Energy Plans: Decisions need to be taken now! – Article by Giorgos T. Georgiou – Member of the Political Bureau, AKEL Limassol District Secretary

 

Sunday 30 January 2022, “Haravgi’ newspaper

The recent developments surrounding Cyprus’ energy plans, and in particular the collapse of EastMed, as well as the withdrawal of the research vessel because of Turkey’s harassment, represent yet another abject failure for the Nicos Anastasiades – DISY government. Unfortunately, this government, despite the fact that it inherited an ambitious and very promising plan that was in combination with effort to arrive at the solution of the Cyprus solution, within 9 years has reversed everything and today we are witnessing yet another fiasco, similar to the S300 missiles fiasco and the “active volcano” theory (Note: adventurist actions/policies that would supposedly provoke the intervention of the international community).

Let me remind you that the previous government of Demetris Christofias had licensed 4 plots and secured an umbrella of support from the international community, while there was no opposition expressed whatsoever from anyone on Cyprus’ sovereign rights.

Energy plans should have acted as a catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus problem. That is to say, to turn Cyprus’ energy reserves into an incentive for peace and cooperation in the wider region. After 9 years, the risk of turning energy from a blessing to a curse is now more than real. Nothing is the same as it was yesterday. Turkey has “managed” to grey out the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Cyprus and is challenging Cyprus’ sovereign rights, as well as the UN Law of the Sea.

The government ruling forces throughout this period, instead of working with consistency and in a serious manner, assessing facts and realities, have preferred to engage in communication games and fiestas, drawing up trilateral agreements, turning energy into a political poker game. The Cypriot EEZ in the meantime has remained undefended, Varosha is being colonised and the sanctions that would supposedly have been imposed by the EU on Turkey have never come. The East Med was in the end a bubble that burst and is becoming a pipe dream. Who is paying the cost of this policy? Of course, once again the Cypriot people, Cyprus, which is being driven with mathematical certainty towards partition.

Much has indeed changed along the way, most notably the agreement on climate change, which instructs states and governments to wean themselves off gas and fuels by investing in Renewable Energy Sources (RES). All this makes energy planning a difficult task, with the delays that have occurred now having a very negative effect.

The decision on EastMed was from the very beginning a difficult planning exercise with enormous financial and technical difficulties. Many scientists and experts had warned us. I will recall the statements of Dr. Charles Ellinas, the most expert and then Head of National Hydrocarbons Company (KRETYK) (Note: established by the Christofias government), who was sidelined by the government, that EastMed could develop into an East Dream.

We are now in a deadlock with unforeseen consequences. At the crucial and essential time, AKEL was issuing warnings and spoke of the developments that were foreseen. AKEL did not mince its words. Last November 2021, it submitted a comprehensive document to Nicos Anastasiades for overcoming the deadlock. There was no response whatsoever to our proposal.

Today, the government and DISY party, who were jostling over who would be the first to issue grandiose and unproductive statements, have disappeared. No mea culpa, no acceptance of any responsibility. Something was said by the new Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides, who was immediately refuted by President Anastasiades.

Events and developments bear witness to one and one conclusion only. Namely, that we have lost in the political poker game that was played by the government ruling forces. In the 9 years of their rule, they have driven the Cyprus problem into the abyss and energy plans onto the rocks, with all the dangers and destruction that entails!

In the critical moments we are going through, the highest degree of patriotic attitude is demanded from everyone without exception and first and foremost on the part of those in power. We need neither empty talk and posturing, nor the cultivation of illusions. We need an in-depth study of geopolitical and geostrategic developments in the region, putting the Cyprus problem first and foremost as the priority. We can, even at this late stage, take life-saving decisions which, in the long term at least, will guarantee us a solid future, increasing our geopolitical standing.

AKEL has never rejoicing about the government fiascos, nor has it acted politically to serve expediencies, interests and communication tactics. We declare today too our determination, in the critical moments that our country is going through, to give our all to save what can be saved! But we will never be held equally responsible!