The Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Edward Royce and Eliot Engel, a member of the same Committee, have sent a letter to the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, saying that the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus must end.
The two Congressmen also express concern over Turkish attempts to challenge Nicosia’s jurisdiction in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
In their letter, dated August 16, 2017, Royce and Engel undelrine their strong support for close relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the United States. “We recognize the right of the Republic of Cyprus to fully develop the resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone” they note, stressing that “neither Turkey, nor any other country, has the right to challenge Cypriot jurisdiction over these waters”.
The two Congressmen also refer to the recent discovery of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean and the potential for cooperation this creates. “With Cyprus, Greece and Israel working together, these resources promote economic growth in Europe and around the Mediterranean” say the members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, adding that “Turkish interference must not be allowed to undermine this goal”.
“We have long believed that the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus must end and we support negotiations to restore Cypriot control over its lands. It is our concern that Turkish attempts to challenge the ability of Cyprus to fully develop the resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone only undermine these negotiations,” Royce and Engel conclude.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest round of UN-peace talks commenced at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana on June 28, but in the early hours of July 7, it was announced that the Conference on Cyprus ended without an agreement. Talks held under the auspices of the UN aim at reuniting Cyprus under a federal roof.
Nicosia is currently developing its natural resources, discovered within the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone and several international companies are involved in hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activities.
Currently, French Total and Italy’s ENI are jointly drilling in EEZ block 11, while US energy giant Exxon Mobil plans to begin drilling in the second half of 2018, in offshore block 10.