Malta-Tunisia agreement

Malta and Tunisia yesterday signed an agreement for joint oil exploitation and exploration in zones of the continental shelf located between the two countries.

Malta and Tunisia have agreed to determine the exact co-ordinates of such zones by setting up a joint expert group within the next two weeks, with a deadline to present its conclusions to the ministers of foreign affairs of both countries within three months.

The agreement was signed in Tunis yesterday following an 80-minute meeting between Foreign Minister Michael Frendo and President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on Friday and after a meeting between Dr Frendo and his Tunisian counterpart Abdelwaheb Abdallah.

The accord lays down that in determining the co-ordinates of the set zones, the experts will take into account any possible rights of third countries. It was further agreed that the relevant rules of international law will be followed.

The deal follows "intense" talks over the previous two days which led Dr Frendo to extend his stay in Tunisia by another day and forfeit his participation in the EU Foreign Ministers' Council meeting in Brussels.

Dr Frendo described the agreement as "a major breakthrough in an issue that has been unresolved for the last 35 years". He said he was confident that, "taken forward, it will open up tremendous opportunities for oil exploration and exploitation between Malta and Tunisia".

Dr Frendo expressed his special thanks to Tunisian President Ben Ali for his personal commitment and friendship.

"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," Dr Frendo said.

In an official press communiqué the two countries said:

"In the framework of the friendly, good neighbourly relations between Tunisia and Malta and in parallel with the 6th Session of the Malta Tunisia Mixed Commission held in Tunis on February 23 and 24, 2006, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta, Michael Frendo, and his Tunisian counterpart, Abdelwaheb Abdallah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, proceeded in Tunis on Monday, February 27, 2006 to the signature of a common agreement relating to the setting up of a joint group of experts, mandated to determine the continental shelf zones located between the two states, which shall be the subject of common exploration and exploitation.

"The signing of this agreement constitutes an important step in the strengthening of the excellent relations which bind the two countries and which reflects the willingness expressed by the two Heads of State of the two countries, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Eddie Fenech Adami, to establish a strategic partnership between the two countries".