Egypt Again Presents Itself as Regional Natural Gas Export Hub

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attend a joint press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, 18 July 2022. (EPA)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attend a joint press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, 18 July 2022. (EPA)
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Egypt Again Presents Itself as Regional Natural Gas Export Hub

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attend a joint press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, 18 July 2022. (EPA)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attend a joint press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, 18 July 2022. (EPA)

Egypt has against presented itself to the world as a regional natural gas export hub, vowing to provide facilitations to mitigate the effect of the European crisis caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said his country is willing to provide the required facilitations to transfer gas from the Middle East to Europe, citing an agreement signed between Cairo and the European Union.

Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday, he stressed that Cairo is prepared to lay the foundations for a strong partnership with Germany in the field of energy.

This can be achieved through either exporting natural gas to Berlin and the EU or establishing an extended partnership with Germany, in line with Egypt’s ambitious vision to transform into a hub for producing and exporting clean energy, especially green hydrogen and solar and wind energy.

Sisi pointed out that his country preempted the crisis by establishing the Cairo-based Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum to develop the region’s gas market and benefit from the available facilitations and potentials in Egypt to transfer gas to consumers.

In 2018, Egypt introduced an initiative to establish the forum as a platform for structured policy dialogue on natural gas.

During the tripartite summit held in Crete in October that year, leaders of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece declared their intention to establish the forum.

In March 2021, the forum’s charter entered into force with Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestine joining as members. France joined later, and the United States and the EU joined as observers.

In mid-June, Egypt, Israel and the EU signed a memorandum of understanding to boost gas exports to Europe.

Director and founder of European North African Center for Research Sara Kira said Europe hadn’t developed a neighborhood policy with Mediterranean countries since 2011.

However, she pointed out that Egypt was able to reach out to European countries to achieve common interests.

She told Asharq Al-Awsat that Cairo introduced itself as a major political and economic player that is capable of resolving the European countries’ crises.

This helps increase its political and economic clout, and accordingly help address its regional issues in the future, she remarked.

Egypt is seeking to transform into a regional gas trade hub in the Mediterranean by taking advantage of its liquefaction stations, through which it can import explored gas in the eastern Mediterranean to liquefy and re-export, namely Europe, the country’s state information service said.

It seeks to achieve self-sufficiency in domestic supplies and attracting raw gas discovered in Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon and other regional countries, liquefying it in its stations and then exporting it.

Kira said Cairo has been working to become an energy hub for Europe as part of its efforts to localize technology and achieve development in the future.

“Egypt’s current policy towards Europe helps achieve bilateral interests as Europe can no longer rely on one source to meets its energy needs,” she explained.



Cairo May Request Extradition of Qaradawi’s Son from Abu Dhabi

Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)
Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)
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Cairo May Request Extradition of Qaradawi’s Son from Abu Dhabi

Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)
Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)

As Lebanese authorities proceed with the deportation of Egyptian activist Abdel Rahman al-Qaradawi, the son of the late cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi, to the United Arab Emirates, an Egyptian source involved in the case told Asharq Al-Awsat that Cairo plans to formally request his extradition from Abu Dhabi once he arrives there.

Controversy has surrounded the case since Lebanon announced that the government had approved the deportation of Qaradawi to the UAE instead of Egypt, where he holds citizenship.

Former Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that citizenship is not an obstacle in extradition cases between countries, saying that a state may decide to extradite a person to another country even if they hold the nationality of a third state, as in the case of Qaradawi’s son.

According to Lebanese sources, the decision to extradite Qaradawi to the UAE is based on a warrant issued by the Council of Arab Interior Ministers. As a member of the council, Lebanon is obligated to comply with the UAE’s request, despite the absence of a direct bilateral extradition agreement between the two countries.

Additionally, the extradition decision was influenced by the fact that the charges against Qaradawi are criminal, not political, as political charges would prevent extradition and instead warrant protection under international conventions.

An Egyptian judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the International Cooperation Office of Egypt’s Public Prosecutor had prepared a comprehensive file containing all rulings issued against Qaradawi to ensure that the extradition request met all legal requirements. This file was sent to Lebanese judicial authorities through official channels. However, Egypt has yet to receive a response from Lebanon, though one is expected in the coming days.

Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Mehran, a member of the American and European societies for international law, told Asharq Al-Awsat that international law generally allows extradition when the individual is either a citizen of the requesting state, has committed a crime on its territory, or when the requesting state has a direct legal interest in the case.

As Qaradawi is an Egyptian citizen, Egypt “has the legal right to request his extradition under international law and bilateral agreements, provided all legal conditions are met,” Mehran said.

Meanwhile, Qaradawi’s lawyer, Mohammed Sablouh, confirmed plans to file an urgent appeal in Lebanese courts to prevent his client’s extradition, according to Reuters. Mehran explained that extradition laws grant the individual the right to appeal in court, while the requesting states also have the right to challenge decisions.

Mehran suggested that if Qaradawi is ultimately handed over to the UAE, it is highly likely he will later be extradited to Egypt after procedural requirements in the Emirates are fulfilled. This is due to the strong bilateral relations and close security coordination between Egypt and the UAE.

Abdel Rahman al-Qaradawi, who holds dual Egyptian and Turkish citizenship, was arrested in Lebanon on December 28 after returning from Syria. His arrest followed an Interpol red notice issued based on an in absentia ruling by an Egyptian court sentencing him to five years in prison for spreading false news, inciting violence, and terrorism. Before his arrest, Qaradawi appeared in a video filmed at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, where he made remarks considered offensive to both Egypt and the UAE.