Roundup: Cyprus, Israel agree Cyprus solution prerequisite for gas development

Cyprus and Israel agreed that a solution of the problems between Cyprus and Turkey is a necessity before any development of gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean can begin, Cypriot government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said on Monday.

He was commenting on the talks between Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday night that lasted more than three hours.

The talks centered on jointly developing natural gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean that could become an alternative source of supply to regional countries and Europe.

Netanyahu and Anastasiades agreed that the cost of development of these resources is too high and for this reason it should be based on international legality, said Christodoulides.

He quoted from a joint statement issued after the talks which states that future energy projects would proceed according to international law and help greatly enhance stability in the region.

"In the context of the exploration and development of energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean, both leaders concluded that there is no question that resolving the outstanding issues between Cyprus and Turkey would greatly facilitate the pace of the development of future projects," the joint statement said.

Anastasiades is negotiating on behalf of the Greek Cypriots with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community seeking an agreement that will reunify the eastern Mediterranean island.

Cyprus was partitioned when Turkey occupied its northern part in a 1974 military operation staged in reaction to a coup by military rulers of Greece at the time.

Netanyahu said Israel is looking forward to cooperating with Cyprus in jointly developing offshore gas fields discovered by both countries.

Israel and Turkey have recently agreed to mend their relations so as to mutually benefit from the eastern Mediterranean gas.

Israel plans a pipe initially to Turkey and then possibly to Europe to sell its gas.

A Cyprus solution involves the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops from the island and security arrangements acceptable to Greek Cypriots.

"Israel has a strong interest in the resolution of this issue," the Cypriot-Israeli statement said. Enditem