What can one say about this Cyprus. On the one hand it is ’torn« by the corruption -which no one is concerned with and even if the equally corrupt AKEL whispers something- and on the other hand it makes moves that leave us with our mouths hanging open...
And I am referring to the licensing of Block 5 of the Cypriot EEZ, which was awarded to the most powerful, globally, joint venture of ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Cyprus Limited and Qatar Petroleum International Upstream LLC.
As you know, ExxonMobil is an American company. And the latter belongs to the Qatari family of emirs, who are friends of Tayyip Erdogan... Although the Arabs are used to wolf friendships.
- How much Greece and Cyprus have done for the Palestinians and even in the difficult times, when Turkey was cooperating with Israel... But our Arab friends forgot about it until we counted if, two, three... As soon as the Islamist president of Turkey wagged his finger at them, they ran to kneel before him.
He uses them for his own interests. He doesn't help them to serve their interests. And he uses them against the Jewish state. Okay, the Israelis don't eat chickpeas, but if Erdogan's approach to Jerusalem is like the one he took with the Emirates, why shouldn't the Israelis get along with him? It's a fair question... Erdogan's behavior towards the Emir was servile and without any dignity for the institution of the Turkish Presidency.
And plot 5, then, was given to the Americans, who retain the majority of 60%. So they can do whatever they want. The Qataris are just investors. Smart move, no doubt, by Nicosia, which is also «buying» a kind of protection.
And the question is the one on everyone's lips... How will occupying Turkey react when ExxonMobil first lowers its exploration vessels and then its drilling rigs.
The first reaction of Ankara, as expressed through the announcement of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, was the expected one. Threats but in theory. As we said, in practice the occupying power will be tested.
If you look at Exxon Mobil's movements on a global level, you will easily see that it carries out exploration and drilling in a very peaceful setting. What do I mean? That none of the dissidents, apart from a few environmentalists, dares to interfere with the work of the American giant. This is not the first time it has explored in supposedly «disputed» waters, as the Turkish Foreign Ministry claims.
Of course, the Republic of Cyprus has full control of the EEZ of Cyprus and this is accepted by all UN member states except Turkey. The Americans have repeated dozens of times that they respect Cyprus' right to seek oil and gas in its EEZ. And they mean it.
- After all, ExxonMobil asked before proceeding to cooperate with Nicosia. And that's not all. Because the United States, in the context of protecting American companies operating abroad, let alone those seeking natural resources, rushes in when there is a need.
Although exploration and drilling in Block 10 was of little interest to the Turks - unlike Block 5 - the superpower warships were nevertheless at a safe distance and could rush in at any time if necessary. Fortunately it was not necessary. Because there it would have proved how ... dumb the Turks were. The Turks do not clash with the powerful. History proves it.
On plot 5 things are different. Turkey claims that its alleged interests and rights are being violated.
So, one sees the checkmate move of the government of Mr.Nicos Anastasiades and then corruption lands us in an abnormal position. No I didn't like the outcome of this Institutions Committee of the Cyprus Parliament. Because it did not dare and opened a hole in the water.
The President of Cyprus continues to say his own thing. His opponents respond to him with wooden language. And we look for facts and evidence and these guys who claim to know, do not present them. What is the result?; The corruption of the political and economic system to live and reign on the island...
- Against this shaky backdrop of a corrupt political system, we saw the attempt of the barons of the Democratic Rally (DISY), who until recently were fighting each other, to join forces against Nikos Christodoulides. People are so funny, but at the same time so dangerous. Their concern is the chair alone.
And what did they achieve? They will further increase public support for the current Secretary of State. Mr Christodoulides is not a professional politician, so he is not dirty. And he is also not corrupt. And that's what they can't stand. It's not like them.
Cyprus must not elect any of the corrupt. This is the great opportunity for citizens to break the corrupt party lines and vote for the proven cleaner.
By Michael Ignatiou
