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The most practicalÌýrouteÌýfor the delivery of Israeli natural gas to Europe is through Turkey, the Ambassador of Turkish Republic of NorthernÌýCyprus saidÌýon Friday.Ìý
Israel plans to export its natural gas byÌýone of two possible routes to reach the European market, according to energy experts.Ìý
While one of the options is to deliver the gas through southern Cyprus toÌýGreece and to Europe, the other viableÌýoption is to use the route throughÌýnorthern Cyprus to Turkey and then to Europe.Ìý
"Delivering the Israeli gas through southern Cyprus is not feasible," saidÌýFazil Can Korkut, Ambassador of theÌýTurkish Republic of NorthernÌýCyprusÌýto Turkey, at anÌýevent to commemorate the foundation of Turkish Republic of Northern CyprusÌýin Ankara.ÌýÌý
"The cheapest and most practical way is to transfer the gas to Europe through Turkey," he added.
Both Israel and Egypt held trilateral meetings with Greece and the Greek Cypriot administrationÌýinÌýNovember to discuss a strategy for the natural gas resources in eastern Mediterranean.Ìý
While Egypt needs natural gas imports to satisfyÌýits rising demand forÌýenergy, Israel is said to have vast untappedÌýgas resources at the Leviathan field, located off the coast of Israel and southeast of Cyprus.ÌýÌý
The LeviathanÌýfield is estimated to have 510Ìýbillion cubic meters ofÌýnatural gas reserves,Ìýwhile Cyprus' Aphrodite gas field has 200 billion cubic meters,Ìýaccording to the U.S. Energy Information Administration data.Ìý
"This project is only possible with a resolution of differences between the two sides. Unfortunately, tensions have so far outweighed resolve," said Korkut, referring to differences between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot administration.
The Greek Cypriot administrationÌýputÌýpeace talks on hold in early October after TurkeyÌýsentÌýa research shipÌýto exploreÌýoil and gas reservesÌýoff the island's southernÌýcoast.Ìý
Turkey has saidÌýthat the natural resources of Cyprus belong to the whole population ofÌýthe island, andÌýshould be shared equally. ÌýÌý
"The Turkish Republic of Northern CyprusÌýhasÌýequal and sovereignÌýrights toÌýthe island's natural resourcesÌýand will not change its policies," saidÌýKorkut.
But he said that Turkey and the Republic of Northern CyprusÌýare determined to find aÌýsolution forÌýthe island.Ìý
"AÌýtechnical committee should be formed so that the two sides mayÌýdiscover, extract, and share the hydrocarbon reserves of the island," he concluded.Ìý
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was founded in 1983, afterÌýCyprus was divided into northern Turkish and southern Greek territories, when a Greek-Cypriot coupÌýin 1974Ìýto join the island to Greece was answered by a Turkish peace mission.
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ByÌýOvuncÌýKutluÌý
Anadolu Agency
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