Cyprus Economy In Cyprus, Netanyahu urges natural gas cooperation with Israel
In Cyprus, Netanyahu urges natural gas cooperation with Israel
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Benjamin Netanyahu paid a first-ever visit by an Israeli prime minister to Cyprus on Thursday, stressing the two countries' natural gas interests in the Mediterranean amid rising tensions with Turkey.
"I came here to develop our bilateral ties, our economic ties and ties in the field of energy," Netanyahu said after talks with Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias. "We're interested in developing peaceful relations for the benefit of our two countries and the region as a whole." In an apparent nod to Turkey, he added: "We have no ulterior motives and no hidden motives here."
Netanyahu spoke about Israel's "natural relationship" with Cyprus. Hours before his arrival, the Turks threatened to bar the Cypriots from exploring in waters that Ankara says do not belong to Cyprus.
During his visit, Netanyahu signed an agreement to permit Israeli aircraft to enter Cypriot airspace during an emergency or disaster. Despite Netanyahu's assurances that the deal addressed peaceful civilian needs, news agencies reported that the agreement included the establishment of a base for the Israel Air Force and a military alliance between the countries.
Netanyahu's office categorically denied these reports, and Christofias also insisted that the visit was for peaceful purposes and did not threaten any other country.
Cyprus was split into an internationally recognized Greek-speaking south and a breakaway Turkish-speaking north in 1974 after Turkey invaded following a coup attempt by supporters of with Greece. Netanyahu's visit was in the Greek-speaking sector.
On Thursday, Turkey said a tender the Greek Cypriots issued this week for gas exploration in the Mediterranean was a provocative challenge to Turkish Cypriot sovereignty.
(source: www.haaretz.com)
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