Eroglu: We will do whatever we want on the issue of oil and natural gas
Under the title “’We will do whatever we want’”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (26.09.11) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has argued that the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) will carry out exploration for oil and natural gas on behalf of the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, within the scope of the “agreement” of delimiting the “continental shelf” between Turkey and the breakaway regime.

In statements yesterday at the illegal Tymbou airport upon his return from New York, Eroglu alleged the following: “Taking as starting point the reality that we have rights on the undersea wealth in the area all around the island from the south to the north, we have proved the reality that on the issue of these explorations as well, we could give permission for any area we wish and to any company we wish”.

Eroglu reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side had warned the Greek Cypriots before they started the exploration for oil and natural gas, but the latter did not took into consideration the Turkish warning. He claimed that the Greek Cypriots realized that these warnings were serious after the signing of the “agreement” between Turkey and the breakaway regime on the issue of delimiting their “continental shelf”.

Eroglu claimed that it is not possible to take into account the assurance given by President Christofias that the natural wealth of Cyprus will be shared with the Turkish Cypriots. He added, however, that with this statement, President Christofias admitted the reality that the Turkish Cypriots have also rights on the undersea wealth of Cyprus.

Referring to the view of the Turkish Cypriot “opposition” that he had no authority to sign such an “agreement” with Turkey, Eroglu said that according to the “constitution” of the breakaway regime, the “president” is the head of the “state” and has the authority to sign “agreements”, but these “agreements” should be approved by the “parliament”. He noted that the “agreement” he has signed in New York with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan on the issue of delimiting their “continental shelf” is an “international agreement” and therefore it should pass from the “assembly” of the regime. He noted that the day after the signing of this “agreement”, its text was sent to the “government” and added that the “prime minister” conveyed this text to the “speaker” of the “parliament” and met with the political party leaders.

Eroglu said that in spite of the signing of this “agreement” with Turkey, he submitted a written proposal with four points to the UN Secretary–General [on the issue of the explorations for oil and natural gas]. He said that he told to the UN Secretary-General that they exert efforts in the direction of the continuation of the negotiations and they will continue the mission they put forward in the Geneva meeting.

Eroglu alleged that they [the Turkish side] show flexibility sometimes for the continuation of the negotiations and noted that in the beginning they did not want to discuss issues such as the territory, the property, the citizenship and the map, but afterwards they discussed these issues and submitted their own proposals. Eroglu said that they proposed that the territory should be the last issue of discussion and that this could be done at four-party or a five-party summit. Eroglu reiterated that the Turkish side will take a step backwards on the issue of oil and natural gas, if the Greek Cypriot side do the same.

Responding to a question, Eroglu said that “big reserves” of natural gas and oil were established around Cyprus during the explorations and that it is even said that these reserves are enough for hundreds of years.