Tuesday, 27 February 2007Turkey must show that it will do all that it has to on the Mediterranean oil exploration issue, not just protest, said former Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday.
Speaking to reporters after his arrival in Ankara yesterday, "It is not possible for the Greek Cypriots either politically or legally to stake out a claim about the natural resources under the sea between the TRNC and Turkey. But Turkey has to demonstrate that it will actively do everything necessary to prevent the Greek Cypriots from exploring for the Mediterranean Sea."
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Sunday that oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean Sea by the Greek Cypriot administration is not a matter to be taken lightly.
"I hope that all of Europe, NATO and the countries that have coasts on the Mediterranean Sea see that oil exploration in the Mediterranean Sea by the Greek Cypriots is a provocation, and also understand how dangerous dealing with these issues is before a comprehensive and permanent solution is reached on the Cyprus problem," Gul said.
Denktas said, "Turkey has to demonstrate that it will actively do everything necessary to guard the interests of the TRNC and itself. Turkey should urgently send seismic ships to the waters of the TRNC, and also drive away other ships that belong to third countries, if there are any."
Denktas stated that no solution can be reached without actively pursuing interests, rather than only speaking.
"Turkey and the TRNC has to sign an agreement on the natural resources of Northern Cyprus. We have to transfer the exploration and extraction of the oil to the Turkish Petroleum Cooperation," Denktas said.
Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot administration Foreign Minister George Lillikas said that they are acting in accordance with international law about the oil exploration issue, within the scope of their sovereign rights.
Lillikas, in an interview with Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros, stated that the Greek Cypriots have told EU members, the European Commission and the UN about the oil exploration issue, underlining that they will continue to follow their own way about oil agreements.
Asked whether they knew about the meeting between Foreign Minister Gul and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Lillikas said that the government of Egypt has informed the Greek Cypriot government about the issue.
Gul met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit in Islamabad over the weekend. In the meeting that was held in Turkey's Islamabad Embassy, the oil exploration agreement of Egypt that was signed with the Greek Cypriots was discussed.
Diplomatic sources stated that the two foreign ministers agreed to organize mutual committee visits between Turkey and Egypt on the oil exploration issue.
"Egypt won't to do anything that would harm the interests of Turkey in the region," Aboul Gheit said, in his meeting with Gul.
The Cyprus oil crisis emerged after the Greek Cypriot administration signed an agreement with Lebanon for the delineation of an undersea border to facilitate future oil and gas exploration between the Mediterranean country and the island.
Ankara warned Lebanon and Egypt not to press ahead with oil and gas exploration deals signed with the Greek Cypriots, saying Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots also have rights in the region.
The New Anatolian
27 February 2007
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Tuesday, 27 February 2007
Cyprus
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