Cyprus and Egypt signed an agreement Wednesday that paves the way for the supply of gas to the Arab nation via an undersea pipeline that officials hope will create a regional energy hub. Cypriot Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek el-Molla said the deal sets the political framework for additional commercial agreements that will determine of how, where and when the gas will reach Egypt. Cyprus, Egypt and Greece are already in talks to expand energy cooperation. Turkey doesn't recognize Cyprus as a state and is the only country to recognize a 1983 Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence. Baris Burcu, spokesman for Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, last week dismissed any deal that violates Turkish Cypriot rights as "unacceptable."

Source: ABC News August 31, 2016 08:49 UTC