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Cyprus to pursue energy issues in line with international law
Τhe discovery of energy reserves in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone is both a promising feature but also holds great risks and must be managed carefully and with wisdom, Minister of Foreign Affairs Erato Kozakou Marcoullis said, adding that energy can serve the reunification of Cyprus.
Speaking on Wednesday at the London School of Economics on the geostrategic importance of Cyprus, Marcoullis said the Republic of Cyprus is keen on moving forward with energy issues, by adhering to the principles of international law.
The Minister underlined that the recent discovery of rich hydrocarbon deposits off the Cypriot shores and within part of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone, “will have an historic impact on Cyprus”.
The scale of the findings by US company “Noble Energy”, she noted, is conservatively estimated at between 5-7 Tcf of natural gas, adding that these are the results from a single plot and from an initial search.
“Cyprus has approximately 100 billion euros worth of natural gas recoverable from this single plot, that can satisfy the electricity production needs of the country for 210 years,” she said.
Furthermore, she said that the country is drawing increased interest by major international energy companies, who are considering their bid for the remaining 12 plots for the second round of licensing for exploratory drilling in other parts of the Cypriot EEZ.
She also said that there are indications that it will be possible to move towards joint exploitation by neighbouring countries, along with the launching of joint projects, across the line separating Exclusive Economic Zones, adding that the Republic of Cyprus is actively promoting this sort of cooperation as is the case with Israel and Egypt.
Marcoullis said moreover that Cyprus will one day hopefully engage with Turkey as well, once the island is reunited and occupation is terminated. She noted however Cyprus’ disappointment over Ankara’s refusal to grasp the opportunity to play a more constructive and cooperative role, by assuming in contrast a hostile and aggressive approach.
The Minister noted in particular the verbal assault of Turkish leaders during the start of exploratory drilling in the Cypriot EEZ last September as well as threats and provocations by Turkish warships and aircraft and illegal seismic surveying and seabed mapping, carried out in blatant violation of Cypriot sovereign rights.
“Turkey is not just violating international law” but behaves “in line with the rules of international relations which belong to another century, long before international law was put in place to guide relations between states,” the Minister noted.
On Turkey’s EU accession negotiations, the Minster remarked that the process remains frozen, because Ankara is failing to meet its commitments to the European Union.
Speaking on the form of settlement for the Cyprus problem, Marcoullis reiterated the solution framework endorsed by the United Nations, on a state with a single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship, comprising two politically equal communities, as defined in the relevant Security Council resolutions, in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation.
She noted that political will is needed in order to engage in a productive and substantive negotiation, but added that, although a round of negotiations started more than three years ago, such progress remains elusive due to the position of the Turkish Cypriot side, fully supported by the Turkish Government.
Despite the difficulties and obstacles on the way, Marcoullis said that Cyprus will spare no effort towards the direction of Cyprus’ reunification, “because we strongly hold that such a development would be a win-win situation for all parties concerned, primarily Cyprus and the Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, for Greece and Turkey, for the European Union and for the international community at large”.
Marcoullis noted that Cyprus will be assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on the 1st of July 2012, and remarked that Turkey, which has been openly threatening the EU to freeze relations with the bloc during the Cypriot Presidency, should realise that this bullying, threatening and insulting behaviour is detrimental to its EU accession aspiration.
The Minister concluded by saying that, if Turkey chooses to change its attitude, the door will remain open throughout the Cypriot Presidency and beyond.
Speaking on Wednesday at the London School of Economics on the geostrategic importance of Cyprus, Marcoullis said the Republic of Cyprus is keen on moving forward with energy issues, by adhering to the principles of international law.
The Minister underlined that the recent discovery of rich hydrocarbon deposits off the Cypriot shores and within part of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone, “will have an historic impact on Cyprus”.
The scale of the findings by US company “Noble Energy”, she noted, is conservatively estimated at between 5-7 Tcf of natural gas, adding that these are the results from a single plot and from an initial search.
“Cyprus has approximately 100 billion euros worth of natural gas recoverable from this single plot, that can satisfy the electricity production needs of the country for 210 years,” she said.
Furthermore, she said that the country is drawing increased interest by major international energy companies, who are considering their bid for the remaining 12 plots for the second round of licensing for exploratory drilling in other parts of the Cypriot EEZ.
She also said that there are indications that it will be possible to move towards joint exploitation by neighbouring countries, along with the launching of joint projects, across the line separating Exclusive Economic Zones, adding that the Republic of Cyprus is actively promoting this sort of cooperation as is the case with Israel and Egypt.
Marcoullis said moreover that Cyprus will one day hopefully engage with Turkey as well, once the island is reunited and occupation is terminated. She noted however Cyprus’ disappointment over Ankara’s refusal to grasp the opportunity to play a more constructive and cooperative role, by assuming in contrast a hostile and aggressive approach.
The Minister noted in particular the verbal assault of Turkish leaders during the start of exploratory drilling in the Cypriot EEZ last September as well as threats and provocations by Turkish warships and aircraft and illegal seismic surveying and seabed mapping, carried out in blatant violation of Cypriot sovereign rights.
“Turkey is not just violating international law” but behaves “in line with the rules of international relations which belong to another century, long before international law was put in place to guide relations between states,” the Minister noted.
On Turkey’s EU accession negotiations, the Minster remarked that the process remains frozen, because Ankara is failing to meet its commitments to the European Union.
Speaking on the form of settlement for the Cyprus problem, Marcoullis reiterated the solution framework endorsed by the United Nations, on a state with a single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship, comprising two politically equal communities, as defined in the relevant Security Council resolutions, in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation.
She noted that political will is needed in order to engage in a productive and substantive negotiation, but added that, although a round of negotiations started more than three years ago, such progress remains elusive due to the position of the Turkish Cypriot side, fully supported by the Turkish Government.
Despite the difficulties and obstacles on the way, Marcoullis said that Cyprus will spare no effort towards the direction of Cyprus’ reunification, “because we strongly hold that such a development would be a win-win situation for all parties concerned, primarily Cyprus and the Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, for Greece and Turkey, for the European Union and for the international community at large”.
Marcoullis noted that Cyprus will be assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on the 1st of July 2012, and remarked that Turkey, which has been openly threatening the EU to freeze relations with the bloc during the Cypriot Presidency, should realise that this bullying, threatening and insulting behaviour is detrimental to its EU accession aspiration.
The Minister concluded by saying that, if Turkey chooses to change its attitude, the door will remain open throughout the Cypriot Presidency and beyond.
Source: http://famagusta-gazette.com
Thursday January 26, 2012
Thursday January 26, 2012