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WORLD NEWS Friday 3 January 2020

Greece, Israel, Cyprus sign deal for EastMed gas pipeline

By NICHOLAS PAPHITIS adopts the basic principles
MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS of international law and
Associated Press fully respects the sovereign
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — rights and the territorial
Greece, Israel and Cyprus integrity of independent
signed a deal Thursday to states."
build an undersea pipeline Alluding to Turkey's stance,
to carry gas from new off- Anastasiades said cooper-
shore deposits in the south- ation is the only approach
eastern Mediterranean to in an unstable region in-
continental Europe. stead of embarking on a
The 1,900-kilometer (1,300- course of "self-isolation."
mile) EastMed pipeline is Netanyahu said Israel is set
intended to provide an to become a "powerhouse
alternative gas source for in terms of energy" with
energy-hungry Europe, its offshore gas reserves.
which is largely dependent He added that the three
on supplies from Russia and countries have established
the Caucasus region. "an alliance of great impor-
Greek Prime Minister Kyria- tance" that will bolster re-
kos Mitsotakis, who attend- gional stability.
ed the signing ceremony Israeli Energy Minister Yuval
with Israeli Prime Minister Steinitz has said the East-
Benjamin Netanyahu and Cypriot Energy Minister Georgios Lakkotrypis, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiadis, Greece's Med pipeline would take
Cypriot President Nicos Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Greek Energy up to seven years to build
Anastasiades, said the Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, and Israel's Minister of Energy & Water Yuval Steinitz applaud following and that its advantages in-
ceremony, in Athens, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020.
pipeline will offer Europe Associated Press clude being less vulnerable
"better flexibility and in- to sabotage and not cross-
dependence in its energy finds in waters off Cyprus between Greece and Cy- Cyprus' Anastasiades said ing many national borders
sources." and Greece, where explo- prus, on one side, and his- the pipeline affirms that to reach markets.
The pipeline would run ration is under way. toric rival Turkey. Greece and Cyprus have Cyprus is divided into a
from Israel's Levantine Ba- The project, with a rough Ankara has raised the sovereign rights in waters Greek Cypriot south, where
sin offshore gas reserves to budget of $6 billion, is ex- stakes with recent moves assigned to them under in- the island nation's interna-
Cyprus, the Greek island of pected to satisfy about 10% to explore waters con- ternational law. tionally recognized gov-
Crete and the Greek main- of the European Union's trolled by the two EU mem- "This cooperation that we ernment is located, and a
land. An overland pipeline natural gas needs. But it is ber countries. Cyprus and have developed ... isn't di- breakaway Turkish Cypriot
to northwestern Greece fraught with political and Greece are particularly rected against any third north backed by Turkey.
and another planned un- logistical complexities. disturbed because Turkey country," he said. The split followed a 1974
dersea pipeline would car- The race to claim offshore sent warship-escorted drill "On the contrary, which- Turkish invasion after an
ry the gas to Italy. energy deposits in the ships into waters where Cy- ever country wishes is wel- aborted coup aiming to
The project could also ac- southern Mediterranean prus has exclusive econom- come to join, on the under- bring Cyprus under Greek
commodate future gas has created new tensions ic rights. standing of course that it rule.q
Spain’s Socialists assemble support to form a government

Associated Press last year. Both times they failed to chez has secured the political sup-
MADRID (AP) — The possibility of a capture a parliamentary majority, port of the anti-austerity United We
new government in Spain moved meaning they couldn't win a confi- Can party, which is due to join the
closer Thursday when a small par- dence vote that is required before coalition government as the junior
ty said it will abstain in upcoming taking office. partner, and of several tiny parties.
confidence votes in parliament. The country has been run by Sán- Securing the abstention of the ERC
The decision by the Catalan ERC chez's caretaker government for party, which controls 13 of the 350
party removes a major hurdle for almost a year. The Catalan ERC seats in the Spanish Congress of
interim Prime Minister Pedro Sán- party's national committee said in Deputies, may be enough for Sán-
chez's efforts to form a Socialist-led Spain's caretaker Prime Minister Pedro a statement it had decided to ab- chez to obtain the votes he needs.
coalition government after months Sanchez leaves after signing an stain in confidence votes expect- He is not expected to clinch an ab-
of delays in the eurozone's fourth- agreement with the Podemos party ed over the weekend and Tues- solute majority of 176 votes in the
largest economy. in the Spanish parliament in Madrid, day, meaning Sánchez may finally first round of voting due Sunday.
The Socialists got the most votes in Spain, Monday, Dec. 30, 2019. clinch victory. Sanchez's success is not guaran-
two consecutive general elections Associated Press After weeks of negotiations, Sán- teed. q