Russia’s influence in the Eastern Mediterranean to push back the sea, to strengthen the United States commitment to stimulate gas production in the Region. For Cyprus, the opportunities but also risks. By Diego Cupolo, Nicosia.
A treasure slumbers under the sea floor, and depending on how he is lifted, he could change the political map: Significant gas have been discovered sites in the last time in the Eastern Mediterranean. Last found in the beginning of the year, the energy giant Exxon Mobil and Qatar Petroleum geologists, a large Reservoir in front of Cyprus. In the territory of the island, this is the third gas field. Even before Israel and Egypt, the coveted fuel stores. The Eastern Mediterranean could be an important source for the international energy market and the weight and influence of the powers in the Region to move.
This is also not escaped the attention of U.S. diplomats. Do you see a possibility of rolling back Russian influence on the world energy market and in the Eastern Mediterranean. From Washington, signals, to support cooperation between Israel and EU members Cyprus and Greece in the gas sector.
AKEL candidate Kızılyürek: “Will not help us in the solution of the problem”
The United States was recently in the Region, while Russia was able to strengthen its Position off the coast of Syria – which is also due to the lack of commitment of the U.S. government. Now the bearings could be sites in the Eastern Mediterranean, is a lever, the reverse development. With Gas there could be, in fact, not only the Region’s supply. It could also be supplied to Europe, which is so far heavily of imports from Russia.
Possible the flow of the planned “East Med Pipeline”, through which Gas from Egypt, Israel and Cyprus through Greece and Italy in the network of the EU. “From the point of view of the USA, Greece and also Cyprus and Israel are important partners, if it is the position of the United States in the Eastern part of the Mediterranean is about to strengthen the sea,” says Cyprus expert Harry Tzimitras from the “Peace Research Institute Oslo” (PRIO).
Disturbed relations between the U.S. and Turkey
In March, the US, met Secretary of state Mike Pompeo with Israeli, Greek and Cypriot government heads, to discuss regional energy development and common security initiatives, and to send a Signal of support. In April, US senators Bob Menendez and Marco Rubio have brought, also, a regulation on the way, the decades-long US arms embargo on Cyprus is lifted. In addition, a cooperation was launched in order to promote the cooperation in the energy sector between the United States, Israel, Greece and Cyprus.
Turkey remains outside. The relations between the governments in Ankara and Washington have been strained since quite some time to negotiate the last since Turkey about a purchase of Russian anti-missile system, the S400. From the point of view of the United States is a threat to the defense capability of NATO in the country since 67 years, a member of the Western military Alliance.
Not to be in the Pipeline-planning, in turn, has caused upset in Ankara where you can see a potential source of energy and economic impulses cut off. The U.S.-Turkish differences have an impact on the European integration process – after all, Cyprus is divided, in a the southern part, which belong to the EU, and the North, which is occupied since 1974 by Turkish troops.
Turkey to isolate in the gas issue, could have an impact on the reunification efforts on the island, writes from the North of Cyprus-born Niyazi Kızılyürek from the University of Cyprus in Nicosia and is currently a candidate of the left-wing opposition party AKEL in the European elections. “The way of Israel with the Republic of Cyprus in the Gas and energy policy is working, and the Turkey excludes, will not help us in the solution of the problem.”
A divided island a common Gas?
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From the point of view of government representatives from Northern Cyprus, the revenue from the produced Gas between the Greek and the Turkish part must be divided, since both heirs of the natural resources in the area of the island. The South builds, but on the condition that progress in the negotiations for the reunification to be achieved. A claim that is classified in the North as unfair.
View Savaş Toksöz, a political scientist and leading member of the North Cypriot people’s party, Halkın Partisi, the government of the North open to talks with US envoy in the matter of Gasausbeutung. This must, however, match their interests with the allies in Ankara. “As Turkish Cypriots we try to protect our rights and to stand with the help of Turkey to our Right. This does not mean, however, that we close ourselves to an Alliance with the United States,” says Toksöz. “The attitude of the USA towards us depends on their relations with Turkey. The better you are, the better it is for us.”
Some experts are of the view that the gas industry could even help Greek and Turkish Cypriots to come to a solution to their decades-old conflict closer. However, Şener Levent is pessimistic. The editor-in-chief of Northern Cyprus opposition, the near daily “Africa” is even concerned that the gas leads to further tensions on the island. “What I’m afraid of, are the 40,000 Turkish soldiers in Cyprus who are stationed in the border zone between the North and the South.” The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, could you incite provocations. “And that Worries me most,” says the Journalist.