Turkey’s Mediterranean Gas Plans Draw Fresh Criticism in Egypt - BLOOMBERG

October 8, 2019, 6:02 PM GMT+3Tarek El-Tablawy

Egypt, Cyprus and Greece on Tuesday renewed their condemnation of Turkey’s plans for oil and gas drilling in the eastern Mediterranean, with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi saying the move threatens to “destabilize the region.”

The Egyptian leader, speaking at a joint news conference with his Cypriot counterpart and Greece’s prime minister, said such “unilateral” plans could escalate regional tensions.

Cyprus has said Turkey’s exploration plans in the south of the divided island are illegal and a violation of its sovereign rights. Cyprus has an agreement with Total SA and Eni SpA for oil and natural gas exploration rights in Block 7 -- the area where Turkey wants to drill.

The meeting of the three leaders was the latest in a broader push by their countries to boost energy ties in the eastern Mediterranean.

What do closer Lebanon-Cyprus energy ties mean for Israel - THE JERUSALEM POST

JUNE 6, 2019 21:59 MICHAEL HARARI 

Interesting developments have occurred recently in the Mediterranean Basin. On April 11, the foreign and energy ministers of Cyprus and Lebanon met in Beirut and agreed to accelerate their contacts on energy issues. Specifically, they agreed on intense negotiations to conclude a unitization deal between their two countries. Such an agreement would set out terms for the development of joint resources and the running of joint gas and oil fields, located on both sides of the two states’ economic maritime border.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, formerly his country’s energy minister, noted that negotiations would be launched on May 7, at which point both sides would try to map out their points of agreement and disagreement to complete the talks by September. At the same time, a tripartite Lebanese-Cypriot-Greek summit is scheduled to take place in June. The Cypriot foreign minister added that a unitization agreement would send an important and calming message to international energy companies seeking to invest in the region.

The Lebanese are clearly interested in speedy progress on the issue, realizing that their country is lagging behind in developing its energy potential, compared to Israel and Cyprus. Moreover, according to the Lebanese minister, Beirut is planning to carry out an exploratory drill next year along or adjacent to its maritime border with Cyprus.

Greece, Cyprus, Jordan cement East Med Gas Forum relationship - NEW EUROPE

APRIL 12, 2019, 20:48
Kostis Geropoulos

Closer cooperation among the countries of the region can only add to peace and stability – much needed in the East Med.
ATHENS – The leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Jordan will hold a trilateral summit in Amman on 14 April to expand cooperation in the East Mediterranean region, which has strategic significance in the areas of energy and security.

In the second summit between Greece, Cyprus and Jordan, the leaders will focus on means to expand cooperation between the three countries in various fields, mainly economy and investment, and building on the outcomes of the first summit hosted by Cyprus in January 2018 where the three parties signed several agreements, including renewable energy.

(Former) Natural Hydrocarbons Company CEO Charles Ellinas told New Europe on 12 April that the summit would boost energy and security partnership in the region.

Cyprus mulls ratification of Lebanon EEZ delineation agreement - KNEWS / KATHIMERINI

11 APRIL 2019 - 10:49

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Energy Nikos Christodoulides and Giorgos Lakkotrypis are in Beirut for meetings with their Lebanese counterparts as Cyprus seeks to strengthen cooperation with Lebanon in the field of energy and energy security.

Christodoulides said that one of the issues that is high on the agenda is the outstanding issue of ratifying the agreement on the delineation of the limits of the exclusive economic zones between Cyprus and Lebanon.

To this end, he added, he will have a meeting with the President of the Lebanese Parliament.

Christodoulides expressed the hope that tomorrow, there will be a preliminary agreement to start talks on a cooperation framework with Lebanon, similar to the one agreed with Egypt.

Referring to the tripartite ministerial meeting between Cyprus, Greece and Lebanon, he described it as historic.

Cyprus, Greece, Israel alliance serves US interests - KATHIMERINI

28.03.2019 : 08:20

ENDY ZEMENIDES, DAVID HARRIS

Long ago, the Mediterranean was known as the Middle Sea, because for centuries it provided the principal means of communication between empires and civilizations. Today’s Mediterranean is reclaiming much of that historic legacy.

The limitless potential of the region was on full display during the sixth trilateral summit between Cyprus, Greece and Israel that took place in Jerusalem last week. The gathering was especially noteworthy because the United States, represented by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, also participated for the first time.

American strategic interests face challenges around the Eastern Mediterranean basin. The Shia-Sunni divide that has helped put the Middle East in even deeper turmoil is playing out on its shores, with the involvement of both state and non-state actors.

Turkey – once a paragon of stability and a source of great optimism for many in the West – has become increasingly authoritarian and unreliable. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strong-arm leadership has turned a “zero problems with neighbors” foreign policy into one where Ankara has zero neighbors with which it doesn’t have problems.

Pompeo welcomes trilateral cooperation (Update 2) - CYPRUS MAIL

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, President Anastasiades,
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greek
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Jerusalem

MARCH 20, 2019

Jean Christou

The governments of Cyprus, the US, Israel and Greece on Wednesday agreed to increase regional cooperation, support energy independence and security, and to “defend against external malign influences” in the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who attended the Jerusalem summit, expressed US support for the trilateral mechanism established by the three countries when, according to a brief official declaration following the summit, they met “to affirm their shared commitment to promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean region”.

According to the statement, Pompeo noted the importance of increased cooperation with the three countries.

Joint Statement USA Greece Israel Cyprus - TWITTER CYPRUS FM

Cyprus needs to build East Med security alliance to support energy future - FINANCIAL MIRROR

23 December, 2018 

Cyril Widdershoven

The growing regional energy cooperation between Israel, Cyprus and Greece has been given another boost this week.

During the 5th trilateral summit, Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek PM Alexis Tsipras stated in the Israeli city of Beersheva that they will sign an agreement early 2019 to start the construction of an offshore East Mediterranean gas pipeline to Europe.

As indicated before, the $7 bln pipeline will compete with Russian pipeline gas exports to European markets in a move to quell the growing Russian stranglehold.

The commercial and financial viability of the project will be studied further during the upcoming feasibility study, partly financed by the EU, which has pledged $100 million already.

Cyprus, Greece, Israel to set up multi-party military force for energy security - XINHUA

2018-12-22 04:16:18

NICOSIA, Cyprus, Greece and Israel have decided to set up a multi-party military force to provide security for natural gas infrastructure, Cyprus' state television reported on Friday.

It said that the multi-party force decision was among unreported issues discussed at a summit of the three countries in Israel on Thursday.

Quoting unnamed diplomatic sources at the Beer Sheba summit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Cyprus's state television said parties involved in natural gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean will be invited to participate with military units in the force.

Among countries expected to be invited to join the force is the United States as two U.S.-based companies, ExxonMobil and Noble Energy, are involved in natural gas exploration.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman participated for the first time in the tripartite summit of Israel, Cyprus and Greece, expressing his country's support both for the regional cooperation groupings and the EastMed project.

A step closer to an east Med ‘alliance’ - CYPRUS MAIL

DECEMBER 21, 2018

Elias Hazou

THE leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Israel said on Thursday they were ready to proceed with an inter-state agreement concerning the EastMed pipeline, following a trilateral summit in Beersheba, Israel.

The agreement will be signed pending approval from the European Commission, as the pipeline project has been designated an EU Project of Common Interest (PCI).

Speaking after the tripartite summit, the fifth in a series, president Nicos Anastasiades said the decision to go ahead with the pipeline was among the most important and substantial decisions taken during the proceedings.

“We have reached an agreement,” he said, noting that the text will be signed once it receives the approval of the European Commission.

The agreement also contains references to the security of energy infrastructure.

Anastasiades added that together with the pime ministers of Greece and Israel, Alexis Tsipras and Benjamin Netanyahu, they reaffirmed their political determination to promote the subsea electricity cable known as the EuroAsia Interconnector.

US ambassador to Israel pledges support for Mediterranean pipeline - KATHIMERINI

Anastasiades CY, Netanyahu IL, Tsipras GR

THURSDAY DECEMBER 20, 2018, 19:15

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said that Israel, Greece and Cyprus will sign an agreement early next year to build a pipeline to carry natural gas from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe, while the United States pledged its support for the ambitious project.

The $7 billion project, expected to take six or seven years to complete, promises to reshape the region as an energy provider and dent Russia’s dominance over the European energy market. It also could curtail Iranian ambitions to use Syria as a gateway to the eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking at a summit with the Greek and Cypriot leaders in southern Israel, Netanyahu said the three nations reaffirmed their commitment to the pipeline and discussed "important aspects" of the project. Italy is also a partner in the pipelines planning. Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said the project is waiting for a green light from the European Union to move forward.

"We’re going to sign formally, officially, this agreement in a few months," he said.

In another boost for the project, US Ambassador David Friedman hailed the pipeline as integral to the "stability and prosperity of the Middle East and Europe," and urged all countries in the region to ensure its success.

Greece and Egypt moving closer to EEZ agreement - KATHIMERINI

11.10.2018 : 16:42

Vassilis Nedos

The much-discussed delineation of the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of Greece and Egypt was on the table at a trilateral meeting between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on the island of Crete on Wednesday.

Speaking after the meeting, the sixth between the three leaders, Tsipras said that “technical details” remain before Greece and Egypt wrap up talks on the issue that began three years ago.

Government sources said that Tsipras and Sisi agreed that this should happen by the end of the year.

Greece, Egypt back Cyprus gas exploration - THE WASHINGTON POST / ASSOCIATED PRESS

October 10 at 12:55 PMDerek Gatopoulos and Menelaos Hadjicostis

ATHENS, Greece — The leaders of Greece and Egypt on Wednesday backed efforts by regional ally Cyprus to exploit off-shore gas deposits, despite strong objection from Turkey.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras hosted a meeting Wednesday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on the island of Crete. The talks were the sixth meeting between the three leaders aimed at forming an energy-based alliance in the east Mediterranean.

U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil will search for natural gas off the coast of Cyprus by the end of the year, a senior executive said last week.

“We have clearly expressed our support for Cyprus in its efforts to capitalize on the sovereign rights deriving from International Law regarding (offshore deposits) and to make progress in their exploitation,” said Tsipras.

Greece-Israel-Cyprus summit brought forward - KATHIMERINI

SATURDAY AUGUST 18, 2018, 10:07

VASSILIS NEDOS

This fall’s planned trilateral summit in Jerusalem between Greece, Cyprus and Israel at the foreign ministry level has been brought forward to September 13.

The meeting between Greece’s Nikos Kotzias, Cyprus’s Nikos Christodoulides and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who holds his government’s foreign affairs portfolio, will take place amid increased gas exploration activity in the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkish plans to drill in the region.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly made his intention clear that Turkey will not be left out of the new energy balance in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Ankara says the solution to the decades-old Cyprus problem hinges on the way natural gas reserves off the island’s coast will be exploited.

Meanwhile, the Medusa joint aeronautical exercise between Greece and Egypt is expected to begin in coming days south of the island of Crete.

Turkey’s Rise Sparks New Friendship Between Israel and Greece - THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

B.Netanyahu (L), N.Anastasiades (C), A.Tsipras, May 2018,Cyprus

July 21, 2018 7:00 a.m. ETYaroslav Trofimov

Greece’s leftist Syriza party ditches its antagonism toward Israel and cooperates with Netanyahu’s government as Ankara asserts power in region

ATHENS—It’s hard to find a better example of how geopolitical realities trump ideology than the blossoming friendship between Israel and Greece.

As the leader of Greece’s leftist Syriza party before gaining office in 2015, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called to expel Israel’s ambassador and close Greek ports to U.S. arms shipments heading to Israel.

Syriza’s leftist allies in Europe still demonize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government. Many of them back the boycott, sanctions and disinvestment campaign against Israel.

Not Mr. Tsipras—who intensified cooperation with Israel instead. The leaders of Israel, Greece and Cyprus are holding regular trilateral summits—the fourth was in May—and the Israeli air force uses Greek airspace for training. The three countries, plus Egypt, are jointly developing the eastern Mediterranean’s natural-gas reserves.

The key reason for all this: Turkey.

Cyprus, Greece, Israel recommit to a way forward - KNEWS / KATHIMERINI

8 May 2018, 15:00

President Nicos Anastasiades says a ‘code of conduct’ has been established between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel, following the completion of a trilateral meeting in Nicosia that yielded a long declaration, and paved the way for another meeting before the year is out to discuss an ambitious EastMed pipeline.

The meeting was held at the Presidential Palace, where Anastasiades hosted Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A declaration was issued saying the leaders "express our commitment to continue strengthening the cooperation between our countries in the framework of a trilateral partnership encompassing an ever increasing number of areas of common interest and, in the process, contribute to the promotion of peace and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region."

According to political analysts at Kathimerini, the two dominant issues emerging from the meeting had to do with energy planning in connection with latest developments in the Cyprus problem as well as discussion on pushing forward for the East Med gas pipeline.

Cooperation is essential for developing joint gas reserves, Ambassador Revel tells CNA - CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

07/05/2018 07:42 Antonios Gkildakis

CYPRUS/Nicosia - Cooperation is essential for the exploitation and development of joint gas reserves, says Shmuel (Sammy) Revel, the Ambassador of Israel to Cyprus, noting at the same time that the two countries have a transparent and productive dialogue over block 12 reserves.

In an interview with Cyprus News Agency, ahead of tomorrow’s trilateral Cyprus-Greece-Israel Summit in Nicosia, the Ambassador also notes that he expects progress to be made with regard to the EastMed pipeline and reiterates his country’s respect for Cyprus’ rights in its various maritime zones.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be accompanied by several Ministers and high-level officials during the Trilateral Summit in the Cypriot capital.

Crunch year for Cyprus bid to become regional energy player - KATHIMERINI

Cypriot FM presents to Heads of Government, on behalf of the 

Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (#CMAG) 

29 APRIL 2018 - 08:04Athanasios Ellis

Nicosia is building strong alliances with East Med neighbours to bolster its influence

Cyprus is ramping up efforts to become a regional energy player with 2018 seen as a critical year in deciding where it stands, Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides said in an exclusive interview with Kathimerini.

“All that I would like to say publicly is that 2018 will be a decisive year for the future of the Republic of Cyprus’ energy planning, its energy perspective, and that of the East Mediterranean in general,” said Christodoulides.

He said despite the negative development of Turkish naval ships blocking an ENI drill rig in February from accessing Cyprus’ EEZ, Nicosia’s energy plans continue to “run smoothly”.

"2018 will be a decisive year for the future of the Republic of Cyprus’ energy planning, its energy perspective"

“We are in constant contact and consultation with all the companies involved but also with the countries of the region as well as with EU Member States…we are in talks with Egypt and Israel, we have had related discussions with the governments of the USA, France, Italy , the European Commission.”

Cyprus to Egypt gas pipeline deal to be signed: Petroleum Minister - EGYPT INDEPENDENT

President N. Anastasiades, President A.F. el-Sisi, PM A. Tsipras 

February 23, 2018 3:09 pm
Farah Tawfeek

Minister of Petroleum Tarek al-Mulla declared that before mid-2018, there will be a signing of an agreement with the European Union (EU) to build a Cyprus-to-Egypt gas pipeline, saying that the EU will be the main beneficiary of the energy produced.

During his participation in the ‘Petroleum Week’ conference in London, the minister announced that a preliminary agreement with Cyprus’s government has been signed to have a pipeline running from Cyprus to Egypt, and that further negotiations are underway between governments. Moreover, Egypt and Greece will be working closely in the fields of petroleum and gas through several agreements.

He also emphasized the close cooperation with Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq in the same field, announcing that Egypt has entered an agreement with Jordan and Iraq to transport crude oil and gas from Iraq, through Jordan, to Egypt.

Egypt's Sisi to fly to Nicosia Monday for tripartite summit with Cyprus, Greece - AHRAM ONLINE

SISI, TSIPRAS, ANASTASIADES, DECEMBER 2015,ATHENS

Friday 17 Nov 2017

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is set to fly to Cyprus on Monday to participate in a tripartite summit between the two states and Greece.

State agency MENA said the upcoming summit would include talks on coordinating stances, as well as boosting cooperation between the three countries as regards politics, economics and trade, security, and tourism.

The meetings will also include discussions on regional issues, including the Syrian and Libyan crises, and combating terrorism and extremism.

The upcoming tripartite meeting will be the fifth such meeting between El-Sisi, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in recent years.