Turkey, Israel, Greece and Russia mobilising over Cyprus gas

Block 12

Turkey and Greece in dispute over gas drillings

Turkey and Turkish Cyprus (which is not recognised internationally) have signed an agreement with regards to the continental shelf to define their maritime borders with the goal of joint gas and oil exploration. However, some of the areas included in the agreement fall within a region claimed by the (Greek) Republic of Cyprus, a European Union member.

Cypriot President Dimitri Christofias said last Saturday that drilling for oil and gas would continue, despite Turkish opposition. For the Cypriot leader, his nation’s right to search for potential mineral deposits inside its exclusive economic zone is non-negotiable and that any foreign meddling is unacceptable.


Greece and Israel improve relations

The situation has led to a major improvement in relations between Cyprus and Israel. President Christofias has already visited Israel, and his Israeli counterpart is set to visit the island nation shortly.

The two countries have also signed an agreement on delimiting their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and on co-operating in oil and gas exploration in Cyprus’ EEZ, which has been undertaken by Noble Energy in cooperation with the US State Department and the US Embassy in Nicosia.

Cyprus also intends to act as a natural mediator between Lebanon and Israel in their dispute over Leviathan.


Gas drillings near Cyprus an International issue

...gas discoveries in the eastern Mediterranean are raising tensions that go beyond the Turkish-Cypriot dispute.

In Cyprus, newspapers are reporting increased Turkish aerial activity around the island, with nighttime research and rescue training operations. At the same time, Israel is monitoring Turkish moves with unmanned drones circling the drilling area.
Both Greece and Russia have backed the Cypriot position on the natural gas issue. Moscow also wants some licences to develop some of the fields and is in favour of a cooperation agreement with Cyprus.

The Russian aircraft carrier ‘Admiral Kuznetsov’ is expected in the eastern Mediterranean region next month, carrying a large number of Russian fighters. A submarine is also on its way for “patrol purposes” as part of exercises with other countries in the area.

The arrival of the Russians coincides with the expected announcement by Noble of its initial drilling results.

Asia News

Greece and Russia rally behind Cyprus

Block 12 within Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Greek Minister of National Defence Panos Beglitis, who attended yesterday’s parade, told reporters: “We are in close cooperation with Cyprus’ leadership, we are watching Turkey’s actions very closely, in a composed and decisive manner and I would like once again to denounce statements often made by the Turkish political leadership, as well as the policies followed.”

Russian Ambassador to Cyprus Vyacheslav Shumskiy said Moscow’s position was “absolutely clear” on the issue. “We were among the first countries to comment on that, and we totally support the sovereign right of the Cypriot people for exploitation of natural resources , this is totally in accordance with the international law and with the EU regulations, so there is no doubt about that,” he said.

read more at: Cyprus Mail

Israeli vs Turkish Fighter Jets Over Cyprus

With a treasure trove of hydrocarbon reserves thought to lie beneath the sea, the stakes are high: the winner could emerge as an energy broker in charge of Europe's gas supplies for decades to come.

"If the findings are as big as they say then the power political parameters of the region will shift," said Hubert Faustmann, a political science professor at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus.

"We're talking about trillions of cubic metres of hydrocarbons worth billions of dollars."
The row erupted after the divided Mediterranean island instructed a US company, Noble Energy, to begin drilling off its southern shores last month.

Turkish frigates, jets escort ship that began oil and gas exploration off Cyprus

Turkey is using its navy and air force to escort a ship conducting oil and gas exploration off Cyprus, an official said Tuesday, in the latest development in a dispute over the ownership of the divided island nation’s natural resources.

Turkey Threatens the European Union

Turkey will freeze relations with the European Union if Cyprus assumes the presidency of the group of nations, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said, the official Turkish news agency reported Sunday.

Anadolu did not elaborate on what that would mean in practice.

Atalay was on a visit to the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is not recognized internationally.

Turkish troops invaded Cyprus in 1974 in response to a coup d'etat there, engineered by by Greece, which was run by a military dictatorship at the time.

The island remains divided despite years of efforts to resolve the deadlock. The southern part of the island joined the European Union on its own after unity efforts failed.

Cyprus is scheduled to take over the rotating six-month leadership of the EU in the second half of 2012, on a schedule that was announced in 2007.

Turkey has spent years negotiating to join the European Union.

CNN

UN urges calm over Cyprus-Turkey gas row

The UN stepped into calm tempers on Friday after Turkey threatened divided Cyprus to put off drilling for natural gas or it will press ahead with exploration plans off the island’s Turkish-held north.

“It should be understood that natural resources, if they are discovered, would be for the benefit of all Cypriots — Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots — under the framework of a federal united Cyprus,” said UN chief of mission Lisa Buttenheim after officiating at peace talks between Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

“The United Nations would appeal to all involved to resolve this matter in a peaceful manner and look beyond the issues to the potential benefits that a united Cyprus can bring,” she told reporters.

The UN is worried that the energy row — which also involves Greece and Israel — could derail Cyprus peace talks that are faltering after three years of painstaking negotiations.

Turkey threatened on Thursday to sign a continental shelf delimitation agreement with northern Cyprus if the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government moves ahead with gas exploration plans, the foreign ministry said.

"Cyprus and Israel should join forces"

"It is not within my professional authority, but I think it is possible to expand cooperation to the military sphere. For example, you will secure Leviathan with your ships and submarines; why shouldn't you also secure (Cyprus') Block 12, which is only 33 kilometers away?"


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