As the results of the bidding are expected to be announced on Thursday, the EU Commission said the Greek Cypriots have every right to conclude international agreements. Commission spokesperson Pietro Petrucci told Today’s Zaman that the Republic of Cyprus was fully sovereign for the international agreements it concludes and that its right to sign these agreements could not be questioned. Stressing that Brussels was following the unfolding events very closely, Petrucci said they have been calling on both sides for moderation and restraint. The only thing the commission could say about the agreement is that it should be in line with EU legislation.
EU diplomats say Greek Cyprus is now an EU member and that Brussels cannot do anything but support its member country in the standoff. “We can only show solidarity with Cyprus” said one diplomat.
The Greek Cypriot press seems to be split on the issue. While some newspapers argue that the oil spat is just another investment for the upcoming elections and that there has not been much interest in the bidding, others say the biggest oil companies have been closely following the process. The Greek Cypriot administration has already warned Turkey that its stance would affect its EU bid. The EU suspended eight out of 35 chapters last December when Turkey refused to open its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels, stating that the EU has not kept its own promise to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots who overwhelmingly approved the Annan plan while the Greek Cypriots rejected it. Greek Cypriots will go to the polls in February to elect their next president.
Benzer Haberler 
Diplomacy
