Greece ratifies landmark intra-NATO defence pact with France - ALJAZEERA

7 Oct 2021

John Psaropoulos

Athens, Greece – Greece on Thursday ratified a mutual defence pact with France, the first between two NATO members.

The two countries are already bound to help each other from an attack originating outside the alliance. But the Strategic Partnership on Defence and Security for the first time joins two NATO members to support one another from an attack originating inside the alliance.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the agreement as the cornerstone of an independent European defence policy.

“The defence of European interests in the Mediterranean now acquires new substance,” Mitsotakis told parliament. “If attacked, our country will have at its side the most powerful military on the continent, the sole European nuclear power.”

Article 2 of the Partnership states that the pair will assist each other “with all the means at their disposal, in the event that armed force is needed, if they both ascertain that an attack is taking place against the territory of either.”

Israel is Diving Into the Troubled Eastern Mediterranean - BLOOMBERG

July 26, 2020, 8:00 AM GMT+3

Seth J. Frantzman

The Israeli cabinet last week approved a pipeline deal to move gas offshore via Cyprus to Greece and Europe. The 1,900-kilometer (1,181 miles) link will connect gas fields in the Eastern Mediterranean basin to European markets. The $6 billion project, many years in the discussion, was boosted in January by an agreement signed in Athens between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Greek and Cypriot counterparts.

The EastMed project puts Israel on a collision course with Turkey. Ankara has laid claim, reinforced with a maritime deal with Libya, to large parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, where it is exploring for gas—and conducting naval exercises. These moves are exacerbating tensions with Greece.

Europe warns Turkey against natural gas mission near Greece - DW

24.07.2020

European officials on Thursday warned Turkey against pursuing a survey mission looking for gas reserves near Greek islands in the eastern Mediterranean.

Greece and Cyprus have accused Turkey of undermining their sovereignty by continuing to pursue energy resources within their territorial waters.

"The government is underlining to all parties that Greece will not accept a violation of its sovereignty and will do whatever is necessary to defend its sovereign rights," said Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for sanctions against Turkey, saying it is "not acceptable for the maritime space of a European Union member state to be violated or threatened."

Last year, the EU adopted a sanctions regime targeting Turkey over its unauthorized gas drilling in Cypriot waters.

Cyprus, Greece decry Turkey-Libya maritime border deal - WASHINGTON POST / ASSOCIATED PRESS

November 29, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. GMT+2Menelaos Hadjicostis | AP 

NICOSIA, Cyprus — Cyprus and Greece have strongly criticized an agreement between Turkey and Libya’s U.N.-backed government to delineate the maritime boundaries between the two countries, describing it as a serious breach of international law that disregards the lawful rights of other eastern Mediterranean countries.

The Cypriot Foreign Ministry said Friday a Memorandum of Understanding the two countries signed has no legal validity and can’t undermine the rights of Cyprus or other coastal states.

It said Turkey’s “distortion” of international law doesn’t afford it any legal rights and demonstrates that Ankara is alone in its views.

Total and ENI set to expand their presence in Cyprus’ EEZ, according to government sources - IN CYPRUS / CNA

May 10, 2019 at 3:23pm
Edited by Bouli Hadjioannou

Energy giants Total and ENI are set to expand their presence in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus, and according to government sources they are expected to cooperate in hydrocarbon activities in offshore block 7.

With official announcements on the matter still pending, the same sources told CNA that the French and Italian energy companies may also cooperate in other blocks, in Cyprus’ EEZ. Discussions are being held on multiple levels, with talks between experts still underway, the same sources said.

Last November, the Ministry of Energy announced that it received a single application from joint venture Total E&P Cyprus B.V. / Eni Cyprus Limited, for a licence to carry out explorations for hydrocarbons in block 7 of Cyprus’ EEZ.

Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides said on Thursday that developments should be expected in the next few days, concerning the energy programme of the Republic of Cyprus.

Summit Declaration of the Southern European Union Countries - REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

Nicosia, 29 January 2019 

1.We, the Heads of State or Government of Cyprus, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Malta, and Spain, have convened in Nicosia for the fifth Summit of the Southern European Union Countries.

2.Following our last Summit in Rome, we gathered today to reaffirm our profound commitment to the European project and our common values, such as the rule of law, freedom, democracy, human rights and solidarity and to address multiple challenges through continuous display of solidarity and collective responses at the EU level. We reaffirm our strong belief that, building our common European project upon a perspective for the Mediterranean as a region of peace, stability and prosperity, is in the interest of Europe as a whole.

3.Convinced that a strong and united European Union is the best way forward, we are determined to contribute constructively to the debate on our shared future. At the Sibiu Informal Summit, on 9 May 2019, we intend to provide guidance for the new legislative cycle and contribute to the Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024. We also anticipate a renewed commitment to a modernised EU that delivers on the issues that really matter to its citizens. We have paid close attention to the results of our intensive cycle of Citizens' Dialogues and Citizens' Consultations; in our work on the next Strategic Agenda, we will make our utmost in providing new and appropriate ways of engaging citizens and responding to their legitimate concerns.

MED-7 Summit in Nicosia set to focus on EU’s great challenges - CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

CNA - Cyprus/NICOSIA 29/01/2019 08:08

The 5th MED-7 Summit which will take place on Monday afternoon, in Nicosia, is set to focus on the great challenges the EU is faced with today, including the migration crisis, Brexit, energy security, the next multi-annual fiscal framework, developments in the euro area and climate change.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will host French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, at the Filoxenia Conference Centre, in Nicosia.

In statements yesterday, Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said that “the seven countries share common interests.

France looks to develop defenceco-operation with Cyprus - REGINA LEADER-POST / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides, right,
and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian

September 7, 2018

NICOSIA, Cyprus — France’s foreign minister says his country is looking to bolster defenceco-operation with Cyprus that could help augment Europe’s presence in the east Mediterranean.

Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday after talks with his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides that France wants a more united, democratic and sovereign Europe “whose voice is heard with greater power in the world.”

Christodoulides said Cyprus is ready to work with France to fulfil the ambition of French President Emmanuel Macron that Europe takes more responsibility for its own defence.

French warships often use the east Mediterranean island-nation — some 100 miles (160 kilometres) from Syria’s coastline — as a resupply and refuelling stop.

The two ministers also discussed expanding energy co-operation.

French company Total is already licensed to search for hydrocarbons off Cyprus’ southern coast.

Cyprus problem and energy issues the focus of talks between Cypriot and French ministers - FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE

Monday, 26 June, 2017

The Cyprus problem, TOTAL`s energy plans in the Republic of Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone, the deepening of the strategic cooperation between Cyprus and France, regional issues and Brexit will be on the agenda of talks which Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides will have on Monday in Paris with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.

According to PIO press release, Kasoulides will also meet with French President Emmanuel Macron`s diplomatic adviser and will have a meeting with the new Minister for Europe Nathalie Loiseau. TOTAL also has invited him to meet with high-ranking officials of the company. During the meeting the company`s drilling programme in the Republic`s EEZ will be reviewed.

As regards the meeting between Kasoulides and Le Drian, the press release said that discussions will focus on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem as France is one of the five UN Security Council permanent members as well as on TOTAL`s energy plans in the Republic`s EEZ.