In a press conference in the Turkish capital Ankara, Yildiz underlined the importance of newly discovered natural gas reserved in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in the peace process. After expressing his hopes that a solution to the 40-year Cyprus problem would open the way for new energy projects in the region, Yildiz said he believed that a new pipeline from the Mediterranean to Europe via Turkey would be possible if the political climate was right. The discovery of natural gas reserves under the seabead between Cyprus, Egypt and the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Gaza) has sparked the interest of many nations including the US, France, Italy, Israel, Russia, Greece and Turkey.

As well as bringing a sense of competition for the development of liquefication plants and pipelines into Europe, it has also introduced a new reason for the nations in the region to work together, as well as restart the Cyprus peace talks. Turkey had previously criticized the Greek Cypriot administration for signing deals regarding the gas reserves while the Cyprus peace talks were stalled, which lead Turkey to resume exploration in the sea between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkey, much to the dislike of the Greek Cypriots.

Source: WorldBulletin