Petr Lukimson, Israel. Exclusively to VK
Israel attentively follows the oil and gas exploration started by Turkey near the northern coast of Cyprus. In late April the Turkish state company Turkish Petroleum (TPIC) began sinking the first well at a depth of 3000 meters, called Turkurdu-1. Speaking at the ceremony of the well foundation, Turkish finance minister Tenar Ildiz expressed his hope that “despite the fact that until now energy resources had been reasons for wars, they could bring long-awaited peace to Cyprus.”
The Israeli observers doubt the sincerity of these statements and fulfillment of Ildiz’s hopes. They note that the Turkish minister has indicated that Turkurdu-1 is the first, but not the last well that TPIC plans to sink near Cyprus. The experts believe that it will cause inevitable tension between Turkey and Greece together with Cyprus. And Israel would be involved in the conflict too.
Israel’s participation in the conflict is explained by the fact that Israeli companies Avner and Delek Kiduhim provide gas and oil exploration near Cyprus’s coasts. Secondly, there are cooperation agreements signed by Cyprus and Israel during the recent visit to Nicosia by Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman.
