 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 By Max Delany Nicosia (AFP) March 17, 2018
After a standoff in the Mediterranean that saw Turkish warships force back an Italian rig, Turkish Cypriot authorities insist no resources can be tapped around the divided island unless they are on-board. The confrontation over gas deposits has seen tensions soar between the Greek-majority Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot authorities -- just as the two sides are weighing up a return to peace talks that collapsed last year. EU member Republic of Cyprus has been hunting for energy offshore for years -- and has exploration deals with majors including Italy's Eni, France's Total and ExxonMobil in the United States. That quest has long sparked opposition from Ankara and the self-declared Turkish Cypriot state it backs on the north of the island -- culminating in Ankara blocking an Eni exploration vessel last month. Now as ExxonMobil gears up to start its own research in the island's waters ahead of planned exploratory drilling later this year, the Turkish Cypriots insist that they need to be consulted if any resources are to be exploited. "If the will of the Turkish Cypriots is not taken into consideration any economic activity will not be successful and cannot proceed. As you have seen the drilling was not done," Turkish Cypriot foreign minister Kudret Ozersay told AFP. "We will not allow either the Greek Cypriots or the companies to unilaterally act on our behalf." - 'Kind of opportunity' - The spike in tensions over energy comes at a delicate time as the two sides consider whether to restart UN-backed efforts to reunify the island after they broke down in acrimony last July. Cyprus has been split between the internationally recognised republic in the south and the Turkish-backed north ever since Ankara invaded in 1974 in response to a coup inspired by Athens. The Turkish Cypriot authorities are seen by their Greek Cypriot counterparts as pawns of Ankara. While the gas dispute has appeared to push the communities further apart, Ozersay insisted it could help the Turkish Cypriots press the other side on with negotiations -- either to resolve the broader conflict or agree a separate deal on sharing resources. "I see the existing circumstances as a kind of opportunity," he said. "If energy companies or states via energy companies can give the right message to the Greek Cypriot community." Should that fail, Ozersay warned, then the Turkish Cypriot side could look to press on with its own exploration and drilling in the disputed waters. - 'Very dangerous strategy' - The jockeying appears to be a high-risk gamble that could well backfire. Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades pledged ahead of elections that saw him win a new term in February that he wanted to restart peace efforts quickly. Now the rhetoric has hardened and he insists talks can only begin when Turkey starts respecting his country's "sovereign rights" over energy exploration. For those pushing to reunite the east Mediterranean island the increasing tensions over energy are jeopardising any chances of making progress. The UN-backed talks last year were seen as the closest the two sides have ever come to solving the issue but now the fear is that any remaining goodwill is fast evaporating. "This is a very dangerous strategy for both sides," said Turkish Cypriot journalist and peace activist Esra Aygin. "Basically what both sides are saying right now if we get rid of all the details is that they don't want to start negotiations -- and this makes me question the sincerity and honesty and determination." del/hkb/klm
Libya navy seizes oil tanker suspected of smuggling Tripoli (AFP) March 15, 2018 Libya's navy has seized an oil tanker suspected of illegally loading fuel and arrested its Greek crew, a navy spokesman said Thursday. The tanker was intercepted on Wednesday evening off Libya's western coast, about eight nautical miles from the Abu Kamash oil plant, said spokesman Ayoub Kacem. Abu Kamash is the site of one of the oil-rich North African country's largest petrochemical complexes, west of Tripoli and near the Tunisian border. The Togolese-registered ship, Lamar, was spotted in ... read more
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
