Israel’s President Shimon Peres said that the cooperation between Israel and Cyprus should not be deemed a threat to anyone, suggesting that common gas exploration and regional defence exercises are not directed against the interest of former ally Turkey.
Peres, who concludes a two-day official visit to the island, had several meetings with political and community leaders, with the two main topics of discussion being the parallel natural gas exploration and possible exports to Europe, as well as Turkey’s efforts to claim a stake in the eastern Mediterranean basin.
In a meeting with House President Yiannakis Omirou, the Israeli president praised the good relations with Cyprus, noting that bilateral relations will be further enhanced following four agreements signed on Thursday in the fields of energy, development, telecommunications and archaeology.
At the state banquet hosted by President Demetris Christofias on Thursday night, Peres said that the two countries convene around the same sea, and share, under the Mediterranean sunlight not only common horizons but also values, adding that his visit serves as a symbol that geographical proximity could be used for political affinity.
“Our closeness is one that has never diminished, especially in times of trial”, he said, reminding the big fire in the Carmel Forest, when Cyprus was the first to help Israel to put it out.
Peres said that Cyprus and Israel are on the threshold of substantial economic potential, with the discovery of natural gas fields.
“We can cooperate in generating this newfound energy, and use it for the benefit for the entire region. We will do this through cooperation with the states in the region, and according all international laws”, he noted, adiing that other fields of cooperation include water desalination, medical technology, communications and transportation, science and research.
Referring to the broader political developments in the Middle East, Peres said that Israel is willing to make difficult decisions, including territorial concessions, and let the Palestinians live in independence.
Cyprus has delineate its Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel, while a similar agreement has been signed with Beirut but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.
Texas-based Noble Energy has undertaken exploratory drilling for offshore gas reserves very near the Israeli Leviathan basin that has produced impressive results. The first samples are expected in December, suggesting that the Block 12 of the Cyprus EEZ, dubbed “Aphrodite”, may hold as much as 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, almost as substantial as the neighbouring Israeli block that claims to have 16 trln cubic feet.
Officials from Israel’s Delek accompanied Peres, as the Israeli energy company has an option to acquire 30% of Noble’s operations in Cyprus.
Nicosia said it might proceed with awarding or tendering the remaining 12 blocks of its EEZ, with priority expected to be given to Russian companies, due to Moscow’s commitment to provide a four-year loan to the Cyprus government worth 2.5 bln euros, that will help reduce the enormous public deficit that the state cannot control.
“SUFFICIENT RESERVES”
Cyprus and Israel appear to have sufficient hydrocarbon reserves to ensure a better future for the peoples of both countries, President Christofias said at the official banquet.
Christofias said that Turkey’s reaction to gas prospecting by the Republic of Cyprus was and still is outside the acceptable norms of behaviour of a state that proclaims that it wants peace in the region and looks forward to acceding to the European Union.
“This blessing should be managed in the best possible way to achieve prosperity and consolidate peace, to ensure that the generations that follow will have a better future. Our decision to start drilling in Block 12, a decision within the framework of international law, serves this objective,” he noted.
“We hope that the changes in North Africa and the Middle East will develop into a new situation that will lead to the fulfillment of our desires for peace and democracy in our area. Cooperation can only lead to benefits for the peoples of our region,” Christofias concluded.
MILITARY THREATS
In earlier statements, the Israeli President urged Turkey to respect international law, saying that “the world is not being run by military threats, it is based on international law”.
Peres pointed out that Turkey should also respect international law and that “this is the basis of political relations. We are not going to threaten anybody and we are not going to be afraid of threats,” he added.
Referring to Cyprus and Israel cooperation, President Christofias said that there is a defence cooperation agreement which does not mean that this is an agreement for a joint action to attack anyone or for combating an aggression.
To a question regarding Iran, Peres said “Iran is a danger for the rest of the world” due to, inter alia, its nuclear development with political aims, the threats against the existence of other states, and the fact that it is a centre of terror.
Concluding, the President of Israel said that the world has to stop Iran from becoming more and more dangerous.
“Together with President Peres we have decided to establish a joint committee on our Mediterranean vision for peace and for the relations between the European Union and all the states in the region. This was a very creative proposal on behalf of President Peres and we have accepted it”, President Christofias said.
SPIRITUAL HISTORY
Shimon Peres also met Archbishop Chrysostomos II, who described him as “an old friend”, saying that the two had met 20 years ago during an event in Paphos.
The primate of the Church of Cyprus and Peres said the two countries have a long spiritual history and that both agreed that a good cooperation between Cyprus and Israel would be to the benefit of both peoples.
The Archbishop added that the Church of Cyprus has opened a dialogue with other Christian Churches as well as with Muslims, and that next month they will begin dialogue with Rabbis and Judaism.
