Big energy giants that were conducting research in the region in question began to pull out. Just last week, a consortium comprised of Total, ExxonMobil, and Hellenic Petroleum decided to freeze seismic research to the south and west of Crete.
The change in America’s intentions and priorities should come as no surprise. It confirms that despite some doubling back by Washington, geopolitical developments in our neighbourhood remain exceptionally fluid.
The unsettling situation in the Eastern Mediterranean overshadowed yesterday’s Greek-Turkish exploratory talks in Ankara and further dashed hopes of reaching points of convergence on various critical issues.
No one can ignore the fact that a new energy map in which Greece will have a leading role is being drawn up.
By opening a corridor for the procurement of gas EastMed is expected to contribute decisively to safeguarding the energy sufficiency and security of EU member-states.
'Turkey is the most commercially feasible and secure route for the utilisation of the natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean and their transfer to the consumer markets in Europe,' said the Turkish foreign ministry.
'The new pipeline will increase the geopolitical weight and surplus value of Greece and Cyprus in the Mediterranean and give strategic depth to our cooperation with Israel,'the Greek PM said.
The aim is to block Ankara’s attempt to create de facto situations – by delimiting EEZs in an illegal manner - that threaten the interests of regional countries and international players.
'These works in combination with the high diplomatic action that Greece has developed in the last period show that the country has a multidimensional foreign policy with prestige and presence,' Kostis Hatzidakis said.
Another move that puts a damper on Ankara’s designs is the planned signing on 2 January of an inter-state accord on the construction of the EastMed pipeline.
Διαχειριστής - Διευθυντής: Λευτέρης Θ. Χαραλαμπόπουλος
Διευθύντρια Σύνταξης: Αργυρώ Τσατσούλη
Ιδιοκτησία - Δικαιούχος domain name: ALTER EGO MEDIA A.E.
Νόμιμος Εκπρόσωπος: Ιωάννης Βρέντζος
Έδρα - Γραφεία: Λεωφόρος Συγγρού αρ 340, Καλλιθέα, ΤΚ 17673
ΑΦΜ: 800745939, ΔΟΥ: ΦΑΕ ΠΕΙΡΑΙΑ
Ηλεκτρονική διεύθυνση Επικοινωνίας: in@alteregomedia.org, Τηλ. Επικοινωνίας: 2107547007
Αριθμός Πιστοποίησης Μ.Η.Τ.232442
