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Thursday, 19 December 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-12-30Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] Technocrats visit drilling rigA team of five technocrats from the Ministries of Commerce, Agriculture and Communications have visited a drilling rig from where Huston-based Noble Energy has carried out exploratory drilling in Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Praxoula Antoniadou has said.Speaking to CNA, Antoniadou stated that next week the drilling rig is going to be removed from the area as essentially it has completed its job to locate hydrocarbons. Cyprus President Demetris Chistofias announced on Wednesday that the work has revealed a gross mean average of 7 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas. Noble Energy discovered approximately 100 metres (310 feet) of net natural gas pay. The well was drilled to a depth of 5,861 metres in water depth of about 1.689 metres. The initial data that emerged from the exploratory drilling and the evaluation checks carried out indicate the existence of a natural gas reservoir ranging from 5 to 8 tcf with a gross mean of 7 tcf. The Minister of Commerce told CNA that the next step is to carry out an evaluation drilling in 2012 in the same location to confirm the geological formation and the quantity of the natural gas. She added that the government in cooperation with a team of experts will decide on the next steps concerning the infrastructure which must be created to extract natural gas in block 12 and in other blocks in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Cyprus Republic. Antoniadou also said that next week the Ministerial Committee set up on the issue will convene to discuss the latest developments. Concerning Turkish threats against Cyprus, the Minister reiterated President Demetris Christofias` statement that ``the discovery of natural gas could and should constitute a tool for the promotion of peace and cooperation in the region.`` Cyprus has granted the exploration license for block 12 to Noble Energy, which began drilling on September 18 this year. Turkey whose troops occupy Cyprus northern part since they invaded in 1974 does not recognise the Republic 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 signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf. The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkeys moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling. Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it. UN-backed talks for a settlement to the Cyprus problem began in September 2008. [02] British MPs sign resolution on CyprusBritish parliamentarians have drafted a resolution on the Cyprus problem, calling on the British government to exert pressure on Ankara to change its stance and show good will at the negotiating table. The resolution was presented before the House of Commons two weeks ago and so far seventeen MPs have signed it. It was prepared by MPs Sir Alan Meale and Jim Sheridan.In the resolution, the House expresses its continuous concern about the illegal occupation of the northern part of the island of Cyprus by Turkey following its invasion in 1974. The House notes that despite international efforts, Turkey refuses to withdraw its military forces or allow Greek Cypriot citizens to return to their homes and properties, whilst encouraging wrongful settlement in the area by immigrants whom they allow to exploit land and properties expropriated from their rightful owners without any regard for national Cypriot cultural heritage. The parliamentarians call on the British government, as a guarantor power of Cyprus independence, to insist that Turkey adopts a more constructive attitude in negotiations aimed at establishing a viable, fair and lasting solution to the problem, and that as a gesture of goodwill it should agree to allow refugees from the ghost town of Famagusta and surrounding areas to return to their homes as outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992). Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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