Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-09-29

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT EEZ TURKEY

[02] STATE DEPARTMENT CYPRUS ENERGY EXPLORATION

[03] GREECE TURKISH ALLEGATIONS

[04] PARLIAMENT EFSF MANDATE

[01] PRESIDENT EEZ TURKEY

Addressing an event organised by the ruling left-wing AKEL party on the occasion of the anniversary of Cyprus` Independence Day on the 1st of October, President Christofias said that since the Republic of Cyprus began exploratory drilling, Turkey intensified its provocations and threats, in an effort to prevent Cyprus from exercising its sovereign rights.

``By provoking and threatening, Turkey violates international law and order instead of respecting it``, he stressed, urging the international community, the UN and the EU, to continue efforts so that Turkey respects international law and stops its policy of threats against Cyprus.

Commenting on allegations by Turkish officials and the Turkish Cypriot leadership that the commencement of exploratory drilling has a negative impact on the ongoing Cyprus talks, he said such statements are excuses.

President Christofias noted that the Republic of Cyprus does not participate in the Cyprus talks, explaining that it is the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides who are involved in the talks.

There is no linkage between the explorations for hydrocarbon reserves with the ongoing procedure to solve the Cyprus problem, he underscored.

The Cypriot President said that the Republic of Cyprus cannot remain hostage of Turkeys unwillingness to cooperate for the achievement of a solution and thus not exercise its sovereign rights, which he described again as non negotiable.

We will continue our exploration, always acting strictly in the framework of international law, he underlined.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, he said that the partition of Cyprus is not an option for the Greek Cypriot side; it is rather the long lasting goal of Turkeys expansionist policy.

The solution of the Cyprus problem, he said, is based on the UN Security Council resolutions, the international and European law.

President Christofias noted that Turkeys intransigent stance is responsible for the lack of a Cyprus solution so far.

Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. Following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil exploration in its exclusive economic zone, Ankara has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf.

Drilling has already begun and is being carried out by Houston-based Noble Energy, off Cyprus south-eastern coast.

The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkeys moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling.

Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.

UN led Cyprus talks began in September 2008 between the leaders of the two communities of Cyprus, aiming at reaching a solution of the Cyprus problem by reunifying the island under a federal roof.

[02] STATE DEPARTMENT CYPRUS ENERGY EXPLORATION

Responding to questions, over the US stance on Cyprus right to explore for natural gas in its EEZ and the involvement of US company Noble Energy, Toner said that the US support Cyprus right to explore for energy. He also added that the US continues to strongly support the Cypriot-led negotiation process, conducted under UN Good Offices to reunify the island into a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Toner also said that having a US company involved in developing the energy resources of Cyprus is positive. Commenting on statements made on Wednesday by Victoria Nuland, another State Department Spokesperson, Toner said that her quotes were taken a bit out of context.

We continue to believe that the islands oil and gas resources, like all of its resources, should be equitably shared between both communities in the context of an overall settlement, and we don`t believe that developing offshore energy resources need hinder those reunification talks said the State Department official.

Asked a second time whether the US position is that Cyprus exploration activities do not hinder the reunification talks, Toner responded that`s our position.

[03] GREECE TURKISH ALLEGATIONS

The Turkish official has claimed that the Greek Prime Minister told Erdogan that since Cyprus began exploration for hydrocarbon reserves, Turkey too has the same right, as long as no tension is created in the region.

Mossialos denied Arinc`s allegations and according to Greek media, the Greek Prime Minister ordered the Greek Ambassador in Ankara to make the necessary representations and demand the immediate restoration of Arinc`s statements.

[04] PARLIAMENT EFSF MANDATE

The law, approved with on abstention by the Green Party MP, will raise Cyprus` guarantees to 2.063 billion euro from 863 million euro.

On July 21 the EU leaders agreed during an extraordinary EU Summit to give the EFSF powers to buy bonds in the secondary market, to give states precautionary credit lines before they were shut out of credit markets, and lend governments money to recapitalise banks.

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