Government celebrations are creating misleading impressions on EastMED

Statement by the AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou, on the trilateral meetings (Cyprus, Greece, Israel) and EastMed

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 21 December 2018, Nicosia

Mutually beneficial and based on International Law of the states of the region cooperations are welcome and positive. AKEL supports their development for the benefit of the states and their peoples, as well as of peace and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In relation to energy planning, AKEL supports the development of multiple options that should be based on scientific studies and tangible given facts.

It is obvious that the Anastasiades government is using the various meetings to create misleading impressions with regard to EastMed. States do not build pipelines. States conclude agreements that constitute the legal framework and the basis on which companies can proceed with the construction of pipelines, provided that they are indeed economically viable.

As far as EastMed is concerned, issues such as the financial viability and technical difficulties for its construction remain unanswered, while it has not been proven that this option would be more advantageous for our country than the option of a liquefaction terminal.

Behind the celebrations surrounding EastMed, the government is trying to conceal the fact that the Israeli government refuses to sign an association agreement with the Republic of Cyprus, at the same time as it is stepping up its demands for the exploitation of the Aphrodite field. So many meetings have taken place and these issues remain unresolved.

Finally, there are questions and concerns raised in relation to the presence of the US in the trilateral meeting. In truth, what purpose and which goals does the US presence aim at in a tripartite meeting of states in the eastern Mediterranean region?