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On January 2nd, Greece, Cyprus and Israel signed an agreement to build a pipeline through the Eastern Mediterranean that could potentially supply Europe with up to 4% of its annual gas needs.
“Today we did not simply sign a beneficial agreement. We sealed our resolve for a strategic connection between our countries in a region that now more than ever needs growth and security,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.
The agreement means that the governments of the three countries have the political will for the project. It all depends on the construction consortium, led by the Public Gas Corporation of Greece (DEPA) and Italy’s Edison, to find the $6.7bn the pipeline is estimated to cost.
The pipeline, dubbed East Med, would have a length of 1,900 km from Israeli and Cypriot gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean to Italy via Greece.
It would initially carry 10 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas a year but could expand to twice that with the latest compression technology.
“This is a historic day for Israel,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Just days ago we started pumping [the] Leviathan [gas field].
“We have huge quantities there. This means a lot of money will come into the economy. That is good for peace because we have agreements with our Arab neighbours.”
Greece is expected to face opposition from Turkey, which recently claimed a section of the Mediterranean through which the pipeline must pass as its own maritime jurisdiction. Greece also claimed the area in a 2011 law.
“We do not have anything to gain from tensions but you know there are certain limits,” Greek energy minister Kostis Hatzidakis said.
“Everybody has to understand that this year is 2020, we are in Europe, we want all the countries of the broader region to cooperate, but of course this has a prerequisite which is international law and a spirit of goodwill. Mitsotakis hastened to quell Turkish reactions. East Med doesn’t threaten anyone. Trilateral fora like ours are not directed against anyone.
Regional cooperation is open to all – under one condition – that they respect international law.”
At the same meeting to sign the gas pipeline agreement, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades issued a joint statement on Ankara’s plan to deploy troops to Libya, and the approval it received from Turkish Parliament.
“This decision constitutes a gross violation of the UNSC resolution…imposing an arms embargo in Libya and seriously undermines the international community’s efforts to find a peaceful, political solution to the Libyan conflict,” the statement said.
The three countries also called on Turkey to refrain from sending troops to Libya, which would violate Libyan national sovereignty and independence.
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Good. Another bone for internal NATO fight and distancing of Turkey from US & NATO.
Considering that Erdogan is sending Turkish troops to fight Russian troops in Libya he just might need NATO but now won’t get their support. Let’s see, Erdogan is in conflict with Russia, Egypt, the Kurds, Assad, Israel, Greece, etc. he may not be long for this world.
Those are not “Russian troops” but mercenaries paid for their job. Paid to kill and get killed. Even if Russia has paid the “Wagner” to go to Libya (which they didn’t) their deaths does not give any obligation to Russia to react. The truth is that they were paid by general Haftar. End of story.
If you look on his profile page, you notice that he is ALWAYS upvoted by another Jew
Yes…the world is small. :-) That “another Jew” is probably him again.
You mean fighting Russian troops in the same way as the Russian-Turkis joint patrols in Syria?
Since when are ” Mercenaries”, which are allegedly deployed by media such as the NY Times…..the same as offcial soldiers belong to a certain sovereign State?
Erdogan’s jihadists policies are taking the toll.
In your face Erdogan.
Good deal!
War is comin’….
Why the jews want to stop Nordstream 2.