Filenews 29 March 2022 - byAndreas Pimpisis
Israel will be involved in a project to transport natural gas to Turkey if all the countries in the region participate in it and, above all, it does not turn against its strategic cooperation with Greece, Egypt and Cyprus. This was underlined by an Israeli expert speaking to the Turkish agency Anatoli (source OF THE PIO) while the Turkish media refer to scenarios for the transport of the region's natural gas to the EU via Turkey.
The head of the Israeli institute for regional foreign policy, Mitvim, argued that regional energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean is very important for Europe's dependence on Russian gas. Nimrot Goren expressed the view that the eastern Mediterranean countries should accept the EU's proposal and attend a regional conference, adopting a positive agenda, in which they would define their mutual interests, in order to establish a new cooperation mechanism.
"Energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean can be part of the solution to make the EU independent of Russian gas supplies. But in order for this capability to be fulfilled in a way that will be in the interest of all sides, there will have to be co-operation in the region and tensions and disagreements reduced," the Israeli expert said.
Referring to Israeli President Isaac Herzog's recent visit to Turkey and his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Goren recalled that the two leaders expressed the will to rekindle their bilateral relations on the basis of their common interests and assessed the possibilities for expanding their energy cooperation.
"It is important that the meeting of the two Presidents will be followed by a meeting between ministers. In this context, it is positive that a visit to Israel is planned by the Turkish ministers of foreign affairs, energy and natural resources," he said.
Cooperation between the two states in the field of energy should be included on the agenda in the future, the Israeli expert said, stressing that this cooperation will not only include natural gas, but also renewable energy sources, taking into account the reforms that need to be made due to climate change.
"The President of Israel recently expressed his vision for regional co-operation on renewable energy and climate issues, making particular reference to Turkey's involvement in it, along with other countries in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. It would also be beneficial for the ministers of Turkey and Israel to consider ways to establish a mechanism in the Mediterranean, focusing on energy and climate issues," he said.
Referring to the possibility of exporting Israel's gas to Europe via Turkey, Goren said there are specific economic and geopolitical difficulties, as there were in 2016 to do so. He added that Israel does not want to be involved in a project that goes against its strategic co-operation with Egypt, Greece and the "Greek Cypriot administration", as the Republic of Cyprus is called.
Gas peace in the Mediterranean
The Turkish newspaper "Turkiye" in an article refers to scenarios of cooperation between Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Cyprus in the gas sector. The Turkish publication states that "President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements about the action on his return to the NATO summit have aroused curiosity. Erdogan said the new vision with the countries of the region will open new gates for Turkey and said that "I will not announce it at this time. Let us hope that, with these contacts (with neighbouring countries), new opportunities for energy cooperation will emerge.''
On the whole issue, Ouzhan Akyener, head of the Turkish Centre for Strategic and Political Energy Research (TESPAM), tells "Turkiye" that "all alternative sources pass through Turkey. Ankara can say, "you will accept my policies." Turkey's positions have become stronger. Turkey can now use the energy equation in its favour in relation to its own foreign policy and pull the West more towards itself."
The Turkish expert adds the following: "The process of rapprochement with Israel can open other doors. In light of the discoveries in the Mediterranean, about 5 billion cubic meters of gas may come from Israel at the moment, 20 billion cubic meters may come from the discoveries in the southern part of Cyprus. The maximum annual production of natural gas has the potential to reach 25 billion cubic meters in an. Mediterranean sea. In addition, new discoveries may be made off Lebanon or Israel. New doors are opening here."
Thus, he said, "Turkey can evolve into the key to new discoveries. On the other hand, due to the lack of gas, the EU may intervene in Greece and 'southern Cyprus'. There are a lot of 'win-win' possibilities in this equation."
