Cyprus–Turkey maritime zones dispute

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Alexyflemming (talk | contribs) at 09:40, 7 February 2014 (Cyprus claims not only the South waters but also the North waters around the island. The solely blocking the south areas into 13 parts does not show C only claims the south waters.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 09:40, 7 February 2014 by Alexyflemming (talk | contribs) (Cyprus claims not only the South waters but also the North waters around the island. The solely blocking the south areas into 13 parts does not show C only claims the south waters.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles; try the Find link tool for suggestions. (October 2012)

The Mediterranean Oil Dispute is a current political incident and standoff among the countries in the eastern mediterranean. The dispute includes Cyprus, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, and Egypt, and the de facto state Northern Cyprus.

The part of the dispute includes Turkish and Turkish Cypriot objections to the drilling of potentially substantial oil and gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean, specifically in waters that Cyprus has legally asserted a claim to under international maritime law. Turkey is currently the only member of the United Nations to refuse to recognise the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.

Israel and Lebanon also have an oil dispute based on unclear EEZ limitation.

Historical Relations between Cyprus and Turkey

Relations between the neighboring states of Cyprus and Turkey have escalated from tense to violent confrontation twice since 1964, resulting in the 1964 Battle of Tylliria and the 1974 Turkish Invasion of Cyprus. From 1997 to 1998, the two countries entered into escalated confrontation during the Cyprus Missile Crisis, almost resulting in open conflict. In 2000 and 2002, the situation escalated again during Turkish Air Force incursions over Paphos in the south of the island, resulting in the Cyprus Air Forces locking-on to the aircraft with surface-air missile systems.

Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus as a sovereign state, the only member of the UN to fail to do so. Conversely, Turkey recognizes the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north of the island, and in this instance, she is the only UN member state to assert full recognition for this breakaway territory.

Cyprus and Turkey have, since the cessation of hostilities on 18 August 1974, exercised no formal relations beyond activities organised at the instigation of the UN Secretary General. Both nations remain at a de facto state of war, and the situation has been likened to a microcosmic Cold War.

Since 2004, Turkey has attempted to gain entry to the European Union, a move which has been vetoed by the Republic of Cyprus, outwardly whilst Turkey continues to block access to her air and sea ports for Cypriot transport routes. The political situation is complicated by the question of Turkey's continued occupation of northern Cyprus, the claim of the latter to independent statehood, and the question of NATO stability as Greece and Turkey (both member states) strongly dispute the Cyprus problem.

Hydrocarbon Resources near Cyprus

Illustration of the EEZ Principle according to UN Convention of Law of the Sea

The Republic of Cyprus has established a legal claim to an EEZ or Exclusive Economic Zone around the waters of the island. The area of highest interest by Cyprus is Block-12, which covers approximately 800,000 acres of sea space, which borders a substantial area of waters delimited by Israel for its own EEZ. Cyprus has achieved firm agreements with neighboring Israel and Egypt regarding the distribution of respective zones, but has not reached firm agreements with Lebanon and Syria. Cyprus has enshrined her right to drill for oil in an Exclusive Economic Zone which it regards as in accordance with international law and the Law of the Sea Convention.

Currently, the Republic of Cyprus has signed concessions to Noble Energy, a US-based company, to conduct drilling in Block-12 of the Cypriot EEZ, and that concessions may be available for an Israeli company, Avner and Delek Drilling, to participate in the oil and gas drilling program.

Turkish Reactions

Turkey has repeatedly threatened that it will not allow the Republic of Cyprus to proceed with pursuing claims to hydrocarbon deposits in waters south of the island. She has also begun conducting oil and gas exploratory drilling off the shores of Northern Cyprus.It is not clear whether the incident could escalate to violence, as the Turkish Government has not made clear whether it regards oil and gas exploration by the Republic of Cyprus as an act of aggression.

However, in November 2008, Turkish naval vessels harassed Cyprus contracted vessels conducting seismic exploration for hydrocarbon deposits in waters south of the island.

Turkey also argues that the length of EEZs of mainland continents are relatively larger than that of the EEZs of islands via citing some international decisions:
Romania-Ukraine on Snake Island: UN International Court of Justice decided in 2009 that Snake island has no EEZ other than its 12-nautical mile.
Eritre-Yemen on Hanish Islands: UN International Court of Justice decided in 1998 that Hanish islands cannot affect the determination of EEZs of Yemen and Eritre.

Cypriot Reactions

Cyprus has actively sought to reinforce its position on the global stage through congress with major international players in the situation. Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis began her term in office in late 2011 by visiting both Greece and Israel to request support for the drilling program, though it is not clear if military support was also requested. It is also widely believed that Cyprus has requested support from the United States of America and the Russian Federation, though the exact specifics of any representations have not been made public.

As of August 2011, the Cypriot media has shown widespread alarm at Turkish threats to intervene against the drilling program, and has remonstrated with the Turkish position as evidence of a violation of national sovereignty and the rights of the Cypriot people.

File:EEZ of Cyprus.jpg

The south part of EEZ of Cyprus.

Cyprus separated its south part of EEZ into 13 different blocks and licensed some of them to international oil companies.

The EEZ Border Between Turkey and Northern Cyprus

On 21.09.2011, Turkey and Northern Cyprus signed the EEZ border agreement in New York.

Potential for Escalation to Armed Conflict

Turkey has organised a major air and naval exercise to take place at the same time as drilling by the Cypriot contractors is due to begin in September 2011.

Although no mobilization has been outwardly exercised by the Cyprus Government of its National Guard, the island does possess a fortified air base at Paphos which routinely hosts arrivals of Greek and other EU aircraft.

A possible sign of concern has been raised by reports that the Russian Navy had been ordered in late August 2011 to scramble two nuclear attack submarines to the Eastern Mediterranean to observe the situation, as Cyprus and Russia have enjoyed close political and economic ties in recent years.

Israel has also been reported to have increased the number of surveillance flight operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, though it is not clear if these operations include the Nicosia Flight Information Region.

References

External links

Articles

Israel-Lebanon Offshore Oil & Gas Dispute – Rules of International Maritime Law Martin Waehlisch, ASIL Insight (American Society of International Law), Vol. 15, Issue 3, Dec. 5, 2011.

Categories: