Israeli President Meets With Cypriot President to Discuss Gas Cooperation

Israeli President Shimon Peres has met with Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias to discuss gas exploration and the joint building of a gas processing plant on his visit to Cyprus today. The meeting occurred as part of a two-day visit to the European island.

Speaking after the talks, President Peres said that the drive to cooperate with Cyprus on gas projects was not motivated by any military decisions, but rather an action that would secure energy for the good of the people.

"Our discoveries are not against anyone; our discoveries are for the people," the Famagusta Gazette reports the Israeli President as saying said. "We look upon gas, not as a power, but as an occasion to better the life of the people."

President Peres is expected to discuss in length the details of a gas find in the Leviathan basin in Israeli waters while on the visit. The find lies approximately 50 kilometres from Block 12, the Cypriot offshore gas field Noble Energy Inc is currently exploring. 

Noble Energy has also expressed an interest in cooperation between Cyprus and Israel on the gas find. Yesterday, at a lecture given at the University of Cyprus, John Tomich, country manager for Cyprus said the Tamar gas field is likely to have twice the gas as Block 12.

Cooperation between Cyprus and Israel has been bolstered by frustrations between both countries and Turkey. Cypriot relations with Turkey have weakened after the gas find in Block 12, while Turkey has criticised Israel for its signing of a gas agreement with Cyprus in April this year.

Speaking after the initial talks, President Peres said that Israel would follow the law in any natural gas finds and would act democratically and cooperatively.

"We shall cooperate according to international law... We do not want to make an alliance based on military strengths but a cooperation based on goodwill."