The National Guard showed off its wares yesterday for Independence Day
Πηγή: Cyprus Mail
By Jean Christou
Oct 2 2011
GREECE AND Russia rallied behind Cyprus yesterday in the island’s rights to explore for hydrocarbons in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and to condemn Turkish threats as the Cyprus Republic turned 51.
Greek Minister of National Defence Panos Beglitis, who attended yesterday’s parade, told reporters: “We are in close cooperation with Cyprus’ leadership, we are watching Turkey’s actions very closely, in a composed and decisive manner and I would like once again to denounce statements often made by the Turkish political leadership, as well as the policies followed.”
Russian Ambassador to Cyprus Vyacheslav Shumskiy said Moscow’s position was “absolutely clear” on the issue. “We were among the first countries to comment on that, and we totally support the sovereign right of the Cypriot people for exploitation of natural resources , this is totally in accordance with the international law and with the EU regulations, so there is no doubt about that,” he said.
The comments came amid increasing reports of military activity around the area of Block 12 within the Cyprus EEZ where American company Noble Energy has begun drilling.
Also the New York Times reported that NATO’s secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, had expressed disquiet about tensions over natural gas exploration in the Mediterranean between a newly assertive Turkey and Cyprus, as well as Turkey’s strained relations with Israel, saying that they were both “a matter of concern.”
Rasmussen said he did not foresee the tension turning into conflict, and he praised Turkey as an indispensable member of NATO that could be “a bridge” between the West and the Arab countries now engaged in revolts.
“Obviously the tensions between Turkey and Israel are a matter of concern,” he said in an interview in Brussels. “It’s a bilateral issue, NATO is not going to interfere with that,” he added, “but it is the interest of the alliance to see these tensions eased, because Turkey is a key ally and Israel is a valuable partner for the alliance.”
Asked about Turkey’s warning that it might send military ships toward Cyprus, Rasmussen said that “NATO as an organization is not going to interfere with these disputes,” while adding, “I do not envisage armed conflict in the eastern part of the Mediterranean.”
Yesterday local daily Phileleftheros reported that Turkey planned to escalate its activities in and around the Nicosia Flight Information region (FIR) with a series of military night-time “search and rescue” exercises stretching between Akrotiri – south of Limassol - and Noble’s rig the Homer Ferrington, which is around 160 km off the coast.
The paper also said that Israel was monitoring the Turkish moves with unmanned drones circling the drilling area.
Meanwhile under the headline “The Russians are coming’, daily Politis yesterday said the Russian aircraft carrier ‘Admiral Kuznetsov’ was expected in the eastern Mediterranean region next month.
An officer of the Russian fleet, speaking to the ITAR-Tass news agency reportedly said that the aircraft would arrive in the region on November 19 for three months, carrying with it a large number of Russian fighters. A submarine was also mentioned for “patrol purposes” as part of exercises with other countries in the area. Politis said the arrival of the Russians coincided with the expected announcement by Noble of its initial drilling results.
Asked yesterday about the possible visit by the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russian ambassador Shumskiy said he had no such information but would be available to comment once he was briefed.
“This is news to me, I don't have anything official about that, absolutely nothing, so far it’s news to me,” he said.
Shumskiy did say he thought Turkey’s stance was not a “wise one”, although he added that he did not see the situation becoming “hot”.
President Demetris Christofias yesterday repeated that Cyprus’ sovereignty was non-negotiable and that the Republic would not consider any form of arbitration or mediation in exploration issue.
He did however extend a comment to the Turkish Cypriots, saying that a discovery of oil and gas would be a “blessing” for the entire peoples of Cyprus. He urged that the matter become a catalyst for a Cyprus solution rather than an obstacle.
Christofias attended the parade, along with Archbishop Chrysostomos as well as Greek National Defence Minister Panos Beglitis, and diplomats.
The day was not without incident however when a small group from the ‘Indignant’ protesting against the Mari blast events tried to approach the officials’ platform, and clashed with the police.
“Police members tried to stop this group… one of them tried to break through the police barrier. A police officer tried to stop him and in doing so the member of the public fell on the ground and claimed he was hit by police,” spokesperson Michalis Katsounotos said.
The report into the Mari blast compiled by investigator Polys Polyviou, comes out tomorrow.
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