Cyprus-Forum.com

[Simon]

[quote]‘We hope Turkey will not do anything to create tension in the area’
By Jean Christou

BRITAIN fully supports the Cyprus government’s position on the oil and gas exploration, and hopes the actions of Turkey do not raise tensions, High Commissioner Peter Millet said yesterday.

Speaking after a meeting with EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou, Millet said Britain recognised the sovereignty of Cyprus and its right to conclude international and bilateral agreements.
There was no issue of questioning this right, he said.

Millet’s comment came only 24 hours before Cyprus is due to open bidding today for seismic data that foreign investors may purchase to carry our further exploration in the region.

The first round of exploration licensing involves 11 offshore blocks totalling around 60,000 square kilometres.

This week Turkey's Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said that Turkey would also seek oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean, while trying "to ensure the research areas do not overlap".

Turkey maintains it has “legitimate and legal rights and interests” in the eastern Mediterranean and is insisting that Turkish Cypriots should also have a say in the island’s oil and gas rights.

Ankara has also warned Lebanon and Egypt, with whom Cyprus has signed bilateral agreements on exploration rights, not to go ahead with the Cyprus deals.

“We hope that Turkey will not do anything that will create tension in the area,” Millet said.

“We stated that we recognise the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus as well as its right to conclude international and bilateral agreements. This right is not in question,” he added.

Millet said Turkey did not implement the Law of the Sea and had a different position on the issue.

”However all other European countries recognise this Law and Cyprus’ right for example, under this Treaty, to conduct exploration at sea and in its exclusive economic zone,” he added.

House President Demetris Christofias, on his return from China yesterday said Turkey’s actions were provocative.

“These actions of diversion in which Turkey is proceeding, are moves that show once more that Turkey is an occupying force and that it does not respect the international law and the Law of the Sea,” he said.

“Turkey does not respect the sovereignty of its neighbouring states and consequently I will deplore once more these unacceptable actions.”

Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said the government was examining ways to respond to Turkey’s actions.

“Even if the date for implementing Turkey's decision to conduct exploration in the Mediterranean remains undetermined, the Cyprus government condemns this decision as illegal,” he said.

Pashiardis said today’s opening for exploration bids would go head as planned.[/quote]

It seems that Turkey is losing friends with their expansionist designs in the region.

[Eliko]

Sounds like another load of 'Tongue in cheek' drivel from the British, don't build your hopes up , let us see what Tony and his mate can conjure up behind the scenes.

[Simon]

Why? Because it doesn't suit Turkish interests?

I say to Turkey, just keep doing what you're doing; eventually the bully-boy, belligerent, nationalistic policies will culminate in your downfall.

[Simon]

[quote]Turkey's oil drilling threats rejected by EU leaders



Angelos Marcopoulos reports from Strasbourg
THE EU parliament and top EU leaders rejected Turkey's threats to stop Cyprus from offshore drilling for oil, branding them as completely unacceptabe.

Yesterday's vote by the EU parliament won additional impact as it coincided with yesterday's opening by the Cyprus government of a bidding process inviting companies to apply for offshore oil and gas exploration.

The general tone at the EU parliament was set from the outset by the president of it's largest group, the PPE-Chrstian Democratcs, Joseph Daul who warned that the Turkish threats will be dealt by Europeas a whole. "It's Europe as a whole who will deal with this kind of political issues provoked by Turkey.''

"This is a very important matter '' because the EU will begin discussing energy issues later this year will begin enrgy issues and "diplomatic aspects'' like the Turkish threats must be dealt with (by the EU) whenever they are raised," Daul said.

Daul'e denunciation of the Turkish threat was backed by French political leader Francois Bayrou who is a candidate in this year's presidential election. "Europe would not exist if it was unable to defend it's values and react to the (Turkish) threats that you referred to. This is fundamental for us,'' Bayrou said in reply to my question.

Bayrou also stressed that "we (France) must be strict on Turkey's respect for EU criteria.''

The prospect of an oil discovery in the eastern Mediterranean, within EU territorail waters, is regarded as of vital importance by the EU, explained Dutch MEP Camiel Eurlings who is the EU's Rapporteur for Turkey.

"For the EU to find oil or gas in its own territories will be very, very helpful. Consequently we absolutely have to safeguard any European energy resources which may be found in the forthcoming exploration in the East Mediterranean Sea," Eurlings told The Cyprus Weekly in an exclusive interview. "From the international legality's point of view, the Republic of Cyprus has all the legal rights on its side, so Cyprus can go on with it's invitation for exploration bids'' he added.[/quote]

What's this then? More 'tongue in cheek' drivel?

Keep it up Turkey! Job almost done.

[Eliko]

I seem to remember a similar scenario taking place prior to the attack on Iraq, regardless of what those who seek to uphold the EU view, I fear the 'behind the scenes' negotiations will gain ascendancy in the long run.