Eurogroup’s unjust decisions imposed on Cyprus in March have by no means affected relations between Russia and Cyprus, President of the House of Representatives Yiannakis Omirou has stressed.
Omirou is currently on an official visit to Russia, heading a parliamentary delegation, at the invitation of the Chairman of the State Duma, Sergey Naryshkin.
Speaking about his visit to Russia, the House President pointed out that the unfair Eurogroup’s decisions imposed on Cyprus last March, which have also had an impact on Russian interests, have by no means influenced Russia’s relations with Cyprus or Russia’s positions as regards the Cyprus problem.
Omirou and the Cypriot parliamentary delegation held a meeting Thursday with First Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Vladimir Titov. In his statements after the meeting, Omirou said that "the Russian side has once more reiterated its firm position on Cyprus which is the full support of the struggle of the Cypriot people for a solution that would be based on the UN Security Council resolutions, the High Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979, a solution that would fully ensure the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cypriot people".
The House Speaker added that he expressed Cyprus’ gratitude for the continuous support of the Russian Federation, from Cyprus’ independence in 1960 until today.
Furthermore, Omirou referred to Wednesday’s meeting with Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Yury Sentyurin, in the presence of representatives of Russian companies Novatec Overseas and Gazprombank.
The Russian Minister, Omirou said, has expressed interest in the proceedings underway concerning the exploitation of hydrocarbons reserves in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
“During the meeting, which lasted two hours, we expressed the strong desire of the Republic of Cyprus that there is an interest by Russian companies, whether state or private”, he went on to say.
The Cypriot parliamentary delegation comprises MPs Lefteris Christoforou, Deputy President of the ruling Democratic Rally, Nikos Katsourides, Parliamentary Representative of main opposition left wing AKEL party, Neophytos Constantinou, Parliamentary Representative of the co-ruling Democratic Party, George Barnabas, Vice President of the Social-democrats’ Movement EDEK, Dimitris Syllouris, President of the European Party and George Perdikes General Secretary of the Cyprus Green Party.
Last March Cyprus agreed with international lenders on a 10 billon euro aid package, under which it closed down the Popular Bank, Cyprus` second largest bank, and imposed painful losses on deposits of more than 100,000 euros. Losses have been imposed also on depositors of Cyprus’ largest bank, the Bank of Cyprus. Both institutions were heavily exposed to the Greek debt.
The Republic of Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and since then occupy 37% of Cyprus` territory, despite numerous resolutions and decisions by the UN, the EU and other international organisations, calling for Turkey’s withdrawal from Cyprus.
Recently, Houston based Noble began drilling at the A-2 appraisal well location in block 12, which will take 60 to 90 days.
In 2011 Noble announced that exploratory drilling in block 12`s A-1 well revealed an estimated resource of 5 trillion cubic feet (tcf) to 8 tcf, with a mean of 7 tcf. Noble Energy operates Block 12 with a 70 percent working interest.
Delek Drilling Limited Partnership and Avner Oil Exploration Limited Partnership each own 15 percent.
Apart from Noble Energy, Cyprus has also signed contracts with the ENI/KOGAS consortium for hydrocarbons exploration in blocks 2, 3 and 9, as well as with French TOTAL for blocks 10 and 11 in its Exclusive Economic Zone.
On June 26, 2013, Cyprus government, Delek and Avner signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or the Cyprus LNG terminal.
