US reiterate support for explorations in Cyprus EEZ

The US reiterated Wednesday that it supports Cyprus’s right to explore for energy in its offshore areas.

Invited to comment on a report in a Cypriot newspaper about explorations in Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone, a State Department official said that “the United States supports Cyprus’s right to explore for energy in its offshore areas”.

He added that “the United States continues to support strongly the Cypriot-led negotiation process, conducted under the UN’s good offices, to reunify the island into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation”.

“We continue to believe that the island’s oil and gas resources, like all of its resources, should be equitably shared between both communities in the context of an overall settlement” the State Department official said.

He noted that the US “does not believe that developing offshore energy resources need hinder the reunification talks”.

“Beyond that, we’re not going to comment on private diplomatic conversations” he concluded.

Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus’ northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and since exploratory drilling has begun in the Republic’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Ankara has threatened both Nicosia and international oil companies with reprisals.