Cyprus is presenting an obstacle for Turkey to monopolize its access to the wider region, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Andreas Mavroyiannis said. While speaking during an international conference in Heraclion, Crete, on energy security and supply in the EU, Mavroyiannis said that Cyprus, along with Israel and Greece are presenting an alternative for Europe's energy supply, tilting existing balances in the region.
This, he said, is causing Turkey's reaction, since Ankara tries to emerge as the EU's indispensable partner in energy supply. Turkey, he said, tried to monopolize its access to the Middle East and beyond, but the presence of Cyprus alone presents an impediment to this aim, the Deputy Minister noted, adding that "if it were possible to sink Cyprus, they would do it".
The conference, organized by the European Parliament Offices in Cyprus and Greece, in cooperation with the Prefecture of Crete, was titled "Security of energy supply in the EU. Main energy projects in Greece and Cyprus". Mavroyiannis also noted that Cyprus is committed to transfer natural gas to the island by 2014, regardless of recent developments concerning the discovery of hydrocarbon resources, diversifying thus its energy sources. (CNA)
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