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The deeper meaning of Lieberman’s visit to Cyprus

By Andrestinos Papadopoulos 13/05/12
The recent visit by Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman had two aspects. One covered negotiations on a variety of issues to help further enhance Cyprus-Israeli relations. The other, far more important, is the geostrategic dimension of these relations, which is better understood, if we keep in mind that Cyprus is viewed by Israel as its bridge towards Europe. ... 8 comments

Israel also interested in construction sector

By Stefanos Evripidou 19/04/12
ISRAELI COMPANIES are interested in investing in the construction sector in Cyprus, said Commerce Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis yesterday. Speaking on the two-day visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, Sylikiotis told state broadcaster CyBC many prospects existed to widen relations with Israel, not just in the energy sector but other areas too. He noted that the Israeli finance minister will be coming to Cyprus shortly to sign a double taxation agreement. Sylikiotis said in his meeting with Liberman on Tuesday, the two discussed plans to simplify the registration of companies in Cyprus, during which the Israeli foreign minister expressed an interest in investments in the construction sector. ... 5 comments

Cyprus-Israel close to gas-sharing deal

By George Psyllides 18/04/12
 CYPRUS and Israel are close to a gas-sharing agreement to exploit reserves that fall on the maritime boundary between the two countries. Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis said yesterday.Speaking after talks with her Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman, Marcoullis said the deal is important for both countries. “We are, I think, in the final stages of the negotiations for this agreement,” Marcoullis said. “Hopefully soon we will have the opportunity to sign the agreement... 7 comments

Church wants to build power plant

By Elias Hazou 18/04/12
 THE Church of Cyprus has concluded a preliminary agreement with the Israelis for the construction of a power plant here, Archbishop Chrysostomos has said.The power station would be built on Church-owned land, and would generate around 2,000 megawatts (MW).“A preliminary agreement has been signed, and the signing of a final agreement is pending,” Chrysostomos told newsmen.Initially the station – the first private-sector plant here – would work on heavy fuel oil, later to shift to natural gas. It would be located on Church land at Moni, near Limassol... 21 comments

US urges east Med countries to work together on energy

By Stefanos Evripidou 29/03/12
COUNTRIES in the eastern Mediterranean need to talk to each other and find logical solutions so everyone can enjoy the “pots of gold” in the form of hydrocarbon deposits littered across the region, said a top US energy envoy yesterday. “There are multiple pots of gold out there in the eastern Mediterranean. And if equitable solutions are found, everybody, all of the countries and their citizens will gain; and if not, nobody is going to reap the whole benefits and a lot of that gold might just sit out there for a long time,” said US Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy, Ambassador Richard Morningstar. ... 7 comments

Besieged gunman boasted he brought France to its knees

By Jean Décotte and John Irish 21/03/12
A besieged gunman suspected of shooting dead seven people in the name of al Qaeda boasted to police on Wednesday he had brought France to its knees and said his only regret was not having been able to carry out his plans for more killings.In an unfolding drama that has riveted France, about 300 police, some in body armour, cordoned off a five-storey building in a suburb of Toulouse where the 24-year-old Muslim shooter, identified as Mohamed Merah, is holed up.Authorities said the gunman, a French citizen of Algerian origin, had been to Pakistan and Afghanistan, where he claimed to have received training from al Qaeda... Read on

France fears Jewish school gunman could strike again

By John Irish and Jean Décotte 20/03/12
French police stepped up the search on Tuesday for a gunman who filmed his carnage as he shot dead three children and a rabbi at a Jewish school, fearing the killer could strike again.Officials believe the scooter-riding gunman is a trained marksman with "extremist" views who may also be responsible for last week's shootings of three soldiers of North African origin.France's President Nicolas Sarkozy has said racism appeared to be the motivation for Monday's school attack, which came just five weeks before the first round of the presidential election.Racist and anti-Semitic attacks are not uncommon in France... Read on

Lebanon has no EEZ quibble with Cyprus

By Stefanos Evripidou 17/03/12
LEBANON HAS no quarrel with Cyprus over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), its gripe is with neighbour Israel, said Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour yesterday. Speaking after a meeting with his Cypriot counterpart Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis in Lebanon, Mansour said: “The disagreement is not with Cyprus, but rather with Israel.” He accused Israel of drawing up its EEZ in a way which exceeded a part of its economic region. “We hope this issue will be resolved in the future,” said Mansour. Marcoullis, on a two-day official visit to Lebanon, said: “Cyprus will do everything possible to facilitate a solution to this problem between Lebanon and Israel and we will continue our efforts so that a solution will be found.” ... 1 comment

Sanctions vice tightens on Iran over nuclear dispute

15/03/12
The sanctions vice is tightening on Iran, cutting it out of key global financial networks, but Tehran is taking urgent steps to withstand the pressure over a nuclear programme the West suspects is intended to produce bombs.The SWIFT system, which handles most cross-border payments, said in Brussels on Thursday it would disconnect Iranian institutions blacklisted by sanctions from its messaging system on Saturday at 1600 GMT, after a European Union order and pressure from the United States.Money exchange houses in the Gulf said they were ceasing dealing in the risky Iranian rial, in another blow to Tehran's trading channels... Read on

Israeli company seeks gas bid

By Stefanos Evripidou 13/03/12
A NEW Israeli company is setting up shop in Cyprus to bid in the second round of licensing for the remaining 12 blocks in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). According to Israeli business website Globes, controlling partners from the limited partnership company Israel Opportunity Energy Resources have announced plans to expand their activity beyond oil and gas exploration in and around Israel, setting up a subsidiary company in Cyprus. The local subsidiary called Cyprus Opportunity will be fully responsible for acquiring deepwater offshore licences in Cyprus’ second round of licensing.  ... 3 comments
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