The government, through Acting Government Spokesman Christos Christofides has rejected recent positions and actions by Ankara on Cyprus’ delineation of its Exclusive Economic Zone and welcomed statements by Washington on the matter.
Invited on Monday to comment on reports that Ankara is exerting diplomatic pressure in an effort to avert the start of the exploration of Cyprus’ hydrocarbon reserves, Christofides said that Cyprus’ EEZ was implemented through difficult conditions and “constitutes perhaps one of the most important positive developments for the island in the recent years”.
The “agreement to exploit possible reserves at the well known block 12 is the Republic of Cyprus’ sovereign right, which has ratified the international convention on the Law of the Sea, something which Turkey has not done and whatever we do, we do it in the framework of international law and our sovereign rights”, he added.
He also said the government believes that finding hydrocarbon reserves and the positive economic and political repercussions of this would “constitute a powerful motive towards the Turkish Cypriot side to cooperate effectively for a proper solution to the Cyprus issue the soonest”.
Regarding the US State Department’s reaction, Christofides said the government is aware of it, adding, “The reaction is within the correct framework and justifies the firm positions of the Republic of Cyprus”.
Christofides has also sent a message of friendship and cooperation to the Turkish Cypriot side, so that through a proper solution, the people of Cyprus will enjoy the possible benefits from finding hydrocarbons within its EEZ.
The Acting Government Spokesman said, “The Republic of Cyprus, further to the cost of the occupation, cannot pay the cost of being hostage to threats and reactions and not exercise its sovereign rights which fully comply with international law”.
He also said the government has specific planning and this planning will continue as scheduled.
Cyprus has been divided since Turkey invaded the island in 1974. The latest round of UN-led negotiations began in September 2008 between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, in an effort to reunite the island under a federal roof.
Drilling for natural gas off the southern coast of Cyprus will begin around October.
Cyprus has signed a production-sharing contract with Houston-based Noble Energy. The company has a concession to explore for hydrocarbons in an offshore field in its Exclusive Economic Zone, southeast of Cyprus, known as Block 12.
The Eastern Mediterranean area is believed to have a massive amount of natural gas resources.
Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement was signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
Turkey is the only state in the world, which does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.
House President Yiannakis Omirou has denounced Turkey’s “provocative, cynical and criminal” stance during the last few weeks, with Ankara threatening the Republic of Cyprus for exercising its sovereign rights, concerning the extraction of possible hydrocarbon reserves in its Exclusive Economic Zone.
Cyprus’ rights stem from the International Convention of the Law of the Sea, which Turkey refuses to ratify, in order to be able to act as a “modern-day pirate and international trouble maker,” Omirou noted.
Furthermore, he said that Turkey’s claims, that possible extraction activities on behalf of Cyprus’ government would harm direct negotiation talks, only show its ill faith in solving the Cyprus issue.
