Egypt, Greece to sign deal on maritime demarcation in the Mediterranean Sea

CAIRO - 18 July 2020: Egypt and Greece will sign a deal on demarcation of maritime borders in the Mediterranean Sea’s exclusive economic zone (EEC) areas , ambassador of Greece to Egypt Nikoaos Garilidis told Al-Ahram Weekly on Thursday.

“We are close, very close,” to a deal,” he was quoted as saying by the newspaper one week ago.  As per the deal, both countries would start getting benefits from the resources of natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea.

In July 2020, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, discussing the enhancement of the bilateral relations on all levels, according to a statement from the Egyptian Presidency.

In July 2029, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in Athens, discussing the importance of maximizing the benefit of the new discoveries of natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean in light of the great potential available for the benefit of the region’s peoples, especially in light of the outcomes of the second ministerial meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Natural Gas Forum, held recently in Cairo.

In 2013, Egypt signed an agreement to demarcate the maritime borders with Cyprus; the deal was opposed by Turkey.