US lends support to Greek Cyprus on eastern Mediterranean gas drilling

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale said that the U.S. wants tighter cooperation on developing gas finds in the “strategically significant” eastern Mediterranean. Hale said hydrocarbon development would aim to “provide durable energy security and economic prosperity throughout the Mediterranean."

Duvar English

The U.S. wants tighter cooperation on developing gas finds in the “strategically significant” eastern Mediterranean, a senior U.S. State Department official said on Aug. 16, adding that it supports Cyprus’ right to exploit hydrocarbon deposits discovered in its waters.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale said hydrocarbon development would aim to “provide durable energy security and economic prosperity throughout the Mediterranean,” the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus said.

The statement was issued after Hale met with Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides to discuss the eastern Mediterranean’s “growing strategic significance."

The U.S. Embassy statement said Hale “reaffirmed American support for the right of the Republic of Cyprus to exploit its natural resources, including the hydrocarbons found in its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone.”

The U.S. official added these resources should be “equitably shared between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.”

Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said Hale assured him that the U.S. remains committed to the eastern Mediterranean region.

Cyprus has licensed ExxonMobil and partner Qatar Petroleum, as well as Texas-based Noble Energy — bought out last month by Chevron — to drill for gas in its exclusive economic zone.

Hale also lauded expanding U.S.-Cyprus security cooperation and reiterated American support for a resumption of stalled reunification talks.

'A policy of appeasement'

A day later, Greek Cypriot authorities criticized European Union partners over what it said was diffidence amounting to "a policy of appeasement" in dealing with Turkey.

The Cypriot comments on Aug. 17 came after Greece failed to secure a strong commitment from fellow EU nations for sanctions against Turkey for carrying out offshore natural gas surveys in areas where both countries claim jurisdiction.

Two Turkish survey ships are in two areas of the disputed maritime region - one that Greece says is on its continental shelf, and the other claimed by the island state of Cyprus. In both cases, Turkey says it has jurisdiction.

"Unfortunately we are observing a diffidence from the European Union in taking on a substantive role and adopting policies of deterrence," Cypriot government spokesman Kyriakos Koushios said in remarks to reporters.

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He said Nicosia welcomed expressions of support from EU partners but this was not enough. "The policy of appeasement and the messages of support are not enough to discourage Turkey from its illegal actions."

The EU, he said, needed to have a "more intense" presence in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey drew another EU rebuke on Aug. 16 when it said its Yavuz energy drill ship would extend operations in disputed Mediterranean waters off Cyprus until mid-September.

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Topics Turkey Mediterranean Turkish Ankara Turkish Cyprus European Union Eastern Mediterranean Greek Cyprus Greece-Turkey EU-Turkey relations David Hale