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Clinton: All Cyprus to benefit from hydrocarbon exploration
State Department recognizes the right of the Republic of Cyprus to explore for natural resources in its exclusive economic zone, including with the assistance of US companies, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has said yesterday.
She added that ’’we look forward to both sides benefiting from shared resources in the context of an overall agreement’’.
Speaking at a dinner organized by the American-Turkish Council in Washington, focusing on bilateral relations, Clinton said that all parties agree on the fundamental goal of achieving a lasting settlement on the island that results in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.
’’The United States supports the UN’s mediation on the Cyprus issue, and we believe that public rhetoric on all sides must be kept to a minimum to give the parties space needed to achieve a solution’’, she noted.
Following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil exploration in its exclusive economic zone, Ankara, whose troops occupy Cyprus’ northern part, has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf.
Drilling has already begun and is being carried out by Houston-based “Noble Energy”, off Cyprus’ south-eastern coast.
The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkey’s moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling.
Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.
Copyright © Famagusta Gazette 2011, November 1st