Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-08-16

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS - OIL EXPLORATION - TENDERS

[02] BRITAIN - CYPRUS - INTERNATIONAL LAW

[03] LONDON - PAPADOPOULOS-TALAT - MEETING

[04] UEFA - CYPRUS TEAMS

[01] CYPRUS - OIL EXPLORATION - TENDERS

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Efstathios Hamboullas, has told CNA that the submission of tenders began at 0800 and will be concluded at 1430 (local time) at the Ministry.

Interested companies will express their interest in exploring possible oil or natural gas reserves in any one of the eleven exploration blocks at sea, lying south and southwest of Cyprus.

Hamboullas told CNA that eight international companies have asked and received data, prepared by the government of Cyprus, relating to this issue.

Eight international companies have asked and received the data we have prepared but six have bought all data prepared by the Republic of Cyprus, including geophysical and seismological surveys and the evaluation of the two-dimensional research conducted in the area``, he said.

The evaluation of the applications is expected to be concluded before the end of the year and then the government will make the final decision.

We expect that the government will take its final decision before the end of the year. The decision will name the companies awarded the tenders, the terms and conditions of the tenders and the exploration blocks allocated to the wining companies, he explained.

Hamboullas said that next year the second phase would follow, which would include the remaining two exploration blocks, for which a three dimensional survey is being conducted.

Experts commissioned by the Cypriot government said the exploration blocks cover 70,000 sq km in extent and indications are encouraging for hydrocarbon reserves at depths ranging from 400 to 3,000 meters.

The Republic of Cyprus has signed an agreement on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone with Egypt and Lebanon, based on the internationally accepted principle of the median line and in accordance with the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea.

The licensing round is taking place amidst strong protests from Ankara.

Turkey, which invaded in 1974 and continues to occupy one third of Cyprus territory, is the only country in the world which does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.

The Government of Cyprus has repeatedly stressed that Nicosia acts in line with international law and the Convention of the Law of the Sea and stated that Turkeys reaction to this has no justification.

The Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in 2004.

[02] BRITAIN - CYPRUS - INTERNATIONAL LAW

It would be regrettable if the search for oil were to deepen the division between the communities on the island, a Foreign Office spokesman has told CNA.

London, he added, hopes that an early solution to the Cyprus problem will allow all Cypriots to benefit from Cyprus mineral wealth and the United Kingdom supports all efforts to that end. In the mean time the legal personality of the Republic of Cyprus and its rights in international law are not in doubt, he stressed.

[03] LONDON - PAPADOPOULOS-TALAT - MEETING

President Papadopoulos had sent weeks ago a letter to Talat asking for a meeting with him, with a view to promote the implementation of a UN-brokered agreement, in July last year. At the time, the Turkish Cypriot leader declined the invitation, but on Tuesday he accepted. Following Talat`s positive response, President Papadopoulos urged on Tuesday Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus, Michael Moller, to make immediately all necessary arrangements for a meeting between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus.

An official press release said on Tuesday that the President of the Republic today received a letter sent by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community, Mehmet Ali Talat, regarding the 8th July process. It adds that the President of the Republic replied on the same day through a letter to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus, asking him to make immediately the necessary arrangements for a meeting between the leaders of the two communities, aiming at the immediate implementation of the 8th July Agreement.

[04] UEFA - CYPRUS TEAMS

Omonia plays in Nicosia against CSKA Sofia and Anorthosis faces Cluj in Romania.

The second leg will take place August 30th, 2007.

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