Egypt and Cyprus will be ready to sign contracts to establish a natural gas pipeline “in the near future,” Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides said yesterday, according to Cyprus Mail. The different parties involved “are in the process of negotiating the terms of the natural gas sale and the purchase agreements,” according to the minister. Christodoulides arrived in Cairo yesterday for a meeting with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, during which the two also discussed “security challenges” — code for Turkish aggression — Cyprus is facing in its gas exploration activity in the Mediterranean, according to a ministry statement. Cypriot Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis had said last month that Turkey’s move to block Cyprus’ gas drilling would not deter his country from pressing ahead with plans for East-Med gas exploration.

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