Cyprus-Forum.com

by **Sotos** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 1:33 pm

The stakes are high with our natural gas (oil?) resources. As usual the Turks want to steal what does not belong to them and as usual they are planning to use their army to do it. But this time Cyprus is not alone. We have an agreement with Israel and it seems that we also have the backing of US, EU and Russia. Greece can also benefit from an Israel-Cyprus-Greece deal to bring gas to EU and that could be a way for them to solve some of their financial problems! So what do you think will happen? Who will win this game?

by **Hermes** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:55 pm

Fourth option is a real possibility...

Turkey and Israel ‘may tumble into conflict’ over Cyprus

“It is possible that Turkey and Israel might tumble into an armed conflict in the Mediterranean.” It is remarkable to hear these words from a diplomat who spent most of his career building good relations between the two countries. But Alon Liel has not ruled out this possibility.

Turkey and Israel, long time allies in the Middle East, have been at odds since the Gaza War in 2009. Turkey’s Prime Minister openly criticised Israel’s bombardment of civilians in Gaza during the operation and bawled out Israeli President Shimon Peres during a conference at Davos.

However this crisis was contained by adept diplomats, while Peres was quick to save relations from a free fall. But the flotilla crisis in May last year ended, with the killing of eight Turks and one Turkish-American citizen during the Israeli raid, was hard to swallow for Turkey.

Turkey wanted an apology, but the Israeli right wing government resisted and after 15 months of waiting Turkey decided to downgrade relations to Second Secretary.

“This is a strategic decision which will have economic, political and social implications. It needs a lot of time to recover.” Alon Liel told Euronews.

The most striking of Turkey’s decision was protecting free navigation rights in the Mediterranean, which was regarded as using force by many analysts. And according to Liel this may cause an armed conflict between the two countries:

“I think Turkey and Israel can fight not because of Gaza or Lebanon, but over Cyprus. Arguments over the rights of gas and oil reserves, its shipping, demarcation of territorial waters may cause conflict. Both navies know each other, this may help to overcome crisis but it is possible for the two countries to enter into an armed conflict.”

Prof. Efrahim Inbar talks about other implications to bilatarel relations. “We helped Turkey in overcoming genocide resolution at the American Congress for many years. I myself worked for this. But people in the Washington lobby are mad at Turkey now.”

In Israel some people talk about “using the Kurdish card”, in other words supporting the PKK armed Kurdish separatist group over Turkey. But both analysts ruled out such a policy and say that “no serious Israeli talk about it. It is an idea brought by bloggers.”

But is there a way out for the two countries without resorting to conflict?

Liel thinks that there are two aspects to answer this question. On the bilateral level, governments must be more careful while on a regional level the Israeli-Palestinian peace process should be revived because Turkish-Israeli relations are closely linked to the Israeli-Arab question.

“If Israel had apologized for the killings it would be over,” says Liel. But Inbar is more pessimistic. He says “As long as the AK Party supports “terrorist” Hamas, things can’t get better. Turkey is now a friend of Hamas and Iran not Israel.”

http://www.euronews.net/2011/09/07/turk ... er-syprus/

by **Cap** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 6:32 pm

realistically: Anatolian terrorists throw the mother of all baby tantrums. They send navy to obstruct drilling, threaten to sink, bomb, torpedo, invade, attack etc etc (the usual barbaric antics). The israelis are quiet, but on full alert.
The US, fearing a military clash between the baby and Israel and even bigger instability in Middle East steps in, asks Cyp to halt drilling 'temporarily' until things calm down.

Another injustice to CY by the terrorists.

end of.

by **Hermes** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:13 pm

Commission calls on Ankara to stop threatening Cyprus
By Joanna Sopinska | Wednesday 07 September 2011

Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle has called on Turkey to refrain from issuing threats against Cyprus with regard to its oil and gas exploration plans in the South-East Mediterranean Sea. He made it clear at the same time that Cyprus has the sovereign right to enter into bilateral agreements. Nicosia has signed a contract with the US firm Noble Energy Inc. on drilling for natural gas and oil in its 324,000-hectare economic zone South-East of the island. Turkey has objected to these plans, threatening military action if the works start in early October (see Europolitics4258).

“The EU urges Turkey to refrain from any kind of threat, sources of friction or action, which could negatively affect good neighbourly relations and the peaceful settlement of border disputes,” Maja Kocijancic, the Commission's spokesperson for enlargement, told Europolitics, on 7 September, on behalf of Füle. She reiterated the need to respect “all the sovereign rights of the EU member states, which include entering into bilateral agreements, in accordance with the EU acquisand international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”

On a more general note, Füle appealed to all parties concerned to “exercise restraint,” especially ahead of the crucial phase of the Cyprus reunification talks this autumn. He encouraged them to “do their utmost to ensure a positive climate that will facilitate a successful completion of the process”.

Meanwhile, criticism is mounting in the EU against Turkey’s stance on the issue. According to Wilfried Martens, president of the European People's Party (EPP), “Turkey, an EU candidate country, must refrain from issuing threats against an EU member state. This also undermines the EU's energy security," he said in a statement, on 7 September.

http://www.europolitics.info/external-p ... 80-41.html

by **Hermes** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:08 pm

More EU reaction to Turkish threats against Cyprus...

EPP - TURKISH THREATS

The President of the European People`s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has reacted strongly to statements by Turkish officials against EU member Cyprus regarding the start of oil and gas exploration by Cyprus.

``I am very surprised by the recent statements of Turkish officials against an EU member state”, said Martens. “Turkey, an EU candidate country must refrain from threats against an EU member state that also undermine EU`s energy security,`` underlined the EPP President.

Turkish threats over Cyprus’ plans to start oil and gas exploration in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) by the American contractor `Noble` have escalated over the past weeks.

``Needless to say, Cyprus is a European pillar of stability in the eastern Mediterranean and, as such, will play a central role in bolstering EU`s energy security,`` Martens added.

http://www.cna.org.cy/website/english/a ... 2.asp?id=2

by **B25** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:13 pm

I think all 27 members of the EU should be giving Turkey their own ultimatum.

Cease and desist, or we cut all economic ties with you and we will put together a military response against any agression towards our EU partner.

Simple really, that in itself will shut them the F up.

by **CBBB** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:12 pm

What we need is a couple of Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers coming to visit us. Sorry, I forgot, they haven't got any!

by **repulsewarrior** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:37 am

...Turkey falls under the weight of the ecomnomic turmoil their threats produce. World opinion turns so strongly against Turkey that the Kurds and Armenians make territorial gains which amount to Turkey being broken into pieces. Cyprus is free at last.

by **LAMANO** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:42 am

no one considers the 5th option? Why turkey challenges us? Israil is going against them, but they dont care, if the americans come and give us a ''solution'' we will surly accept it, isn't it? but with what cost....?