Dear Colleagues,
Here is some more news on the Kuwait-Saudi agreement
(we have seen no text yet but we should hear more from the
Saudis at our conference next week)
In addition there is news of the dispute between Israel
ans Palestine
Best wishes
Charles Gurdon
Menas Associates
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03-Jul-00 13:40:17
RIYADH: Gulf States salute Kuwait-Saudi border deal
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has hailed the maritime
border accord between members Saudi Arabia and Kuwait,
saying that it would contribute to stability in the region.
‘This accord reinforces the brotherly relations between the two
countries and their peoples,’ said Jamil al-Hujeilan, secretary
general of the GCC, which groups Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
with Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
‘The agreement also strengthens understanding and stability
in the region, and frees ties between the two GCC members
of an issue which caused long discussions between them,’
he said.
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on Sunday [2nd July] signed a
final agreement demarcating their maritime border in
the northern Gulf that runs through an area rich in oil and gas.
__________________________________________________
Reuters
GAZA STRIP: Israel contest BGI exploration rights
Despite continuing disputes over territory with Israel, UK-based,
BG International are intending to drill their first natural gas
exploration well offshore the Gaza Strip by the end of the month.
Last year, BGI and Consolidated Contractors Company
negotiated an agreement with the Palestine National
Authority to begin offshore exploration, field development
and pipeline infrastructure.
Difficulties arose when the Israeli government contested
the Palestine National Authority’s claim to natural gas and
oil off the Gaza coast.
The Israeli National Infrastructure Ministry said that Palestine
had no claim over the gas, on the grounds that international
law only allowed offshore rights to be granted to sovereign
states.
Palestine refuted this claim, saying that they possessed
territorial rights up to 20 miles off the Gaza coast, under a
peace deal signed with Israel in 1993.
BGI have carried out seismic surveying of a 1,00 square
kilometre area where they found two exploitable fields
- one off southern Gaza, the other on northern borders of
the strip that would be shared with Israel.
The first well, called Gaza Marine 1 is scheduled to be drilled
towards the end of this month.
BGI have explained that their work in the area forms an
important part of their Mediterranean strategy where
they are trying to achieve a strong production and distribution
foothold.
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