Malta and Tunisia signed an agreement for joint oil exploration, which will eventually lead to the exploitation of resources. The agreement was signed by Maltese Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo and his Tunisian counterpart Abdel Wahad Abdallah during a meeting in Tunisia.
The two countries agreed to carry out oil exploration in Continental Shelf zones. They also agreed to appoint a group of experts to identify the zones where it would be possible to explore.
The experts have a deadline to present their conclusions to the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs Dr Frendo and Mr Abdallah within three months.
The agreement reached between the two countries, following Minister Frendo’s 80-minute meeting with President Ben Ali and with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdallah, also lays out that the experts shall determine the coverage of these zones taking duly into account any possible rights of third States and following the relevant rules of international law.
The agreement was clinched on Monday morning, following intense negotiations over the past 48 hours, which led Minister Frendo to extend his stay in Tunisia by another day and forfeit participation in the EU Foreign Ministers’ Council in Brussels.
Minister Michael Frendo described the agreement as “a major breakthrough in an issue that has been unresolved for the last 35 years”. He further stated that he was confident that, “taken forward, it will open up tremendous opportunities for oil exploration and exploitation between Malta and Tunisia”.
Minister Frendo expressed his special thanks to the President of the Republic of Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali for his personal commitment and friendship. President Ben Ali received Foreign Minister Frendo at the Presidential Palace in Carthage last Friday.
Minister Frendo added, "this agreement, dealing with such sensitive issues as oil exploration and exploitation in the continental shelf, is yet another example of the depth and closeness of the relations and friendship between Malta and Tunisia. We are both sincerely committed to developing fully a multi-level relationship between our countries and our two peoples. I look forward to working to develop to its utmost our multilevel relationship."
Throughout the official visit and negotiations, Minister Michael Frendo was assisted by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ms. Cecilia Attard Pirotta, Malta’s Ambassador in Tunisia Dr. Tanya Vella, Mr. Chris Scicluna and Mr. Mark Vassallo from the Minister’s Private Secretariat and Mr. Simon Pullicino from the Malta Embassy in Tunis.
See also:
Oil explorer company to carry out 3D surveys in Malta
By MaltaMedia News - Feb 8, 2006, 11:45 CET
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