The US mediator in the Lebanese-Israeli maritime border talks has said Lebanon will not be subject to US sanctions if it imports electricity from Jordan and gas from Egypt through Syria.
Diplomat Amos Hochstein and Lebanese Energy Minister Walid Fayad on Wednesday discussed Lebanon’s plan to import Egyptian gas and “its replacement in Syria through swap technology", as well as electricity from Jordan, the ministry said.
Officials did not clarify what technology they were referring to and Mr Fayad was not immediately available to respond to a request for comment.
“The US administration issued a message of reassurance that ensures the protection of the [electricity import] project and participating parties from the consequences of the Caesar Act sanctions,” the ministry said.
The Caesar Act, which came into force in June 2020, sanctions individuals and businesses that work with Damascus or contribute to rebuilding Syria after more than a decade of civil war. It is aimed at preventing normalisation with President Bashar Al Assad’s government.
Mr Fayad thanked Mr Hochstein and US ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea "for the efforts made by the World Bank, especially since the USA is one of the institution’s largest contributors".
Ms Shea previously told journalists that there had been talks involving Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the World Bank.
A World Bank spokesperson was not immediately available to comment about the institution’s potential funding of Lebanon’s electricity imports.
A 2020 World Bank report said only one of Lebanon’s electricity plants is connected to the Arab Gas Pipeline.
Ms Shea recently hinted at the US administration’s willingness to overlook the Caesar Act restrictions when it comes to Lebanese energy imports via Syria. Lebanon’s only open land border is with Syria.
“There is a will to make this happen. There will be some logistical things that need to happen too, but I think that it will all fall into place fairly easily,” she told Al Arabiya English on August 19.
Mr Hochstein, who is also a senior US adviser for global energy security, was in Beirut on Wednesday for a 24-hour visit to discuss Lebanon’s energy crisis with top officials.
Israeli-Lebanese maritime border negotiations broke down months ago.
Lebanon is suffering from its worst economic crisis, which has caused crippling fuel shortages with a knock-on effect on power generation. Its state-run electricity company is on the verge of collapse and recently went offline for a day.
Lebanese militia Hezbollah has imported US-sanctioned Iranian fuel without the involvement of the government. This has not elicited punitive action from the US.
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Three stars
The%20specs
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Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
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8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
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10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The National selections:
6.30pm AF Alwajel
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7.40pm First View
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8.50pm Zakouski
9.25pm: Kimbear
10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
