Cyprus-Forum.com

[bill cobbett]

The Israelli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon has said that Israel will defend the drilling for natural resources in the Cyprus EEZ.

Speaking at a press conf he said...

"Asked at a news briefing Tuesday what Israel's reaction is to a threat by Turkey regarding drilling in Cyprus, Ayalon said, “If anyone tries to challenge these drillings, we will meet those challenges.”

More at... http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/11 ... -in-cyprus

[Maximus]

with this?

http://famagusta-gazette.com/russian-na ... 594-69.htm

[bill cobbett]

with this?

http://famagusta-gazette.com/russian-na ... 594-69.htm

Yes, it is an impressive bit of kit.

... but it is a shame that all these forces of defence seem to be needed to protect CY gas, but then again the gathering of war-ships like the Russian carrier (and presumably there are others including ones we can't see) are a reaction to Turkey/Erdogan's sabre-rattling and very real threats.

[Hermes]

Israel tightens Med defense links over gas

Cypriot Defense Minister Demetris Eliades visited Israel to sign a defense cooperation pact Monday. Cyprus has no navy or air force, so it wants Israel to act as a deterrent to Turkey.

No details were officially disclosed, but Eliades made it clear the Israelis had approval "in advance" to operate in Cypriot air space and waters.

Greek Cypriot sources said Israel had asked to use the Andreas Papandreou air base in Paphos, in the southwestern tip of the island and once used by the Greek air force.

There has been no official word that had been approved, but basing Israeli aircraft in southern Cyprus is guaranteed to rile the Turks...

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy ... z1jC8yVuPm

[Hermes]

Difficult to keep up with all these visits. But this one looks significant...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be going to Cyprus on February 16 in what a Foreign Ministry source says is the first-ever visit by an Israeli prime minister to the island country. Netanyahu hopes to increase cooperation with Cyprus in underwater drilling for natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as security cooperation in the wake of the crisis in Israel's relations with Turkey and the instability of Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime...

Netanyahu headed to Cyprus to boost cooperation on security, offshore drilling