a Russia develops its own approach to the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. With a request to stop the expansion of Turkey in the region to the Kremlin asked the government of Cyprus, which make the Turkish government stop gas exploration in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the island. In the expert community believe that the Russian side has very few levers to influence the situation and that she was rather inclined to support Ankara.
That Moscow would have to resolve the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Russian President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation said his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades, who is sure that the Russian side is able to convince Ankara to stop gas exploration in the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus. As reported by the official representative of the government of the island nation in the rank of Minister Kyriakos Cusos, Anastasiades briefed Putin as released by the Turkish leadership notification for ships that the Turks are going to carry out gas exploration in Cyprus EEZ until August 2, and the violation of this zone, the research vessel “Barbados”, which specializiruetsya on seismic exploration.
Such actions, stressed Anastasiadis, strengthen and without that an intense situation and not conducive to creating a good climate for the continuation of negotiations on the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, which, as the President said, is our priority — said Cusos.
On the Cyprus estimated that Ankara claims to be 44% of the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus that “expressly affect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community”, based on the decisions of the Greek Cypriot side.
Cyprus and Greece previously unilaterally determined the fate of the field “Aphrodite”, located near the Cypriot banks, however, have proposed to transfer about one third of the proceeds from the sale of gas, which will produce offshore Cyprus, to the escrow account intended for Turkish Cypriots. This situation did not suit Ankara, which announced their own works in the EEZ of Cyprus. However, this is not the only reason. Promoted by Cyprus, Greece and now Israel’s Mediterranean gas pipeline project (EastMed) is in direct conflict with the project “Turkish stream”, in which an important aspect is the Russian. Now, obviously, the leadership in the Kremlin will be forced to adapt in the conditions of aggravated economic conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean, which and then is heated by the statements of the parties about the readiness to use military force.
Intrigue adds that Cyprus is trying to use the including its defense ties with Russia. So, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Cyprus Stanislav Osadchiy discussed yesterday with the Minister of defense of the island nation by Haralambos Pet��the IDIS position in the region and issues of bilateral partnership.
Mr. Petrides had the opportunity to discuss with Mr. Osadchiy developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and to inform him about the aggressive actions of Turkey in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus, — it is spoken in the message of the Cypriot defense Ministry.
In fact, the positions of Moscow and Nicosia are not so close, given the trend of rapprochement between the island nation and the United States who skillfully used his interest in international aid as a tool of pressure on Turkey and the tracking of illicit financial flows from Russia, in the past, often held across the island.
However, experts believe that the Russian side is not so much leverage on the parties. Living in Ankara, the expert of the Russian Council on international Affairs Timur Akhmetov said NEWS.ru that Moscow should not act as a mediator: the conflict there are too many factors, which the Kremlin has little influence.
the most that Russia can do is to participate in international initiatives, for example, in the framework of the UN.
Timur Akhmetov, expert of Russian Council on international Affairs
That on whose side is the Moscow shows its position on a Cyprus settlement, he said. Russia supports the process of negotiations in the Turkish interpretation, and therefore supports Turkey, Akhmetov concludes.
