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Category: Cyprus/TRNC

Turkey to freeze relations with EU from January – Cyprus – ANSAMed.it

(ANSAmed) – ANKARA, DECEMBER 8 – The announced ”freeze” on Turkey’s relations with the EU will start already at the beginning of the coming year, and not only in the second half of it, due to the fact that Cyprus will soon be taking on the EU’s rotating presidency. This was underscored in a Turkish daily after the position was announced yesterday by a high-level deputy in Ankara. The newspaper, Turkiya, also underscored that the boycott of the EU Council would last 18 months, since it was linked to the presence of Cyprus in the ”troikas”, meetings chaired by the State currently holding the EU presidency but flanked by the countries holding the presidency in the previous and successive 6-month periods.

Cyprus – which represents only the Greek-Cypriot half, with the country divided in two since the 1974 invasion by the Turkish due to Greek Colonels regime’s aim to annex the island after they had taken power through a coup – will be taking on the EU presidency in the second half of 2012 and will therefore be present in the ”troikas” from January 2012 until June 2013.

Turkey does not want to sit at the same table as Greek-Cypriot representatives, reports the newspaper in referring to the fact that Ankara does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus (which represents only Greek Cypriots) as a state.

”We will be freezing our relations with the Council” presided over by Cyprus, co-chairman of the Turkey-EU joint parliamentary committee Afif Demirkiran told journalists yesterday. The statement confirmed previous early announcements made by Ankara last summer when, even at the level of the prime minister, it had threatened to freeze relations with the EU if the rotating presidency were to be entrusted to Cyprus in July without a previous conclusion of the talks on the status of the divided island underway with UN mediation. Cyprus’s veto is one of the obstacles to Turkey’s bid for EU membership. (ANSAmed).

via Turkey to freeze relations with EU from January – Cyprus – ANSAMed.it.

December 9, 2011
Bleak EU future if Turkey does not act on Cyprus

He made it clear that as long as Turley refuses to implement its obligations these chapters cannot be opened.

FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE

• Sun, Nov 06, 2011

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has warned Turkey that if it continues to refuse to implement its EU obligations towards Cyprus, the opening of its accession chapters, frozen since December 2009, is not possible.

Invited to comment on statements made by Turkeys Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis reiterating Turkeys position on the assumption of the EU Presidency by Cyprus, Stephanou said that the successful achievement of this national target would upgrade the status of Cyprus both within the EU and the wider international arena.”

The Republic of Cyprus will successfully exercise the Presidency of the European Council in the second half of 2012 thus proving that even small countries like Cyprus, can run EU presidency efficiently, he said.

Turkey has threatened to freeze relations with the European Union if Cyprus is given the EU presidency in 2012.

He added that the EU must deal with statements made by the Turkish officials in relation to Cyprus EU Presidency, noting that the EU must warn Turkey that such behaviour damages its own European perspective and that it acts in a way that causes tension in the region, which is trying to bring into the European area.

Invited to comment on statements made by Turkeys Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis urging the EU to persuade Cyprus to open Turkey’s EU Energy chapter, Stephanou said that energy is one of the chapters Cyprus has ‘frozen’ in December 2009 because Turkey refuses to implement its obligations towards Cyprus.

He made it clear that as long as Turley refuses to implement its obligations these chapters cannot be opened.

Cyprus position on this issue is that the energy chapter cannot be opened as long as Turkey threatens and is being provocative in relation to the explorations and efforts made by Cyprus to locate and exploit hydrocarbon deposits in its exclusive economic zone.

The EU will be the first to benefit if natural gas deposits are found and the Republic of Cyprus proceeds with their exploitation because as an EU member state, Cyprus can supply energy to the EU.

He also said that the issue of natural gas could serve as an incentive to solve the Cyprus problem, adding that Turkey could also benefit through partnerships and synergies with the reunited Federal Republic of Cyprus, that is if it decides to cooperate and work towards a Cyprus settlement based on UN resolutions that will end occupation of Cyprus.

Unfortunately, he concluded, Turkey continues to repeat itself, to threaten and be provocative.

(KYPE)

via Bleak EU future if Turkey does not act on Cyprus.

November 7, 2011
Turkey warns Israel against ‘threatening’ gas proprietorship

Ankara says will not stand for Israel-Cyprus independent gas exploration in east Mediterranean

Ynet

Published: 11.05.11, 18:56 / Israel Business

Ankara will not allow for any independent natural gas exploration projects in the east Mediterranean, Turkey’s Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communications Binali Yildirim told the Turkish Daily Hurriyet on Saturday.

Yildirim’s statement followed a comment made by President Shimon Peres, who – while on a State visit to Cyprus – lauded Israel’s joint gas exploration projects with Cyprus.

Turkey will not stand for any “threats” by Israel over its proprietary interests, he said: “The Turkish ‘road map’ on the matter is clear… No project will be allowed to take place without Turkey’s consent.”

Much of Peres’ visit to Nicosia focused on Israel and Cyprus’ collaborations in the field of maritime gas exploration. But the matter is at the heart of growing tensions between Turkey and Cyprus.

Ankara and Nicosia have launched UN-brokered negotiations to try and resolve the gas rights dispute.

The Cypriot government is under contract with Noble Energy, which is partially owend by Israeli businessman Yitzhak Tshuva. Cyprus is set to hold gas explorations in an area bordering Israel’s territorial waters, where a vast depository of natural gas is believed to exist.

The area is adjacent to the Levitan offshore rig.

Israel and Cyprus have recently signed a new cooperation agreement in the field of energy development, exploration and conservation.

via Turkey warns Israel against ‘threatening’ gas proprietorship – Israel Business, Ynetnews.

November 6, 2011
AFP: Israel’s Peres says gas finds no threat to Turkey

By Charlie Charalambous (AFP) – 16 hours ago

Israeli President Shimon Peres (L) shaking hands with Cypriot President Demetris Christofias (AFP/PIO, Christos Avraamides)

NICOSIA — Visiting Israeli President Shimon Peres said in Cyprus on Thursday that gas finds in the Mediterranean Sea were no threat to Turkey but a positive step for the region.

“We are going to use the gas the way peaceful and democratic people should use it,” said Peres during an official visit to the eastern Mediterranean island, whose maritime exclusive economic zone borders that of Israel.

“We are not going to waste it, we are not going to play with it, we are not going to use it for the wrong purposes,” he added.

In December, Cyprus and Israel signed an agreement defining their maritime border that allows the neighbours to forge ahead in the search for energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean.

At the end of September, US firm Noble Energy began exploratory drilling for gas off divided Cyprus’s southern coast, ignoring Ankara’s warnings that Turkey would retaliate by launching its own explorations in the area.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s relations with Israel have worsened since May 2010, when Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of six ships trying to reach the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, killing nine Turkish activists.

Israel’s closer ties with Cyprus in the energy field have strained relations with Ankara even further.

But Peres said: “Our discoveries are not against anyone; our discoveries are for the people.”

“We look upon gas, not as a power, but as an occasion to better the life of the people. We shall do it peacefully.”

The visit of the veteran Israeli politician and Nobel Prize winner is a landmark in burgeoning Cyprus-Israel relations, which have not always been this amicable.

Peres said Israel did not want to forge alliances “based on military strengths but seek cooperation based on goodwill.”

“I never said that we are enemies to the Turks, we are friends with the Turks.”

Turkey repeatedly called on Cyprus to postpone its gas exploration, saying the Greek Cypriot side has no right to do so while the island remains split, thus leaving the Turkish north out of the picture.

In retaliation, it sent a ship of its own to carry out explorations, drawing protests from Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia aimed at union with Greece.

It says its hydrocarbon search is to the benefit of all Cypriots and the island has every right under international law to do so.

After talks with Peres on Thursday Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said Turkey’s negative reaction was “outside acceptable norms of behaviour.”

“We are witnessing once again the provocative and aggressive stance of Ankara.”

The United Nations and Washington have appealed for calm on the issue while the European Union has urged Turkey not to issue threats against member state Cyprus.

Both the EU and UN are worried that the energy row — which also involves Greece — could derail Cyprus peace talks that are faltering after three years of painstaking negotiations.

Noble has no exact estimate of the hydrocarbon deposits inside Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone, but has said seismic surveys were “very favourable” indicating a “sizeable quantity.”

Israeli company Delek is a partner of Noble, which has reported large reserves of natural gas in two Israeli offshore fields.

Delek and its Texan partner announced the discovery of 16 trillion cubic feet (453 billion cubic metres) of natural gas in the Leviathan gas field some 60 kilometres (40 miles) from Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone. It said to be one of the biggest finds in a decade.

Gas was also found in Israel’s Tamar block even closer to the Mediterranean island.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

via AFP: Israel’s Peres says gas finds no threat to Turkey.

November 4, 2011
Turkey, north Cyprus sign new energy deal

NICOSIA – Anatolia News Agency

Northern Cyprus Economy Minister Sunat Atun meets with Turkish Energy Minister Yıldız in Nicosia ahead of signing a deal on energy research. AA photo

The Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) signed an oil field services and production agreement with the Turkish Cypriot Economy and Energy Ministry in Nicosia yesterday.

Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said northern Cyprus and TPAO signed a transparent agreement complying with international law. The agreement gives permission to the TPAO to conduct exploration, drill oil wells and run a drilling platform on northern Cypriot soil.

Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia Halil İbrahim Akça also attended the deal ceremony.

Yıldız yesterday met Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister İrsen Küçük in Nicosia as part of talks in northern Cyprus. Yıldız said it was essential that any resources of oil or natural gas should be shared fairly if such resources were ever found around Cyprus.

Meanwhile, a Turkish seismic research vessel concluded seismic research in the eastern Mediterranean yesterday. The Piri Reis arrived at Famagusta port and collected data to be evaluated later.

The ship set sail from İzmir’s Urla Port on Sep. 23 for the eastern Mediterranean to conduct geophysical research and collect seismic data on behalf of Turkish Cyprus.

via Turkey, north Cyprus sign new energy deal – Hurriyet Daily News.

November 3, 2011
Turkey to send another ship for gas search off Cyprus

ANKARA: Turkey will send another vessel for gas and oil exploration off Cyprus on Monday, the energy minister said Sunday amid escalating tension over prospecting off the divided island.

It will set sail from Turkey’s southern Antalya port for the Mediterranean on Monday morning, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told the Anatolia news agency on Sunday.

The ship will prospect for gas and oil in a 1,100 square-kilometre area and stay for 40 days in the Mediterranean, he added.

Regional tensions have risen since the Cyprus government, recognised internationally but not by Turkey, struck a deal with US energy firm Noble, which has already started exploratory drilling for gas off the southern coast of Cyprus.

In retaliation, Turkey sent a ship, Piri Reis, to the region in September after signing an accord with the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which only Ankara recognises, for gas exploration.

Piri Reis will also continue gas exploration activities, the minister said.

He also announced that Turkey had another ship prospecting gas and oil in the Mediterranean after an agreement with an international company, which he said has not been publicised so far.

“So, as of tomorrow we will have three vessels in the Mediterranean,” said Yildiz.

The gas exploration “will continue in the north and south and even in the western parts of the island,” he added.

Turkey says the Cyprus government has no right to conduct offshore energy exploration while UN-backed talks on reunifying the island are ongoing.

Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974, when Turkish troops occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia aimed at union with Greece.

With the island now a member of the European Union, the Cyprus dispute is a major obstacle to Turkey realising its ambitions of joining the bloc.

Turkey has threatened to freeze its ties with the EU if Cyprus takes the rotating presidency of the bloc as scheduled next year before a solution is reached on the island’s future.

via THE DAILY STAR :: Business :: Middle East :: Turkey to send another ship for gas search off Cyprus.

October 24, 2011