On 11 April, Cypriot Foreign Affairs and Energy ministers met their Lebanese counterparts in Beirut. The two delegations started a discussion process in order to cooperate in the seabed exploration in their respective maritime zones. The intentions of the two countries is not limited just to the exploration: the Lebanese Foreign Minister announced that they “hope to establish strategic relations with Cyprus, and we [they] have suggested that any gas or oil discovery between us shall be invested in joint projects”. The next meeting between the two delegations is scheduled on 7 May and a working group will be created in order to elaborate a draft agreement. Lebanon divided its maritime zone into 10 blocks, 4 of which are adjacent to Cypriot territorial waters. Last year Beirut signed several agreements with ENI, Total and Novatek to explore 2 blocks. Beirut is not part of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) and on 11 April, during a meeting with his Greek counterpart, the Lebanese President Michel Aoun confirmed that Lebanon will refuse any multilateral agreements that include Israel.