Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Turkey's First Drillship Begins Exploration in Eastern Mediterranean

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/turkey-s-first-drillship-begins-exploration-in-eastern-mediterranean

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...UNCLOS and the Tripartite meetings of the region's major players, does not exclude Turkey's exploration. Indeed it is Turkey who excludes herself from their efforts to rationally exploit this wealth, better themselves individually of course, and also, their collectivity.

But Turkey it seems has larger intentions than her partners. How Erdogan has defined as "his", a continental shelf, ignores Convention, Law, and the Balance of Power, as it exists, to all the rest of his neighbours, and their Agreement, in and on this sea, because he intends to have supremacy of it, the Eastern Mediterranean.

This month, in November, Qatar and Exxon, intend to drill in Block 10, and in that regard, it "belonging" to Egypt as Erdogan has defined it, he will not likely express any plaint about it, strongly. But, in the months to come, France, Korea, and Italy, when they drill, they will not have this advantage. To that affect, Naval power, and Turkey's willingness to dare, has been warned, is, and already, demonstrated; more so (by that time) with Fatih moved to Block Five, or Block Eight...

...can you imagine, all Maritime traffic west of the Suez Canal, a Turkish domain of interest?

...what with the old Piri Reis (and the Barbaros,) their original seismic surveys around Cyprus' Eastern coast, what with the Naval base that may be built, (there,) what with the new Piri Reis and the submarines that follow her below the sea, what is a military-industrial complex for?

Monday, October 22, 2018

Our View: No gas exploitation without some kind of deal with Turkey

https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/10/21/our-view-no-gas-exploitation-without-some-kind-of-deal-with-turkey/

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What is the big picture here?

Cyprus? Whether it is an island divided by its "Greeks" and its "Turks", or Free respecting those Greek and Turkish who are Cypriot? (Like in Turkey, with its Kurds.) I would have hoped that it is, but it isn't.

Now, with the present day foray, Greece appears to be the focused target in Block 4, it's frontier with Cyprus, (as in Block 5, where, whether Cyprus contests alone or not, as an outcome, only Cyprus will suffer,) next would be Egypt's relation with Cyprus stressed, a similar presence in Block 7 or 8, Israel too, in March (with the elections in Turkey) i'm guessing. Let's not mention the exploration in Block 10, "belonging" to Egypt as Erdogan sees it (for the moment no 'war' there by his consent); but, who wants to escalate their issues militarily?

Turkey's intentions were never so simple. While Cyprus plays a pivotal role, what with Erdogan's leadership, beyond Cyprus, all the Eastern Mediterranean, what else, than supremacy of the sea, can be expected? Can you imagine it? All its Maritime traffic, all its wealth in it and on it, west of the Suez Canal, a Turkish scope of affairs. It is no longer impossible. What with the "new" Peri Reis, and the submarines that follow it, what of this capacity as a military-industrial complex growing, and for what reason, (on what is "his" continental-shelf)? What with the appeasement of an Agreement in Cyprus; "Peace"? "Their" (read: those, not "Turkish") tribute to explore or to drill is the recognition of "Turkishness" and its supremacy, realised; a Cypriot identity (a balance to "Turkishness") no more, on which (the world, and) Turks, not "Turks", in Turkey, may compare.

Cyprus, no more a State, with Cypriots no more, is a betrayal to all Humanity. And yet the sea surrounding this island, the balance of power, is in his grasp.

...something to think about

Friday, October 12, 2018

Our View: So now we want the Denktash option after all

https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/10/11/our-view-so-now-we-want-the-denktash-option-after-all/

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...and what will the "Turks" give to get such a notion on the table?

Land? ...more, than half returned of what's not theirs'.
Energy Resources? ...a customer, plain and simple, for "the South's" supply.
Economy and Politics? ...no EU, the possibility of a closed border.
Military? ...no Turkish troops, an open border.
All of these things?

As such, if "Turkishness" is so important, so too the consideration that goes with it. There is a cost to pay.

The rest of us, to their satisfaction labelled "Greek", in accepting such a change should have some significant benefit, this is not hard to understand. Such as it is, even if Cypriot has a lesser value to "them" as an identity, wishing to buy out of it, it must represent, just the same, a generous offer to Cypriots: Greek, "Greek", Turkish, or other, (who are not "Turkish").

What greater enterprise is there, but a better Cyprus; this is not it.



Thursday, October 11, 2018

Anastasiades Cavusoglu meeting confirmed, ‘loose’ federation in the limelight (updt 2)

https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/10/09/government-confirms-anastasiades-cavusoglu-meeting/

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Was Akinci elected to unite Cypriots? Who cannot forget?

What is his duty to them, who voted for him, does he remember? At this moment in time In his sweet isolation, he may recall, he may learn something about his position, and power; if as a Cypriot, Cypriots see him.

One gesture, like standing under the Flag of Cyprus, to speak, speaking of issues important to all Cypriots, would be nice. It will propel him to headline news. Cypriots, would not object to that. They may even welcome it by joining with him; thousands who would stand for Cyprus under their Flag of Cyprus.

Thus, the "Greeks" and the "Turks", they will be exposed for who and what they are if they are unable to do the same; Akinci wins, for Cyprus, by daring to win, if, not for "Greekness" (not just for "Turkishness" either), if as a Cypriot he stands for "being" a Cypriot in a true BBF, in a Cyprus where an Individual is an Individual, who, as a Person respects as Persons (and at another level of government, as Constituencies) these distinctions.

Indeed, what is good for Cyprus is good for Turkey, it is something to think about, and so it should be. One Cyprus, One Turkey; what is so hard about that, to understand? It would be nice to hear Mr. Erdogan say these words, it would be nice if the opportunity to do so started in Cyprus, reform in Turkey, where as Cypriots, Cypriots reformed. It is Mr. Akinci's choice.

If as a Cypriot he is willing to reform himself, toward "being" a better Cypriot, recognising as Cypriots Cyprus exists, by saying, "this is my Flag", because it is true, under one Flag, with this Flag, he may leave as his Legacy, a Cypriot Legacy, a unity, an enosis, of Cypriots, something greater than the status quo, changing (at least exposing) "them" too, in effect.

And, beyond the Greek Flag, and, the Turkish Flag, the divide between them, their equal the Flag of Cyprus.

This is Mr. Akinci's choice as i see it, sidelined in this manner for "soft" Federalism, whatever that may mean. Beyond the brown envelopes and shoe boxes "this" may fill, an end to it.

I ask, is he a Cypriot, is he a leader, is he a Statesman?

...has he the courage?

I don't envy men in this position, Akinci's choice(s) as a Cypriot; it is a hard choice to make, the way. I would like to ask men in this position, in such a time of doubt, who it is among them that will see a baby torn in two?
Who is it that they will betray, by acting otherwise?

Tuesday, October 02, 2018

President asks Turkish Cypriots to respect the rights of all Cypriots



https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/10/01/president-asks-turkish-cypriots-to-respect-the-rights-of-all-cypriots/


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Cyprus. first.

As Cypriots, without further discrimination or distinction: Cypriots; what is hard to understand?

...what and who in truth are those martyred, if we as Cypriots do not honour, them?

Let us not forget that Cyprus is an island, on it Cypriots still exist and, despite being torn apart, remain; after decades in assimilation, in effect still representing about half the population any way it's counted.

...if Mr. Akinci would stand under the Flag of Cyprus, what of the impact for Peace; who would oppose him: not his electors (...who remembers over whom, his victory). Who would be against him; if Anastasiades chooses to join, in standing under this Flag?

....something to think about speaking reform; i think: bigger still, in Cyprus this unity in Turkey unites.

...with those against a Cypriot, against a Cyprus, exposed, what is it a Cypriot can not do, defending the Freedom, that they all have a cause as Cypriots (and in effect as Human beings,) in defending? What prevents them from offering each other mutual respect, Liberty, by trusting and respecting each other in that capacity, as Persons, each others' distinct identities, as well?

These are the possibilities, if in the debate toward ending the Cyprus Problem, it has on one side of the table Cypriots representing the Cypriot way, and on the other those who remain compelled to define their "Greekness" and "Tukishness", together, as being more important to them:

...could the debate framed in this way form two levels of Government; a true BBF? One Cyprus, a State where as Individuals every Citizen can stand united in defending the Universal Principals on which it is based, and, within it this population, a diversity more clearly defined, where as Constituencies, and as Persons in their own diversity as a population, in demonstrating tolerance, as a majority toward minorities, and toward each other as Cypriots, recognising each others' special needs, reciprocally.

...happy Independence Day?

New thinking is needed indeed, common sense, and a little bit of courage, better intentions, for Cyprus.

...through all the mayhem let's never forget that those who died, mostly, died as Cypriots; at their bloody hands those "Greek" and/or those "Turk", they were murdered and made to disappear.