Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

Greek Cyprus and Nabucco

The Greek Cypriot administration's EU entry in 2004 in the absence of a comprehensive resolution to the Cyprus issue was "inappropriate," Erdoğan said. "Shouldn't we recognize this reality? Should we swallow it?" he asked. "It is not swallow-able at all."

Turkey, which does not recognize the Greek Cypriot administration, has called on the EU to fulfill its commitment to take steps to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots as a condition to opening its ports and airports to traffic from Greek Cyprus. The EU unveiled a plan to ease the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots after they voted for a UN plan to reunite the island, but it was never implemented because of opposition from other members and Greek Cyprus, which joined the EU a few days after the Greek Cypriots rejected the same UN plan in April 2004 in a simultaneous referendum.

Greek Cyprus, accused by Ankara of using its veto rights over Turkey's EU accession process, said last month it would not let talks on the energy part of the accession process start until an oil exploration dispute was resolved. Greek Cyprus has accused Turkey of harassing hydrocarbon research vessels four times since Nov. 13.

Erdoğan said yesterday that Turkey would review its support for the Nabucco gas pipeline to Europe if the energy portion of its EU accession talks remained blocked. He also raised doubts about the $12 billion project, seen as one of Europe's best hopes for limiting its dependence on Russian gas.

The EU has sought to diversify its energy sources since Russia's invasion of Georgia last summer and the gas dispute between Moscow and Kiev, which has curtailed supplies across Ukraine to Europe.

The EU is backing the Nabucco pipeline, which is one day hoped to carry 30 billion cubic meters of Caspian or Middle Eastern gas annually to an Austrian hub via Turkey.

"If we are faced with a situation where the energy chapter is blocked, we would of course review our position," Erdoğan said, while questioning whether there was enough gas available to justify Nabucco, which enters Europe via Turkey.

"The information is that the countries that say that they will provide sufficient amounts of natural gas do not have enough natural gas to provide," he said. "In the Nabucco project, there needs to 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas flowing, but it's not there."

Analysts say only 3 billion cubic meters has been sourced for the pipeline, compared to a minimum of 15 billion cubic meters needed to get it started.

Iran remains a potential source of gas for Nabucco, and Erdoğan criticized countries that oppose taking Iranian gas for political reasons.



20 January 2009, Tuesday


TODAY’S ZAMAN WITH WIRES ANKARA
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detay ... ink=164552

[Bananiot]

Thank you Tim for bringing some sanity to this discussion. The idea that Cyprus can force issues in the EU is ridiculus and people that conteplate such thoughts simply live in another planet. Mind you, such people, with their micromegalism are responsible for our predicament and from the looks of it they are ready to sacrifice Cyprus again.

[DT.]

Thank you Tim for bringing some sanity to this discussion. The idea that Cyprus can force issues in the EU is ridiculus and people that conteplate such thoughts simply live in another planet. Mind you, such people, with their micromegalism are responsible for our predicament and from the looks of it they are ready to sacrifice Cyprus again.

Thats right. Its Bananiot's turn to gift Cypus to Turkey.

[Paphitis]

Now think of the probability not only fuel but also WATER being provided by the likes of Erdogan and the deep state of Turkey.

Obviouslhy there is no coercion. There was no coercion in the case of Russia and the Ukraine, just old fashioned bazaar mentality and pressing home an advantage. In the case of Turkey it is the advantage of cheap non Russian gas from central Asia. If you want it you will have to accomodate us, is the message.

Trying it on is Erdogan's prerogative. Accepting it or not, is a challenge for Europeans to prove they are not pimps. We wait and we see.

I still don't understand the issue being discussed here.

The fact of the matter is that Cyprus has veto rights which can bring Turkey's EU bid to a grinding halt. These types of opportunities don't come round very often and Cyprus really needs to take advantage.

Why wouldn't Cyprus exercise this right, over such a fundamentally important issue such as the EU Energy chapter? The veto right is our best card.

My dear boy, things go on in smoke filled rooms behind the scenes. I do not imagine that Europe is going to put its energy security in jeopardy for the sake of Cyprus. If needs be, the necessary pressure will be brought to bear on Cyprus to ensure that it does not upset the apple cart.

Has the EU passed legislation that has taken away our right to veto?

[Bananiot]

Yes it has, do you want a ... link?

Sorry DT, I am not going to answer. Can you live with that?

[Paphitis]

Now think of the probability not only fuel but also WATER being provided by the likes of Erdogan and the deep state of Turkey.

Obviouslhy there is no coercion. There was no coercion in the case of Russia and the Ukraine, just old fashioned bazaar mentality and pressing home an advantage. In the case of Turkey it is the advantage of cheap non Russian gas from central Asia. If you want it you will have to accomodate us, is the message.

Trying it on is Erdogan's prerogative. Accepting it or not, is a challenge for Europeans to prove they are not pimps. We wait and we see.

I still don't understand the issue being discussed here.

The fact of the matter is that Cyprus has veto rights which can bring Turkey's EU bid to a grinding halt. These types of opportunities don't come round very often and Cyprus really needs to take advantage.

Why wouldn't Cyprus exercise this right, over such a fundamentally important issue such as the EU Energy chapter? The veto right is our best card.

My dear boy, things go on in smoke filled rooms behind the scenes. I do not imagine that Europe is going to put its energy security in jeopardy for the sake of Cyprus. If needs be, the necessary pressure will be brought to bear on Cyprus to ensure that it does not upset the apple cart.

Newsflash for you my boy!

The EU Energy crisis has just been solved.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Russia_Say ... 72188.html

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,3960029,00.html

That's the end of that then.

[Get Real!]

That should earn Turkey a place in the Guinness book of records as the shortest lived “global power broker”… what’s that three days?

[Paphitis]

Yes it has, do you want a ... link?

Sorry DT, I am not going to answer. Can you live with that?

Don't bother.

The Turks seem convinced about our veto rights and are running scared.

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/x ... 2/18/nb-09

Your arguments are very false, because Cyprus would have absolutely no choice but to exercise her veto rights against Turkey. If it did not do so, then it loses all possible leverage. This is just like saying Australia will not withdraw her troops from Iraq because it will "upset (US) the apple cart" So What? Any nation will upset the "Apple Cart" when it comes to vital national interests. Cyprus is no different.
If Cyprus does veto, it still does not mean that Turkey will not become an EU member. It just means that Cyprus will achieve extensive leverage, because I don't think Turkey is going to abandon her EU aspirations.

[Tim Drayton]

Now think of the probability not only fuel but also WATER being provided by the likes of Erdogan and the deep state of Turkey.

Obviouslhy there is no coercion. There was no coercion in the case of Russia and the Ukraine, just old fashioned bazaar mentality and pressing home an advantage. In the case of Turkey it is the advantage of cheap non Russian gas from central Asia. If you want it you will have to accomodate us, is the message.

Trying it on is Erdogan's prerogative. Accepting it or not, is a challenge for Europeans to prove they are not pimps. We wait and we see.

I still don't understand the issue being discussed here.

The fact of the matter is that Cyprus has veto rights which can bring Turkey's EU bid to a grinding halt. These types of opportunities don't come round very often and Cyprus really needs to take advantage.

Why wouldn't Cyprus exercise this right, over such a fundamentally important issue such as the EU Energy chapter? The veto right is our best card.

My dear boy, things go on in smoke filled rooms behind the scenes. I do not imagine that Europe is going to put its energy security in jeopardy for the sake of Cyprus. If needs be, the necessary pressure will be brought to bear on Cyprus to ensure that it does not upset the apple cart.

Has the EU passed legislation that has taken away our right to veto?

No, it hasn't.

[Paphitis]

That should earn Turkey a place in the Guinness book of records as the shortest lived “global power broker”… what’s that three days?

Well, they have proven to be very useful.

GAME OVER