Turkey recently dispatched a drillship named “Fatih”, to the South of Karpasia Peninsula (East of Cyprus) which is also part of the EEZ and continental shelf of Cyprus. The drilling with this ship and one other already in the South of Cyprus is planned to take place from November 2019 to February 2020 amid concerns for Cyprus’ sovereignty.
The island nation of Cyprus has a rich and complicated history. A country that is ethnically and physically split. To the South, the Republic of Cyprus, an internationally recognised country in the UN and a member of the European Union since 2004. To the North, 37% of the island has been under Turkish rule since 1974; named the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)’ and only recognised by Turkey. The Turkish invasion took place on July 20th, 1974 a few days after the Greek junta inspired coup to overthrow the government of Cyprus.
Over the past centuries many countries and empires have tried to conquer Cyprus and exert their influence over the island such as the Byzantine Empire, the Venetians, the Ottoman Empire and the British Empire. However, the majority of the ethnic groups in the local population remained Greek. Its location was and still is the most important feature of the island; the British, for instance, used Cyprus as an outpost to control the Suez Canal in the early 20th century. Many named Cyprus an “Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier” due to its geostrategic location at the crossroads of three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa.
The area where Cyprus is located was recently found to be rich in natural gas reserves. Turkey recognises neither the Republic of Cyprus nor its Exclusive Economic Zone[1] (EEZ) arguing that islands cannot have claims on a continental shelf and EEZ areas and therefore claiming the vast majority of the zone. However, the neighbouring countries of Egypt, Lebanon and Israel recognise the EEZ with signed agreements.
In 2018, Turkish navy ships blocked a drilling ship of the Italian petroleum company ENI from entering Block 3 and commencing drilling operations as they were planned, licenced and agreed between ENI and the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey justified this act as protection of its own sovereign rights and the rights of the Turkish-Cypriot community in the ‘TRNC’; claiming that the Greek-Cypriots are violating the rights of the Turkish-Cypriots; while also supporting the idea that Cyprus will not share the profits fairly with the Turkish-Cypriot community. The Republic of Cyprus, however, has created a sovereign wealth fund for the profits from natural gas reserves to be stored and distributed fairly within the two communities based on the 70:30 distribution agreed between the leaders of the two communities.
Turkey sent its own drilling ships in the EEZ of Cyprus in May 2019, one to the West of Cyprus and one to the East. These two drilling ships have commenced drilling operations in European territorial sea (continental shelf and EEZ) that are illegal according to international law. After pressure from the Republic of Cyprus and other member states, the European Union released a statement condemning Turkey’s action as illegal. The European Union has decided to impose targeted sanctions on specific individuals and entities that are responsible for Turkey’s provocative and threatening actions against a country member of the EU. The Turkish foreign ministry snubbed those measures, saying the moves “will not affect in the slightest our country's determination to continue hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean”.
During September 2019, while the UN General Assembly was taking place, Turkey ceased drilling operations in Cyprus’ EEZ. The Turkish government said that their drilling operations finished and would resume in the southern area of the island from October 2019 to January 2020. On October 4th the Turkish drilling ship “Yavuz” along with a naval escort with Turkish frigates entered Block 7 of the EEZ of Cyprus with plans to commence drilling operations. This was branded by the French and Italian foreign ministries as an action that destabilises the area and encourages escalation of tensions between neighbouring countries.
Block 7 of Cyprus’ EEZ was recently licenced to the petroleum companies of TOTAL and ENI respectively of France and Italy. Both countries have released statements condemning the actions of Turkey as a violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus and a violation of the international law. To demonstrate support and solidary towards Cyprus, France sent navy ships to the area and commenced a naval exercise with the Cypriot Army.
“Currently the goal of the EU remains to defuse tension and make clear that Cyprus’ sovereignty and sovereign rights should be respected in accordance with international law” statement from Federica Mogherini[2]
At the same time, it is vital to highlight the urgency to resume substantial settlement talks aimed at the reunification of the island based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. On the 25th of November the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish-Cypriot leader will meet in Berlin with the UN Secretary General to discuss and agree about the next steps towards a solution for the Cypriot Issue.
Written by Giorgos Tsestidis
[1] Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): a sea zone prescribed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea over which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind.
[2] Federica Mogherini: served as the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the EU Commission from 2014-2019.
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