Canada seeks involvement in Cyprus’ offshore hydrocarbons sector
 |
Peck
said that Canadian company Sea NG has made a compelling case for the
use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to meet the country`s interim energy
needs.
|
BY MARIA KONIOTOU
• Thursday, 13 March, 2014
|
ATHENS
Sea NG has made a compelling case for the use of Compressed Natural Gas
CANADA hopes to be present in the
development of Cyprus` offshore hydrocarbons sector, Canadian High
Commissioner to Cyprus, based in Athens, Robert Peck has said.
Peck said that Canadian company Sea NG has made a
compelling case for the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to meet the
country`s interim energy needs.
In an interview with the semi-state Cyprus News Agency, the High
Commissioner said that "as a fellow Commonwealth member, multicultural
society, and federation with two official languages, Canada continues to
serve as a point of reference for a reunited Cyprus along the road to
reconciliation.”
Referring to the purpose of the forthcoming visit of the Minister of
Veteran Affairs of Canada Julian Fantino and ten Canadian Veterans to
Cyprus, Peck said that "the real focus of the visit is on the
peacekeepers themselves, who have fond, vivid memories of their years of
service on Cypriot soil and developed lasting friendships.”
"Some of the peacekeepers coming have had multiple tours of duty. The
visit of Minister Fantino and his delegation of 10 veteran peace-keepers
from across Canada honours this long engagement,” he noted.
Over 29,000 Canadian peacekeepers served in Cyprus from 1964 to 1993.
Twenty-eight of them lost their lives on Cypriot soil, while Canada
currently has one peace-keeper with UNFICYP.
Referring to the long-standing bilateral ties between Cyprus and
Canada, Peck noted that "while bilateral trade between the two countries
is still relatively modest, the recent agreement in principle of a
Canada-EU Trade Agreement (CETA) offers new prospects,” adding that a
delegation of the Canada-Cyprus Business Association plans to visit
Canada later this year.
Invited to assess Canada’s contribution to the UN Peace Keeping Force
(UNFICYP) in Cyprus from 1964 until 1993, Peck said that Canada`s
peace-keeping contribution during these years is virtually unprecedented
in terms of duration and scale.
"Canadian peacekeepers are remembered for their courage and
impartiality during this almost 30-year period of engagement. I am proud
that Canada continues to be represented within UNFICYP, 50 years from
its inception,” he said.
Furthermore he recalled that the late Canadian Prime Minister Lester
Pearson (and Nobel Laureate), and his Foreign Minister at the time, Paul
Martin Sr., played a key role in the negotiation of UNFICYP`s original
mandate.
"Canada has a long tradition of peace-keeping internationally and is
proud of the contribution made by its military personnel to the success
of UNFICYP from the very start,” he noted.
Asked if he sees any future role for Canada in a reunited Cyprus,
within the UN context, the High Commissioner said that apart from the
historic link of peacekeeping, Canada`s former Prime Minister, Joe
Clark, was the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the
United Nations from 1993 to 1996.
"As a fellow Commonwealth member, multicultural society, and federation
with two official languages, Canada continues to serve as a point of
reference for a reunited Cyprus along the road to reconciliation,” he
added.
He said that "Canada`s long presence in peacekeeping on the island and
co-operation with Cyprus both bilaterally and in international fora have
contributed to a climate of mutual respect, confidence and bilateral
friendship.”
Asked about Canada’s position with regard to the resumption of UN-led
talks in Cyprus aiming to solve the Cyprus problem and end the
occupation of the island reuniting it into a federal state, Peck said
that Canada as a fellow member of the Commonwealth welcomed the recent
Joint Declaration by the two leaders of the Greek-Cypriot and
Turkish-Cypriot communities.
"We support relevant UNSC resolutions in support of a bi-zonal,
bi-communal federal state that is acceptable to both sides,” he pointed
out.
Asked about the purpose of the forthcoming visit of the Minister of
Veteran Affairs of Canada Julian Fantino and ten Canadian Veterans to
Cyprus, the High Commissioner said that during his visit to the Republic
of Cyprus Minister Fantino will meet with the President of the Republic
and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Energy, Commerce,
Industry and Tourism.
"The real focus of the visit, however, is on the peacekeepers
themselves, who have fond, vivid memories of their years of service on
Cypriot soil and developed lasting friendships. Some of the peacekeepers
coming have had multiple tours of duty. The visit of Minister Fantino
and his delegation of 10 veteran peace-keepers from across Canada
honours this long engagement,” he noted.
As he said the program of the visit will allow
veterans to visit areas they once patrolled with UNFICYP and connect
with friends from both Canada and Cyprus. "A solemn moment will be the
re-dedication of the Canadian peacekeeping monument located in the
Buffer Zone, and a reception at the Ledra Hotel, very familiar to
veteran peacekeepers,” he said.
Furthermore, Minister Fantino and his delegation will also honour the
memory of Canadian soldiers from both peacekeeping missions and WWII
buried at the Dhekelia and Wayne`s Keep cemeteries, respectively, he
added.
He said the delegation will take part in the official opening March
15th of "Canada House", located at the Hall of Peace near the Green
Line. This informal gathering place, operating from March 14 to March
23, will allow everybody to celebrate the friendship between the
Canadian and the Cypriot people, the High Commissioner noted.
Asked about the state of bilateral relations between Cyprus and
Canada at the political, financial, commercial and cultural level, he
said that Canada and Cyprus have long-standing friendly relations dating
back to independence and have shared Commonwealth membership.
"A dynamic Cypriot-Canadian community is a people to
people bridge between the two countries. Canada`s Foreign Minister John
Baird made an official visit to Nicosia in 2013 and signed a consular
arrangement in the event of the evacuation of Canadian nationals from
the Middle East,” he recalled.
He said that "while bilateral trade is still relatively modest, the
recent agreement in principle of a Canada-EU Trade Agreement (CETA)
offers new prospects.”
He noted that a delegation of the Canada-Cyprus Business
Association plans to visit Canada later this year and expressed hope to
see a Canadian presence in the development of Cyprus` offshore
hydrocarbons sector, noting that Canadian company Sea NG has made a
compelling case for the use of CNG to meet the country`s interim energy
needs.
The High Commissioner recalled that Commonwealth
Heads of Government meeting in Perth, Australia, in 2011, and again in
Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2013, affirmed their full support for the
territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as for its
sovereign right to explore and exploit any hydrocarbon reserves in its
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
— (KYPE)
Link to source:
http://www.cna.org.cy/webnewsEN.asp?a=ff94d7769bb9478dbd61dbd7cc743dac &
http://famagusta-gazette.com/canada-seeks-involvement-in-cyprus-offshore-hydrocarbons-sector-p22635-69.htm
