Recently, Turkey and Israel reached a rapprochement, which saw the end of a six year soured relationship. It is now hoped that Israel can agree to export natural gas from its offshore Mediterranean fields to Turkey.
Cyprus
It is believed that Cyprus, which has been split* into two parts (the Turkish-Cypriot enclave and the Greek-Cypriot internationally recognized, EU-member side), must first unite in order for the pipeline to be approved.
[* Following an illegal invasion by Turkey in 1974 the northern 2/5 of the island, formerly 90% Christian, was cleansed and gradually populated with the island's 18% Muslim Turkish minority. Over 90% of all property titles in the northern Turkish enclave belong to chased away Christians (manily Greeks, but Maronites, Armenians & Latins as well). The Turkish Cypriot minority today has become a minority anew to the Turkish settlers as Turkey attempts to demographically alter the character of the occupied north. The Republic of Cyprus does not exercise control over the Turkish enclave which depends on subsidies from Turkey for its survival. Cyprus is a member of the EU and the eurozone]
Cypriot government spokesman, Nicos Christodoulides, explained: "Everyone understands that it's not possible for a state under occupation to approve a pipeline going to the occupying power. There must be a solution to the Cyprus problem before that scenario is examined.”
On the other hand, Mustafa Akinci, [the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community], stated: "The normalisation of Turkey-Israel relations also allows for new co-operation opportunities to arise, particularly with regards to the natural gas of the Eastern Mediterranean."
He continued, noting: "If the Cyprus problem is solved, natural gas resources off the shores of Cyprus and Israel can be pooled and sent to Turkey and Western Europe. This is the most realistic project that will benefit all parties.”
Yet, despite the [Cypriot government and the Turkish Cypriot community] discussing a potential unification, no decision has been made.
Edited from various sources by Stephanie Roker
Sources: Reuters, Haaretz, Interfax Global Energy
Published on 08/07/2016
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