EU Member Cyprus' Energy v. Turkey's GunBoats point also at European Defence Future

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Will the EU let Turkey's GunBoat Bullying against International Law Deprive it from the Only New and Growing Oil/Gas Findings in European Territory and/or Directly Linked to Europe and well beyond ?

Today's EU-27 Summit's Reply reads as a Crystal-clear "NO !" : 

>>> Europe wants to Protect Both its Natural Resources contained at its Member States' areas, as well as the relevant EU and International Legality, according to the Conclusions just presented by EU President (former Prime Minister of Poland) Donald Tusk :

-  The 27 EU Heads of State/Government slamed "Turkey's illegal Violations in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Aegean" Seas, which are "actions (that) Contradict Turkey's Commitment to Good Neighbourly Relations and their Normalisation with all (EU) Member States", as Tusk reminded, "Urgently Call(ing) on Turkey to Terminate those activities".

 - "All the EU (27) Leaders ... Express(ed) Solidarity with Cyprus and Greece", as well as "Reiterate(d) our Support for the Sovereign Right of the Republic of Cyprus to Explore and Exploit its Natural Resources", President Tusk addded in particular.

- This (Cyprus' Oil/Gas Drilling inside its EEZ) is done "in accordance with EU and International Law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea", EU Confirmed anew.

=> In Consequence, President Tusk Warned Ankara about relevant "Conditions" on "Hold(ing or not) the (EU) Leaders' Meeting with Turkey in Varna (Bulgaria, current EU Chairman) on 26 March". - "We (EU) are Ready to cooperate with Turkey" on "Assess(ing) Whether the(se) Conditions are there", (or not yet), "at our (EU's) March (22-23) European Council", (i.e. 3-4 Days Before).

Given the Fact tha Turkey's latest, provocative "Navtex" which ProLonged the Military Blockade of Cyprus EEZ's relevant Area, will Expire on March 10, in consequence, it leaves enough Time in order to Judge, on March 22-23, whether the European Ship's Drilling for Italy's ENI and France's TOTAL Companies, (which was Brutally Obstructed by 5 Turkish GunBoats until now) might, eventually, Proceed at least then, EU Officials explained to the Press, inter alia.

This includes also the Heavy Damages provoked to a Greek Ship, Brutally hit by a Turkish one, at the Aegean Sea, meanwhile.

But, it does Not seem to be No Real Change in View, to Judge by several Reactions from Turkey's Officials, who reportedly vowed to "Persist", and from Ankara's Cronies (many illegally Imported as Settlers) at the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, Controlled by the Turkish Army since the Military Invasion of 1974, who reportedly Claimed that Cyprus' Government would Not be able to Exploit its Natural Resources withOut previously obtaining also Their "Authorisation" (sic !)...

I.e., Not Satisfied by having, Already, illegally Usurpated, and still Abusively Exploiting until Now, the Family Homes and other Private Properties of Hundreds of Thousands of Greek Cypriot Refugee/Displaced People (+20% of the Total Population of the Country), Fleeing the 1974 Military Invasion by Ankara's Army, and, since then, illegally Hindering the Return of the Lawfull Owners, and their Access to - or Control of - their Belongings and Ancestral Land, still until Nowadays, (Despite a well esbalishd ECHR's case-Law, which has Repeatedy Condemned Turkey for such Massive Violations of Human Rights), Today they Seek Even to Deprive their Victims Also from their Elementary Right to Try, at least, to Explore and Exploit the eventual Natural Resources of that Part of the Island that was Left to them !

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=> Therefore, the Obvious Question, particularly in front of Ankara's Brutal Violence, is whether, and at what Level, EU will Really Press Turkey to Respect its Decisions and the International Law, in real Practice and Timely enough.

For this purpose, the 27 EU Heads of State/Government already pointed, Today, to an eventual Cancellation of the forthcoming EU - Turkey Summit, scheduled in Varna (Bulgaria) on March 26, by Warning that they would re-examine the existence or absence of certain "Conditions", during their Brussels' EU Summit, on March 22 - 23, as they Warned Turkey while Criticizing the recent Incidents in Cyprus' EEZ, (but also Other Turkish Military Provocations against Greece at the Aegean Sea), as we've already seen above.

+>>> But, In Fact, this Opposition, Nowadays, between "Cyprus' Energy versus Turkey's GunBoats", is a Timely Challenge for the Development of a real common European Defence policy asap., since it might be the Only Efficient Way to Ensure Turkey's Respect of such EU Decisions...

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Indeed, this EU 27 Heads of State/Government Summit in Brussels, Topically Focused on several Issues linked to Europe's forseable Future, was called, also by the Latest Events, to Reply also to that crucial now Question, which concerns, in fact, not just EU's Economy, but also its recently unfolding Defence policy.

EU Commission's vice-President in charge of Energy, Maros Cefcovic, had spoken to "Eurofora" in Brussels on 2017 about Good Prospects to find, around EU Member Cyprus, "a 2nd Norway", (See : ...), in reference to the Nothern Sea Oil/Gas Fields, discovered since the Late 1990'ies, but notoriously Declining since about 2010 (See Infra), so that this New, Probable European "Eldorado", at the South-Eastern Mediterranean Sea, appeared as a Unique and Timely Chance to Boost EU's Economy with fresh Energy sources Nowadays.

And this, indeed, looks, Now, very Probable, if not already certain, since Cyprus' December 2011 initial Findings at "Aphrodite" Gas Field, made shortly after Neighbouring Israel's own Findings at "Leviathan" Gas Field, nearby, on December 2010, were Followed by Neighbouring Egypt's Findings at "Zhor"'s adjacent Oil/Gas Fields also adjacent to Cyprus' EEZ on 2015, to which was Recently Added the "Calypso" New Gas Field in Cypus at the Beginning of 2018.

With the Participation, mainly of USA's "NOBLE ENERGY" Company (Texas) and Israel's "DELEK",, as well as Europe's "ENI", "TOTAL" and "SHELL", (Italy, France and the Netherlands), due to be Soon Followed also by USA's "EXXON-Mobil", as well as of South Korea's "KOGAS" (etc),  at another part of the Island, Soon, (see Infra).

Meanwhile, EU Commission had already started to Support these moves, particularly by Backing an ambitious UnderSea Pipeline ("East-MED"), due to Link the New Energy Findings, from Cyprus' EEZ Directly into EU's Industrial Center, via Greece and Italy. To this was Added also an undersea Electricity Cable Project ("Asia InterConnector" : Latest EU Decision taken on December 2017), able to include Electricity produced by Gas. As well as, in Parallel, possible NLG Ship Transports, also towards France's PACA Region, Spain, Croatia, etc., already equiped with NLG infrastructures. All these 3 possibilities of Energy Transport from EU Member Cyprus' surrounding area, are DIRECTLY Heading towards EU's Core, (withOut being obliged to previoulsy Criss-cross through any Foreign, Non European Country).  

So that the Experienced, and recently Re-Elected brillantly, President of Cyprus, Nikos Anastassiades, (a ChristianDemocrat/EPP), had Timely Announced, from the Beginning of this New Year 2018, that it was due to be Marked particularly by imminent Developments in the area of Energy.

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But, suddenly .. "Patatrak" : On February 2018 Turkey sends Five (5) WarShips to Block the Italian ENI's Drilling Ship SAIPEM's Access to its Destination :  plot Number 3, located inside Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone, (the precise Delimitation of which has been already Agreed by Cyprus, officially, with all 3 Neighbouring Countries : Egypt, Israel and Lebanon, already between 2003 - 2010).

+ As Revealed afterwards also a Transcript published by a Turkish Newspaper, inter alia, a Crash between the Peaceful, Civilian Italian Drilling Ship and one of the 5 Turkish Military WarBoats which were Bullying around it, was Avoided only at the very Last Minute, when, (after the Turkish Warship insisted to Block the way of the Civilian Ship, heading right towards its scheduled course), it's the European Drilling Ship from Italy which was Obliged to make an U-Turn, in order to Avoid an otherwise Dramatic Collision, (UPDATED).

ENI Company's CEO protested, (in statements to the Press made at Neighbouring Egypt), that he was Surprized to see Turkey violently block an Area undeniably belonging to EU Member Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone, but, initially, it was Decided to Keep the Drilling Ship at a Safe Distance, and Start various Diplomatic Moves at the European and International level, while also Waiting for the Expiration Date of a provocative Turkey's "Navtex" message, which Claimed to Block that Area until February 22, (i.e. the Eve of EU-27's Brussels Summit).

++ However, Despite open Criticism, inter alia, also by the Presidents of EU Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker himself (former Long-Time Prime Minister of Luxembourg) and his Spokeswoman, as well as of EU Parliament, Antonio Tajani (former Foreign Minister of Italy), etc., Turkey not only did Not Stop its Brutal Obstruction inside Cyprus' EEZ at its Southern Sea-Coasts, but even Decided to Extend Further its GunBoat act of Piracy, (provocatively Anouncing also that several Days Earlier than expected), going as far as even up to the Middle of ...Next Month (March 2018), while it was generaly Known that ENI's Drilling Ship had already assumed, earlier, a subsequent job at Morocco, and would be Obliged to Cancel, at least for the time being, its task in Cyprus, after having been Obliged to vainly wait for too long, (in Addition to the Fact that Each Day of Imposed Delay provoked also a Damage of about +400.000 € daily).

+++ Moreover, Turkey, meanwhile, had already issued so many and various such Controversial "Navtex" messages, that it, reportedly, Threatened to Block, at any moment, (under Hollow Pretexts of "Military Training", etc) a lot of Areas practically ...Surrounding All the Island of Cyprus (sic !), and even Most of its EEZ (See relevant MAP's Photo) !

----------------------------

Ankara also Added a series of purely Political Pre-Conditions for almost All Cyprus' efforts to Develop its Oil/Gas Energy Sources, at any Moment, i.e. practically Excluding EU Member State Cyprus from its Sovereign Right to Freely Explore and Develop its Energy Resources located inside its own EEZ.

+ Even Despite the Fact that, on the Contrary, it's also USA's New President Don Trump's Administration which: - "Feels, very Strongly, that the Republic of Cyprus has the Right to Explore and Exploit its Resources in the EEZ", as his Ambassador, Cathleen Doherty, has just stressed, earlier this week at the Island.

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=> Meanwhile, shortly After also an "Eurofora"s communication with Experienced UN Secretary General's Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, in the Middle of these Events (See: ...), UNO has just Decided to send to Cyprus its new Deputy-Secretary General for "Peace-Keeping Operations", Jean-Pierre Lacroix, to visit the Island, (where UNO has also a special UNFICYP International Force at the Buffer Zone, between the areas controlled by the Turkey's Army and those still controlled by Cyprus' Republic), reportedly from the Beginning of Next Week, (i.e., practically, immediately after the current EU Summit in Brussels).

UNFICYP has Not yet been extended in Maritime areas, but, perhaps, something of that sort, might not be theoretically excluded in the Future totally, particularly when there are Brutal Threats to use Military Violence, as in this case (Comp. Supra, and See also Infra).

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++++ >>> Nevertheless, after that Failure of purely Diplomatic Reactions in a 1st Stage, the European Drilling Ship from Italy made also a Last-Minute Attempt to reach the Area for its Scheduled Peaceful Work, inside EU Member Cyprus' EEZ, the very Morning of the Day of EU's Summit in Brussels, on February 23rd, (NDLR : PARTLY UPDATED) :

=> So, all EU's 27 Heads of State/Government had Now an Occasion to ...Watch Together from Brussels, almost "LIVE", a desperate Attempt, by a Peaceful European Civilian Ship, to Try, at last, to reach the Scheduled Area for his Energy-Exploration Work, inside an EU Member State's Exclusive Economic Zone, but be Forced to Quit, by use of Military Violence and repeated Threats from 5 Turkey's WarShips !

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Indeed, that European Civilian Ship from Italy's ENI, after Heading Directly towards its Scheduled Area of Work, had to Face, right in Front of it, those "5 Turkey's GunBoats", which Blocked its course at least Twice, Finally Obliging it to Turn Back and go Away, after abusing of Military Violence, as a relevant Satellite-MAP, Tracing the Drilling Ships' Movements, clearly shows :

(Cypriot TV "SIGMA"'s ScreenShot on Italian Drilling Ship's Violent Obstruction by Turkish WarBoats)

-------------------

 - "You doN't have the Right, according to the Law of the Sea, and you have No Jurisdiction in this Area, in order to Hinder my way towards my Final Destination. Keep a Distance !", reportedly Warned the Captain of the European Civilian Drilling Ship.

- "If you Enter this area, we shall Take Measures Against you !", repeatedly Threatened the Armed Turkish Military GunBoats, as only "reply", revealing their Brutal Violent Behavior.

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>>> EU Lisbon Treaty's Article 42,7 ?
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It's in such Exceptional and Dangerous Circumstances, that the Government of EU Member State Cyprus, reportedly considered, Nowadays, the possibility to Trigger the exceptional Mechanism set up, for the 1st Time, by EU's Lisbon Treaty's Article 42, paragraph 7, (somewhat Inspired by the Earlier Example of France, which has already used that in order to help face f.ex. Armed Islamist Terrorist Mobs' Attacks against unarmed, Defenseless Civilian People, etc), in order to Face, Now, the Mob Attacks by Turkey's more Heavily Armed GunBoats and Warships against unarmed, Defenseless Civilian People and Boats, Peacefully seeking to do their Scheduled Work on Energy Exploration and Development for the General Interest of Europe :

- "If a Member State is the Victim of Armed Aggression on its Territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an Obligation of Aid and Assistance by all the means in their power", the current EU Treaty clearly says.

- This is done "in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter", which Recognizes "the inherent Right of .... Collective Self-Defence if an Armed Attack occurs against a Member of the UN".

+ But it also Points to "the Authority and Responsibility of the (UN) Security Council ...to take at any time such Action as it deems Necessary in order to Maintain or Restore International Peace and Security.”

Something which, naturally, canNot be Ignored  in this case, particularly in relation also with the forthcoming Visit to Cyprus by the new UN Deputy-Secretary General for "Peace-Keeping Operations", Jean-Pierre Lacroix, from Monday, (Comp. Supra).

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++ Meanwhile, Next Week it's also the first 2 Ships of American "EXXON-Mobil" Company (where notoriously worked almost during all his Life the current USA State Secretary, Rex Tillerson), which are due to Arrive to Cyprus, in order to Prepare the Beginning of their own Drillings in Search of Oil/Gas at the Block No 10, (adjacent to Egypt's "Zhor" Huge Gas Field), at the Autumn 2018.

The matter was reportedly Discussed between USA's Ambassador and Cyprus' President, and it was also Decided that those 2 Energy-searching Ships would be Escorted, for Security reasons, also by the American (Military) Navy !

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 => In this Context, the Natural Question which obviously Flows from all that, is whether the EU will send also a "European Navy" to Protect European Civilian Ships searching to Find and/or Develop New Oil/Gas Resources around EU Member State Cyprus, (i.e. basically inside EU's Territory).

+ Cyprus, which Hosts also 2 Important UK Military Bases, has Already Hosted the European/International Peace-Keeping Fleet for the TransBorder area Between Lebanon and Israel, under a UN Mandate (Negotiated by former French President Jacques Chirac) since 2006, as well as several Bilateral Agreements on Naval Forces' Logistical Help, and/or Cooperations, (f.ex., inter alia, also with Russia, France, etc).

Germany was Leading the Military Navy component of that UN-sponsored Interational Peace-Keeping Operation for Lebanon's Coasts, (while , Hosted in Cyprus' Naval Bases, where Chancellor Angie Merkel had Visited, later-on.

+ And it's mainly the Need to Protect important Energy Transports by Ships, (particularly of LNG), which has notoriously Motivated one among the First Cooperations among Willing EU Member Countries in the domain of Defence, when, since Back on 2008, EU set up its "Atalante" Naval Force for the Fight against Piracy, particularly around the Somalian Sea Coasts, in order to Safeguard Cargo Ships crossing the Suez Channel, right in front of the Strategic European Island of Cyprus...

+ In Addition, Recently, at least 2 Key European Ministers of Defence, from France and Italy, Exceptionally Visited Cyprus, during the Summer of 2017, (in parallel to a French Military Fregate's Arrival at the Island, then, and anOther one, Recently on 2018), just Before the New Oil-Gas Exploraton Drillings start, for ENI and TOTAL Energy Companies.

+ These Moves had, Significantly, Started soon After "Eurofora" had met with New French President Emmanuel Macron, at the sidelines of the "G-20" Summit in Hamburg (Germany) on July 2017, where he Agreed on the Importance and the Need to Protect the Exploration and Development of Oil/Gas Resources at EU Member Cyprus and its surroundings (i.e. Israel, Egypt, etc) for Direct Energy Transports towards Europe's Industrial core, (See : .....).

Macron had Already told us, (as Early as since he was a Minister of Economy, Back on 2015 in Strasbourg, just Before Travelling to Israel then), that he Believed that the Recent Findings of Growing Oil/Gas Resources in Cyprus, Egypt and Israel, added to their Plans for Joint Energy Transports directly to Europe's core (including by EU Commission-supported "East-MED" Pipeline project) represented "a Real Chance", (See: ...).

+ So that when Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades was Pictured by "Eurofora" a.o. smiling, Together with French President Macron and/or Greek Prime Minister Tsipras, etc., at the Center of a Group of 25 EU Member Countries which Decided recently to Launch Together a "Permanent European Structured Cooperation" (PESCO) on Defence policy, (where Cyprus participated for the 1st Time in History), during the Latest EU Summit in Brussels, on December 2017, (See "Eurofora"s Photos from the spot at : .... + ..., etc), that move wasn't, no more, really a Surprise, but, on the Contrary, totally Natural.

+ ToNight, on February 2018, the EU27 Summit in Brussels, announced the Willingness of EU Countries' Heads of State/Government to "Augment" EU's Budget in the foreseable Future, particularly on Europe's "External Borders' control", as well as "on Defence" policy.

+ Among the 17 concrete Defence Projects, already earmarked since the December 2017 EU Summit's PESCO Event in order to be Funded by the EU as a matter of Priority, (Comp. Supra), at least 3 concern, specifically, "Maritime" Areas, against only 1 conceived mainly in order to be used on Land, (and, even that, includes also an "Amphibious" Vehicle) : I.e. a Ratio of more than 3 to 1, between Sea and Land, in concrete terms...

+ And, by a Symbolic "Coincidence", Astonishingly, the 1st Victory in the History of European Armies (where Many European Countries had actively participated, as Italy, Spain, France, etc), was, precisely in a ...Naval Battle : That of Lepanto, on 1571, where United European Fleets succeeded, for the 1st Time, to Win against Ottoman Turk Warships, practically Liberating the Mediterranean Sea from previous Threats of Turkish Aggressions in the Future. The Next Victories of European Armies, (including, Later-on, also Polish, English, German and even Russian People), Followed, this time, on Solid Ground, during almost the Same Century : on 1683 and 1689, when they succeeded to Defend Vienna (Austria) and Liberate all BudaPest (Hungary) from Ottoman-Turk Military Invasion and Occupation, from which, Europe's Land was Definitively, almost Entirely Liberated, after a Series of such Victories, on 1919, with the Treaty of Sevres (France).

Even More : That 1st European Army's Victory in History, in Lepanto's Naval Battle of 1571, had been Motivated by the Will to Strongly React against a Massacre, committed by Ottoman Turks in ... Cyprus, where they had just Aggressed and Killed the ...Italian (from Venice) Defenders of Famagusta, (in Violation of a Previous Agreement to, at least, Spare their Lives) :  I.e., (by another Astonishing Coincidence), Near the Area where, Today (on 2018), 5 Turkish Military GunBoats Brutaly Aggressed a Peaceful Italian Drilling Ship inside Cyprus' EEZ, (Comp. Supra)...

So that, all these Converging Facts, clearly indicate that the Strategic Island of Cyprus, (the Only one to be Located at the CrossRoads of 3 Continents), has, throughout History, at least an exceptional Symbolic Value and practical Stimulus, for an Efficient Development of European Unity and Defence Policy.

=> A Fortiori Nowadays, when Europe's Natural Resources in much needed Energy are notoriously Declining at their Older Location in the Northern Sea, but, on the Conntrary ...Growing Fast in the South-Eastern Mediterranean Sea, around EU Member Cyprus, together with Israel, Egypt, etc, (See Infra)

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EU's OLD NORTH SEA RESOURCS DECLINING
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North Sea Oil+Gas production had been Booming at the Late 1990ies, but Fell Down already on 2014+, (with some Exceptions only in Norwegian Gas) : F.ex., on Late 1990 UK and Norway represented about 9% of World Oil output, But on 2014 only 3%.

Thus, on 2015, the British Government was Obliged to concede Exceptionaly Big Tax Cuts in the Hope to convince some Companies to use Oil/Gas-Fields remaining idle since 2008, amidst a growing number of Lost Jobs there.

However, on 2016, "Decommissioning of offshore platforms and the accompanying Bills were looming on a Scale Not seen Before, anywhere in the World",

Already since f.ex. 2016, about 50 North Sea Oil/GasFields were reportedly ready to Stop Production, and UK alone expected that 140 more might be Shut down during the Next 5 Years, (2017-2022).
Major Oil/Gas Companies have already Started to Sell their assets in the North Sea, as, f.ex. BP and Shell on 2017, etc.

Royal Dutch Shell surfaced Recently its Interest to use its Liquefaction off shore facilities between Egypt (which might receive also Energy from Israel), and Cyprus (evetually Starting by its "Aphrodite" block 1st Findings by USA's "Noble Energy", Israel's Delek, and Netherlands' Shell), also for Shipping NLG Directly towards EU's Center.    

           
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NEW S/E MEDITERRANEAN RESOURCES

AROUND EU MEMBER CYPRUS = BOOMING
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Contrary to the Declining North Sea Oil/Gas Fields Timeline (Comp. Supra), the Findings in Cyprus and its Neighbouring Countries : Israel and Egypt, are clearly much more Recent : Between 2010 - 2018.

- "Leviathan" GasField in Israel was announced on December 2010, (after what, the Israelu Prime Minister, Netanyahu, immediately visited Cyprus on 2011), "Aphrodite" Gas Field was announced on December 2011 in Cyprus, Followed now by that of "Kalypso" at the Beginning of 2018, while, meanwhile,  that of Egypt's "Zhor" was Discovered on 2015.              

- Earlier this Week (2/2018), "Bloomberg" reported that, according to the American Geological Research Institute, the Off Shore, UnderSea Energy Resources around Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt, could ByPass the 340 Trillions of Cubic Feet in Natural Gas, i.e. much More than All USA's equivalent deposits.

Nowadays, those Countries are examining various Scenarios for Exports, "Bloomberg" noted on February 20, 2018.

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In Fact, Turkey's suddenly Brutal and Violent, illegal Aggression on a European Drilling Ship from Italy inside Cyprus' EEZ, (which had Not been Contested, not even by Ankara before, as ENI's CEO observed, astonished), seems, indeed, much more Motivated by a desperate, against the current, Attempt by Ankara's regime to Undermine the Recent Collective Plans for several Ways to Establish DIRECT Energy Transports to Europe's core, from the area around EU Member Cyprus, (which have been Discussed and Endorsed by most Heads of State/Government of the concerned Countries, including between Cyprus, Israel and Greece, as well as Egypt, etc, certain even by EU Commission itself).

That's why Turkey didn't start to openly abuse of illegal Violence but only when European Italian and French Companies ENI and TOTAL recently Discovered also a New Oil/Gas Field in "Kalypso" area of Cyprus' EEZ, officially announced Earlier this Month, on February 2018, and were Going to Search for even More :

- Simply Because of the Fact that the Economic Sustainability of a DIRECT Energy Transport Link to Europe's core (f.ex. a partly UnderSea Pipeline, and/or a Cable Connexion transmitting Electricity produced from Gas, LNG Liquefaction infrastructures for Modern Ship Transport, et), reportedly Needed a Significant Amount of Energy Findings inside Cyprus' EEZ, to be Confirmed asap.

=> Therefore, by abusing of illegal Violence in an Attempt to Delay, if not even Obstruct, More Energy Findings in Cyprus' EEZ now, Turkey, most probably, seeks to Undermine and/or Popstpone the Profitability of such Direct European Energy Transport Plans from the New, and recently Growing Natural Resources of the Souhth-East Mediterranean area, in an Attempt to Impose, instead, a Zig-Zag Pipeline through the intermediary of a 3rd Foreign, Non-European Country's Turkish Anatolia Plateau in Asia Minor, with Notorious Risks of exceptionaly Dangerous Earthquakes, various Brutal Conflicts, Turkey's Financial Claims and/or its usual Political Blackmails, etc...       

 
F.ex., British Medias had already pointed out, since 2014, that for a Profitable NLG Plan Cyprus Needed to Find more than 6 TCF (Trillions of Cubic Feet) in Gas. It was Not sure that the 1st Finding, that of "Aphrodite", might really have Enough Gas for that.

Therefore, it's Only After ENI/TOTAL, recently Discovered also a 2nd Gas Field, "Calypso", announced only at the Beginning of 2018, while ENI's Drilling Ship, immediately Headed towards Drilling, in Addition, to anOther, 3rd Promising Area, (there where, Suddenly, Turkey's GunBoat Piracy rushed to illegaly Obstruct that), that the Required Threshhold of Gas Volume  for Building a Profitable NLG PLant would have, most Probably, been largely Reached.

=> Such Facts clearly Show, also, that Ankara's Hollow Pretext for Brutally Blocking NOW the European Search of more Energy in Cyprus on February 2018, (i.e. a controversial Claim that the Cyprus' Government should, previously, ask for a kind of ...Authorisation also from the Occupied Territories of the Island, illegaly Controlled by Turkey's Military, since the 1974 Invasion), is Totaly Hypocritical !

Indeed, not only such a Strange and UnJust (Comp. Supra), if not even Scandalous, Pre-Condition does Not Exist Legally, while, in Addition, Cyprus' President Anastasiades has Already Tabled a Legislative Bill in the Parliament, for the Creation of a Fund due to Manage all eventual Revenues from Energy in the Future, in a way Similar to "Norway's Modem", which would be Beneficial to All Cypriots, (Greek and Turkish, etc), but, Moreover :  - It's Obvious, that, IF Ankara Really Wished to Block Energy Searches for the Sake of what it calls "Turkish Cypriot Community",  (in Fact including, Nowadays, also Many illegal Turkish Settlers Massively Imported from Anatolia Plateau, as well as an illegal Occupation Regime notoriously set up and Sustained -Both Economically and Militarilly, as well as Politically - by Turkey's Invasion Army and its Cronies), then, it would have Already Blocked those Energy Searched, a Long Time Ago in the Past, or would have done so at Any Other Time in the Future, instead of Waiting Only Until the Above-Mentioned "Profitability" Threshhold was Reached for Independent Energy Transports from Cyprus' Area Directly to Europe's core, and, Precisely and Only then, Suddenly start to Brutally Block, with illegal GunBoats' Violence, immediately, (Neither Before, Nor After)... These supplementary Facts clearly show that what is Realy at Stake, appears to be something quite Cynical.             

                    
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Thus, if purely Diplomatic Means Fail again vis a vis Turkey's brutal GunBoats' Bullying, (Comp. Supra), then, History will have anew taught, Both in the Past, (See, f.ex., "Lepanto"-related events, Supra, etc), and Nowadays, (i.e. on February - March 2018, until the Next EU Summit), that the most Efficient (if not even Unique Possible) way to Both Guarantee Peace and Security, as well as Economic Development in Europe, is to Strongly Protect EU's External Borders against Violent Aggressions, by a Dissuasive European Defence and/or International (f.ex. UNO's UNFICYP : Comp. Supra) Peace-Keeping operation, Able to Guarantee that the Promising and Fast-Growing Natural Energy Resources in EU Member Cyprus, Together with its Willing Neighbouring Countries of Israel and/or Egypt, (with which Nicosia is notoriously in Close Cooperation on that matter), will be Freely and Safely Explored and/or Developed further, withOut any Violent Hindrance of those Countries' repeatedly Expressed Will to Help Organize DIRECT Energy Transports towards Europe's core, and Elsewhere in the World, (f.ex. USA, eventually China, etc).

Facts clearly show, until Now, that any Abuse of "Piracy"s Brutal methods, as Turkey just did twice, in blatant Violation of EU and International Law, should be Strongly Dissuaded, if necessary, also with sufficient and convincing Deterrant Force, Able to Convince the Turkish regime to Drop illegal Violence and follow a Peaceful way to debate issues and seek solutions.

 EU Countries have managed, Already since 2008, to set up a Pioneer and Efficient Joint Defence Operation (nick-named "Atalanta") in order to Succesfully Fight against "Piracy" around Somalian Coasts, as far as between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.

The move was made, mainly, in order to Saveguard Ship Transports, particularly of Oil/Gas, through the Strategic Suez Channel, which crosses Egypt and Faces Cyprus. And Recent EU Statistics reveal that they Really Curbed and almost Suppressed Pirate Attacks, sufficiently well.

=> Since EU did so against Somalian Coasts' "Pirates" illegaly Attacking Energy Transport Ships so Far Away from Europe, why it shouldn't, then, Nowadays, do something Equivalent, also vis a vis Turkey's GunBoats' illegal and Violent Bullying and Threats around EU Member State Cyprus, which notoriously Cooperates closely with its Neighbouring Countries Israel, Egypt, etc, at a South-Eastern Mediterranean area where New Oil/Gas Findings are recently Booming Fast (Comp. Supra), Together with various Plans for Direct Energy Transports to Europe's core ?