Statements by Christos Christofides, AKEL Political Bureau member
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 22nd April 2017, Nicosia
The government and ruling forces are good at making statements and issuing declarations. The problem is in their actions and the substance. Over the last few days the Minister of Commerce and Energy is trying to generate a climate of enthusiasm and over-optimism on energy issues, with the upcoming presidential elections always in mind.
But what is actually going on in practice?
– Instead of the government and ruling forces for 4 years following an aggressive drilling program, they have distinguished themselves by making continuous postponements, resulting in only two drillings done in four years, indeed without results.
– For four years now they have been stating that the LNG liquefaction terminal is unprofitable. They in effect canceled its plan with the President of the ruling DISY party subsequently announcing just a week ago that only with a LNG terminal in Cyprus will our country be able to play its strategic role as an energy hub in the area. That is precisely what AKEL has been supporting and arguing for over the past 4 years. But four years later, with the plans of neighbouring countries having proceeded, damage has already been caused to our goal of tu8rning Cyprus into a regional energy centre.
– The government and ruling forces have abolished the comprehensive plan that had ready and for four years now they haven’t elaborated an overall plan on how to capitalize on Cyprus’ energy resources and how Cyprus will become a regional energy hub.
Energy issues affect our country’s future and developments on the Cyprus problem. We have already paid the price of 4 years of procrastination and the absence of a general plan.
Turkish provocations
The Government of the Republic of Cyprus must, in a preventive and timely way, take all the necessary steps to safeguard our sovereign rights in our Exclusive Economic Zone and ensure our security.
This will be done by forming an international shield of protection around the upcoming drilling, as we had achieved in 2011 with the drilling on plot 12.
The credibility, seriousness and steadfastness of the Greek Cypriot side at the negotiating table contributes significantly to us managing to create the international shield of protection. Vacillations, conflict with the international community, abandonment of strategic goals ion the Cyprus problem will not only have a devastating effect on the Cyprus problem, but also on our efforts to exploit our natural gas.
