Energy Ministers Yiorgos Lakkotrypis of Cyprus and Yuval Steinitz of Israel have agreed to meet again in a month’s time to continue discussions on a Framework Agreement for the joint exploitation of cross-median line hydrocardon resources.
Lakkotrypis and Steinitz met in Nicosia on Thursday on the sidelines of the Cyprus-Israel-Greece Tripartite summit between the leaders of the three countries.
During the Nicosia meeting, the two Ministers reportedly followed up on the discussions which took place on energy plans between the three countries and discussed the Framework Agreement for the joint exploitation of the line delimiting the two countries’ exclusive economic zones (EEZ) for hydrocarbon resources.
The two Ministers agreed they will meet in a month’s time in Israel to continue discussions based on the agreed process.
During the mini-summit in Nicosia, described as “historic”, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu adopted a joint declaration outlining their cooperation on energy, tourism, research and technology, the environment, water management, terrorism and migration.
The three leaders said the objective is to promote stability and security in the eastern Mediterranean and stressed that this is not directed against any third country, with analysts suggesting this message was clearly aimed at Turkey.
In his remarks, President Anastasiades said that they confirmed once again that the discovery of important hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean can and should become a catalyst for new alliances, thus contributing to the prosperity and stability in the region.
He said that together with PM Tsipras, they pledged their determination to continue working to strengthen Israel’s bilateral relations with the European Union.
President Anastasiades said that through trilateral cooperation “we can handle the various threats in a more effective manner while continuing to work with our European and international partners in fighting terrorism and the flow of migrants”.
The three countries also agreed on an audacious plan, as Netanyahu described it, which includes creating an underwater cable that will connect the electricity grids of Israel with Cyprus and subsequently Greece.
The EuroAsia Interconnector, a 1.5 bln euro project that will begin implementation in 2017, will join Israel to Cyprus, then Crete to mainland Greece and eventually Cyprus to Greece through a 2,000 MW electricity cable along 1,500 kms of the seabed and sunk at debpths of as slow as 2,600m. It has been described by the European Commission as a Project of Common Interest (PCI), especially now that energy security and supply is critical to the European continent.
Anastasiades, Netanyahu and Tsipras also decided to form a trilateral committee between, Greece, Cyprus and Israel to plan the possibility of a pipeline that will take Israel’s common resources of gas to Cyprus and export them to Europe via Greece.
Netanyahu in his remarks, said President Anastasiades’ friendship is not only appreciated by himself but also by many in Israel.
He said there is a wider circle of states in the region “that seek what we seek in terms of common interest, stability, security, prosperity and peace. These are momentous goals and by working together we can advance more effectively than by working separately”. They discussed a number of opportunities for cooperation, he said, “in very practical ways”.
The first one is gas, “we decided to explore this in a very audacious way, to form a trilateral committee, between Greece, Cyprus and Israel that will look into the possibility of building a pipeline to carry natural gas found in waters off Israel and Cyprus to Europe via Greece. A pipeline from Israel, Cyprus through Greece to Europe. This is an audacious plan which goes alongside our other plans, vis a vis the exportation of energy resource”, he said.
“The second thing we are embarking on is creating an interconnecting cable, an underwater cable to connect the electricity grids of Israel, Cyprus and later on Greece, to have a common electric grid. These are two practical things that we are moving and are connected because you can also export gas through electricity”, he added.
Netanuahu said they discussed advances in water, how they can increase their efficiency of water management, agricultural tourism, technology, high tech ventures, including the field of cyber, and the question of emergency services, the issue of security and fighting terrorism.
On his part, Alexis Tsipras said “we are conveying today a very important message that, by joining forces and having common objectives, we can promote prosperity and stability.”
He said the trilateral partnership aims to strengthen the people to the benefit of the region and includes cooperation in energy issues, transport, exchange of know how, especially in the fields of new technology, innovation and tourism.
Tsipras further said that the trilateral cooperation is an important step towards stability in the region and it is not directed against third parties.
“We believe that this strategic choice can promote regional peace and stability and be an example for the region and promote good neighbourhood,” he added.
He said the Cyprus issue is not a matter that involves only Cyprus, Turkey and Greece but also the international community.
Tsipras further said it is important to resume negotiations for the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to achieve a viable and fair solution and for the right of the State of Israel and also the Palestinians to their own state.
