Turkey's hydrocarbon threats against Cyprus - grounds for recourse to UN Security Council

News reports from Cyprus about how foreign influences led by the UN's Alexander Downer tried to turn Turkey's aggressive threats against hydrocarbon explorations in Cyprus' Sovereign and Exclusive Economic Zone into a matter for UN "arbitration" 'between the two communities' -- rather than clearly condemning Turkey's threats as being a violation of the UN Charter, and contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas as part of Turkey's continuing efforts to undermine Cyprus' sovereignty which it refuses to accept.


The first half of this item consists of news reports in English for 27th - 30th September 2011, and the second half consists of news reports in Greek providing details of party reactions to Downer's efforts.

This compilation also provides a copy an interview in English with Cyprus Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis aired by Euronews on 28th September, to show the hostile questioning by Alasdair Sandford, which provided an opportunity for the Foreign Minister to clarify that this is not an agression by Cyprus against Turkey - "We have been undergoing, for the past 37 years an aggression, a continuing aggression and I think that now the international community and especially our partners in the European Union have started witnessing now the real face of Turkey. (Question: Turkey says its not being aggressive, its just defending its interests) ... defendings its interests? ... you defend your interests and you defend your rights when you have the rights. It is going into our Exclusive Economic Zone, its now conducting as they say 'seismic research' and they threaten that they will go ahead with exploration and possible exploitation or extraction activities within OUR Exclusive Economic Zone. The Exclusive Economic Zone of a member state of the European Union ...and Turkey is a candidate for membership of the Union."

The 'strategic reaction' to Turkey's threats against Cyprus was best summarised in a comment article in the Greek newspaper Kathimerini provided below:

"The first indirect barb came from the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who urged BOTH SIDES to exercise restraint and to work toward a positive outcome. With this statement, she tacitly transformed the arbitrary and illegal challenge against Cyprus's right to drill into a dispute, confirming that she is overly inspired by British politics. The baton was then taken by EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele, who recognized Nicosia's right and slammed the Turkish threats, though he did add that the dispute should be solved peacefully and, if necessary, in the International Court of Justice. He too tried to turn the issue of Cyprus's right to drill into something else entirely. After that, the UN's special adviser Alexander Downer -- well known for his pro-Turkish stance -- took over, stating his willingness to mediate between the two sides immediately over the issue of the natural gas reserves. Let us note that Downer's mission is exclusively to negotiate issues relating to the reunification of Cyprus and nothing more. The final touch was added by US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, who voiced her support for Downer's interjection. In response to a question by the Cypriot ambassador to the United States about this statement, the State Department assured that its policy remains unchanged."

Extract from:
"Muddying the waters" by Stavros Lygeros
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite3_1_30/09/2011_408827

The News items in Greek provide reactions by all political parties in Cyprus condemning Downer's efforts to 'create' a mediation role for himself on the issue of hydrocarbons, and also criticising Stefan Fule's statements suggesting recourse to "The Hague". Suggestions by opposition parties regarding a recourse by Cyprus to the UN Security Council regarding Turkey's threats being contrary to the UN Charter should be supported by all EU Countries who could then use the ensuing debate to veto Turkey's ambitions to be nominated as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Turkey
• Cyprus
• hydrocarbons
• oil
• gas
• exploration
• threats
• violation of EEZ
• United Nations
• Alexander Downer
• European Union
• Catherine Ashton
• Stefan Fule
• US State Department
• Victoria Nuland
• Euronews
• Republic of Cyprus
• sovereignty
• invasion
• occupation
• Erato Kozako Marcoullis
• Demetris Christofias
• Nicos Anastassiades
• Giannakis Omirou
• Stavros Lygeros

[johncaneromer]

@VERGIS92 hahahahahhahhh greece can deal with turkey you are one prick pal to think that.go and do your ho,e work and take a look at the size of the turkish army u fucking bell end

[VERGIS92]

@steliospappas Greece can deal with Turkey on its own, no need for Russian/IsraeliFrench help, or nuclear subs,

[manso7994]

The areas of the oil and gas are between Southern Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel. Why the hell are the turks attempting to steal the cypriot revenue. Revenue sharing?! Its not like the turks share their revenue with us !

[TheAnoDomini]

Turkey has no right to interefere in European business. Good to see America, Russia and Israel uniting against these trouble makers. Once Turkey is dealt with there will be more stability in the region and the EU.

[steliospappas]

An officer of the Russian & Israeli fleet, speaking to the ITAR-Tass news agency reportedly said that the aircrafts would arrive in the region soon for three months, carrying with it a large number of Russian and Israeli fighters . A nuclear submarine was also mentioned for combat with Turkey if further threats were made towards Cyprus and Greece.