The government’s handlings on energy issues too has harmed Cyprus

Statement by Stefanos Stefanou, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 7th September 2017, Nicosia

At a time when the government continues to handle energy issues as an arena for communication games and in order to impress, citizens must know that:

The Anastasiades-DISY government, with an unjustified delay of three years, has transformed Cyprus from a protagonist to a subordinate role as regards energy developments of the wider region.

The government had inherited an integrated comprehensive energy planning and an unprecedented interest from neighbouring states, such as Israel, for synergies and infrastructure projects. What it did was to reverse all the plans in place, stop the implementation of any schemes, and with its consent led developments to the postponement of a large number of drillings.

Throughout this entire period, new negative facts have been created. The interest in infrastructure projects worth millions of millions has been downgraded, while countries in the region that were setting Cyprus in their priorities for the exploitation of their own hydrocarbons are now looking at other options. One example is that of Israel, which was interested in making use of the Cypriot terminal station, but now, due to the government’s handlings, is discussing the construction of a pipeline with Turkey.

These developments are taking place when the issues are being addressed with the creation of impressions on the domestic front as the sole criterion. The Anastasiades-DISY government on this very important matter too has with its handlings harmed Cyprus and its interests.