NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) – The leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Israel pledged on Thursday to work together to seize opportunities emerging from newly found offshore gas reserves in order to bolster stability and security in a region wracked by conflict.
The talks in the Cypriot capital are the first tripartite summit between Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Our states share the same values as well as the conviction that in order to effectively counter multiple challenges confronting us on a local, regional and international level, we must work collectively,” Anastasiades said at a news conference.
Discussions centered on energy cooperation regarding newly found offshore gas reserves as well as migration, countering terrorism and boosting tourism. The countries also signed a cooperation agreement on water resource management.
Netanyahu said the leaders agreed to set up a tripartite committee that would look into the possibility of building a pipeline to carry natural gas found in waters off Israel and Cyprus to Europe via Greece.