cyprus oil
john metaxas.com.
US ambassador: Oil exploration is Greek Cypriot right
The U.S. ambassador to the Greek Cypriot administration claimed yesterday that the Greek Cypriots have the right to sign accords to facilitate future oil and gas exploration between the Mediterranean country and the island.
The Anatolia news agency reported yesterday that U.S Ambassador to the Greek Cypriot administration Ronald Schleicher met with Demetris Christofia of the Greek Cypriot AKEL party, quoting Greek state radio news.
Schleicher claimed that Washington thinks signing such agreements is a sovereign right of the Greek Cypriots.
Against Turkey's strong objections, Greek Cyprus signed accords with Egypt in 2005 and Lebanon this year, delineating the undersea border to facilitate future oil and gas exploration between the Mediterranean country and the island.
Turkey had warned Greek Cyprus not to search for oil and gas in the area, where it says it also has legal rights and interests.
Ankara also warned Lebanon and Egypt not to press ahead with oil and gas exploration deals signed with the Greek Cypriots, saying that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots also have rights in the region.
"The delineation of the continental shelf or of exclusive economic rights in the eastern Mediterranean is only possible through arrangements that would take into account the rights and interests of all parties," a Turkish official underlined earlier.
Ankara sees the oil dispute with the Greek Cypriot administration as a Greek Cypriot move to seek legitimization with the oil trump card.
Schleicher said that if any country opposes the Greek Cypriot oil agreements signed by Egypt and Lebanon, they should seek legal, peaceful recourse.
Turkish sources said that there should be a consensus in the sharing of oil and gas exploration resources, but Turkey and the Greek Cypriot administration have no diplomatic contact.
The Cyprus continental shelf issue concerns the parties that recently signed oil exploration agreements for that area, as well as Greek Cyprus and Turkey, but not the U.S., said the U.S. State Department late last month
Responding to a question, Sean McCormack, spokesman for the State Department, said that efforts to find a solution to Cyprus problem should start as soon as possible. "The problem (continental shelf issue) is not a concern of the U.S., since we are not one of the parties that signed those agreements. It has to be solved between contracting states and Turkey. The U.S. Department of State does not recommend to U.S. companies whether to offer tender or not."
Saying that Washington UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari's initiative on Cyprus, McCormack said this initiative should be implemented.
Cyprus is divided between an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot administration in the south and the TRNC in the north. The Greek Cypriot administration joined the European Union in May 2004 with a claim to represent the whole island, although the Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly rejected the United Nations-sponsored Annan plan in April 2004, which was the last major effort for the unification of the island. Turkish Cypriots, in a separate referendum, voted in favor of the plan but they remain under international isolation.
ABHaber 07.03.2007 thenewanatolian.com lornion.blogspot.com
US ambassador: Oil exploration is Greek Cypriot right
The U.S. ambassador to the Greek Cypriot administration claimed yesterday that the Greek Cypriots have the right to sign accords to facilitate future oil and gas exploration between the Mediterranean country and the island.
The Anatolia news agency reported yesterday that U.S Ambassador to the Greek Cypriot administration Ronald Schleicher met with Demetris Christofia of the Greek Cypriot AKEL party, quoting Greek state radio news.
Schleicher claimed that Washington thinks signing such agreements is a sovereign right of the Greek Cypriots.
Against Turkey's strong objections, Greek Cyprus signed accords with Egypt in 2005 and Lebanon this year, delineating the undersea border to facilitate future oil and gas exploration between the Mediterranean country and the island.
Turkey had warned Greek Cyprus not to search for oil and gas in the area, where it says it also has legal rights and interests.
Ankara also warned Lebanon and Egypt not to press ahead with oil and gas exploration deals signed with the Greek Cypriots, saying that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots also have rights in the region.
"The delineation of the continental shelf or of exclusive economic rights in the eastern Mediterranean is only possible through arrangements that would take into account the rights and interests of all parties," a Turkish official underlined earlier.
Ankara sees the oil dispute with the Greek Cypriot administration as a Greek Cypriot move to seek legitimization with the oil trump card.
Schleicher said that if any country opposes the Greek Cypriot oil agreements signed by Egypt and Lebanon, they should seek legal, peaceful recourse.
Turkish sources said that there should be a consensus in the sharing of oil and gas exploration resources, but Turkey and the Greek Cypriot administration have no diplomatic contact.
The Cyprus continental shelf issue concerns the parties that recently signed oil exploration agreements for that area, as well as Greek Cyprus and Turkey, but not the U.S., said the U.S. State Department late last month
Responding to a question, Sean McCormack, spokesman for the State Department, said that efforts to find a solution to Cyprus problem should start as soon as possible. "The problem (continental shelf issue) is not a concern of the U.S., since we are not one of the parties that signed those agreements. It has to be solved between contracting states and Turkey. The U.S. Department of State does not recommend to U.S. companies whether to offer tender or not."
Saying that Washington UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari's initiative on Cyprus, McCormack said this initiative should be implemented.
Cyprus is divided between an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot administration in the south and the TRNC in the north. The Greek Cypriot administration joined the European Union in May 2004 with a claim to represent the whole island, although the Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly rejected the United Nations-sponsored Annan plan in April 2004, which was the last major effort for the unification of the island. Turkish Cypriots, in a separate referendum, voted in favor of the plan but they remain under international isolation.
ABHaber 07.03.2007 thenewanatolian.com lornion.blogspot.com
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