Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-11-25

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Oil companies interested in Cyprus EEZ, government says

[02] Buzek: Turkey to help resolve the Cyprus issue

[03] Spokesman: Cyprus Presidency will act as honest broker

[04] Meeting of House President and Lebanons FM

[01] Oil companies interested in Cyprus EEZ, government says

Stephanou added however that many companies have already displayed their interest in acquiring the exploration results in the area.

He reiterated the governments decision to launch a second licencing round in Cyprus EEZ blocks and noted that the appropriate documents are being prepared, in accordance with the relevant EU directive and Cypriot law.

Asked on whether oil giant Shell is also among the companies bidding for EEZ blocks, Stephanou said that no company is yet bidding for anything.

Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.

Shell recently signed an agreement with the Turkish state energy company TPAO for hydrocarbon exploration off Turkeys southern coast, in the maritime area north of Cyprus.

Following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil exploration in its Exclusive Economic Zone, Ankara has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf.

Drilling has already begun and is being carried out by Houston-based Noble Energy, off Cyprus south-eastern coast.

[02] Buzek: Turkey to help resolve the Cyprus issue

Buzek, who was addressing the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on Thursday, said that Cyprus remains the last divided country in the European Union and we also look to you to constructively help end this dispute.

He expressed his great concern over recent tensions between Turkey and Cyprus and he reiterated the European Parliaments call on your government to continue to actively support the on-going negotiations between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus under the auspices of the UN Secretary General.

European Parliament President expressed the view that a fair and viable settlement of the Cyprus issue on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, is now urgent. In the current crucial phase of the process, he noted, all efforts and minds should focus on the comprehensive settlement, and should not be distracted from this priority.

[03] Spokesman: Cyprus Presidency will act as honest broker

His comments come in response to statements by Turkish European Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis on Cyprus EU Presidency in the second of 2012.

It would be good for Turkey to avoid causing problems to itself, with statements regarding the Cyprus Republic and its right as a member- state of the EU to take up the six-month EU rotating Presidency, he said.

Bagis had said that Turkey will lose nothing if it fails to open any new chapter in its accession talks with the European Union and warned that during Cyprus EU presidency it will not engage in any talks with the Greek Cypriots simply because they hold the presidency.

[04] Meeting of House President and Lebanons FM

According to an official press release issued here today, at their meeting, both sides reaffirmed the friendly bilateral relations, noting that they could develop further to cover political and economic matters, including tourism.

Mansour expressed Lebanons appreciation for the support of Cyprus, especially during the civil war in the country and noted that his country`s position in favor of the integrity of Cyprus is clear and supportive regarding the process of resolving the Cyprus problem.

They also discussed the European course of Turkey in relation to the Cyprus problem.

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