Cyprus exercises its sovereign rights as regards oil exploitation

The Cyprus government exercises its sovereign rights according to the international law and the practice followed as regards oil exploitation, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said here Sunday, stressing that the issue of oil reserves deposits in the island’s sea area is totally separated from the Cyprus problem.

Replying to questions by the press, Papadopoulos referred to the meeting he will have in Athens with Greek Premier Costas Karamanlis on February 21, noting that this meeting was scheduled long before and falls within the framework of regular contacts with Greece.

”Of course we will discuss all current issues, but it is wrong to say that the meeting is due to the oil issue,” he pointed out, adding that he considers every meeting with the Greek government and especially with the Greek Prime Minister very important.

To a comment that in an interview with Greek newspaper ”To Vima” he sent the message that Cyprus will proceed with the oil exploitation and that he does not believe that Turkey can bare the political cost of a move on the issue, Papadopoulos pointed out that the fewer statements are made on this matter the better.

”There is no point of sending a message. The Cyprus government exercises its sovereign rights according to the international law and the practice followed in such cases. Nothing more, nothing less,” he added.

Invited to comment on press reports regarding efforts for the coupling of the EU regulation on special conditions for trade with areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control with other issues, Papadopoulos said as far as he knows there is no coupling with Turkey‘s EU obligations.

”The consultations take place according to the paragraph of the December 11 2006 EU General Affairs Council conclusions, according to which, the two issues are not connected and the work aims at settling the issue of trade with the areas of the Republic that are not under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus,” he added.

Replying to a question regarding the appointment of American Lynn Pascoe as UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs, the President said that this was a usual appointment made according to the rights and powers of the UN Secretary-General.

Cyprus has already singed agreements for the delimitation of its Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Lebanon and is expected to proclaim an international bidding competition on February 15.