as soon as possible to reach an agreement.
In closing, the President stressed that the friendship between Cyprus and Lebanon is not only historical. "It is also a close, sincere, dynamic and evolving relationship, on which we build our common future.
"With today's signing, we are adding another stone to this long and strategic path of cooperation and friendship that naturally reflects the close relations between our peoples," he said.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
