Russia Sends Nuclear Subs To Patrol Cyprus Waters - Report
Thu, 25/08/2011 - 09:21 — Sarah Fenwick
Russia has sent two nuclear-powered submarines to patrol Eastern
Mediterranean waters around Cyprus and enforce the island's right to explore
for undersea oil and gas in its territorial seas, according to information
from Defencenet.gr, citing a Russian FM spokesman.
Alexander Lukashevich said that Russia supports Cyprus and guarantees its
security if it is threatened: "Under the UN Convention on International Law,
among 162 other signatory states, including Cyprus, each state has sovereign
rights in its EEZ for exploring, exploiting and protecting both live and
non-living natural resources, including water, the seabed and subsoil," said
Lukashevich in comments made on August 19th and reported by Defencenet.gr
(in Greek).
So far there has been no reaction from the foreign ministry on reports that
Russian submarines will be sent to protect Cyprus from any potential
military threat from Turkey. A telephone call to the foreign ministry for
comment has not yet been returned. A telephone call to the press attache at
the Russian Embassy in Nicosia has also not yet been returned.
The submarines are due in early September and are being interpreted as a
clear warning to Turkey to stay away from Noble Energy's drilling sites in
Block 12. Noble is set to start exploring for undersea gas at the beginning
of October along with Israeli energy company DELEK, which has reached an
agreement with Noble Energy to share in its licensing deal with Cyprus,
reported Globes.co.il.
Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis just wrapped up a visit to Israel
to discuss undersea hydrocarbon exploration with President of Israel Shimon
Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor
Liberman. Israel and Cyprus' interests are closely aligned after the two
countries signed an agreement delimiting their maritime borders in late
2010. The agreement also led to cooperation on undersea reserves
exploitation and closer diplomatic relations, with Peres expected to visit
Cyprus in the near future.
Turkey has also not yet commented on the development and is one of the
countries which has not signed the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas,
which has been in force since 1994. There are 162 countries that have
ratified the Convention, including Cyprus and Greece.
On August 9th, Turkey renewed its veiled threats towards Cyprus on the issue
of undersea gas and oil exploration, with a statement from its foreign
ministry saying that "the Greek Cypriot Administration does not represent in
law or in fact the Turkish Cypriots and Cyprus as a whole."
Bilateral agreements between Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel are "unilateral
actions" which could derail settlement talks, give rise to new conflicts and
increase tensions in the region, according to the statement.
"These unlawful acts create tension in the region, compromise and prejudge
the Turkish Cypriots’ existing and inherent equal rights over the natural
resources of the island," says Turkey's foreign ministry.
In response, recently-appointed foreign minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoulis
said that the statements were 'posturing' from Turkey and that she would
complain to the UN Security Council and the EU. And President Demetris
Christofias called on the international community to end its silence on
Turkey's threatening attitude to Cyprus.
Behind the scenes, the international community backs Cyprus on its oil
exploration, according to US cables released by Wikileaks.ch. The
government's plan to allow US companies like Noble Energy and others to
drill in its Exclusive Economic Zone is well within its legal rights and
Turkey does not have a "legal leg to stand on", says a 2007 confidential
cable from the US Embassy in Nicosia.
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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
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