Cypriot FM to Meet Clinton in Washington

Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou – Markoullis, in Washington on a three-day working visit, will hold talks Tuesday with her US counterpart Hillary Clinton.
On Monday, Markoullis held meetings with Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Howard Berman, who is the Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

She also had a working lunch with leaders of the Greek American community, whom she briefed on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue. They also exchanged views on promoting the Cyprus issue at decision centres in Washington. Attending were Ambassador of Cyprus in Washington Pavlos Anastasiades, the chair persons of PSEKA and AHEPA, the Cyprus Federation, the Greek American Institute and other officials.

Markoullis visited the offices of the Greek American Institute and held a meeting with the leadership of the American Jewish lobby while in the evening she attended a dinner with members of Congress and their associates.
Later on Tuesday, Markoullis will address the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars think tank on «Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean: Strategic location, strategic opportunities.”

On Wednesday, Markoullis will address the European Institute to talk about «Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean: A Cypriot Perspective».
In the afternoon, she will brief journalists, at the National Press Club, on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue, Cyprus` presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2012, as well as on prospects as regards exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves in the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Cypriot Minister concludes her visit to the US on Wednesday. She returns to Cyprus on Thursday evening.
Cyprus, which has been divided since the Turkish invasion in 1974, will assume the six monthly rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in July 2012.

Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus’ northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. Following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil exploration in its exclusive economic zone, Ankara has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf.
Drilling has already begun and is being carried out by Houston-based “Noble Energy”, off Cyprus’ south-eastern coast.

The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkey’s moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling.

Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.
(source: cna)