BEIRUT, Jan 14 (NNN-NNA) – The U.S. will allow Lebanon to import natural gas and electricity from Egypt and Jordan through Syria, without being subject to restrictions imposed by the U.S. Caesar Act, which prohibits cooperation with Syria, Lebanese Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, said yesterday.
The U.S. authorities informed Egyptian officials about Lebanon’s capability of importing energy through Syria, Bou Habib said, during his meeting at Baabda Palace with President Michel Aoun, to inform him about his recent visit to the United States.
The energy and oil ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon had agreed last Sept, to supply Lebanon with electricity from Jordan and natural gas from Egypt, through the Arab Gas Pipeline, to solve the electricity crisis in Lebanon.
Bou Habib also noted that, U.S. officials expressed keenness to resume the process of demarcating the southern maritime border between Lebanon and Israel, and the U.S. mediator, Amos Hochstein, will come to Lebanon within the next few days to resume his efforts with the aim of moving forward in this regard.
Lebanon has been going through an unprecedented financial crisis, due to the failing policies adopted by successive governments, which resulted in a public debt hovering over 96 billion U.S. dollars.
