Biden talks regional security with Israel, Cyprus leaders

Water resources and tourism were also high on the agenda at the meeting between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Cypriot president Nicos Anastasides, right, welcomes the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside from the presidential palace before their meeting in capital Nicosia in the mediterranean island of Cyprus, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. The countries also signed a co-operation agreement on managing water resources.

“We consider that trilateral energy projects, such as the “EuroAsia Interconnector”, are of strategic importance as they will create a mutually beneficial relationship between the energy markets of Israel and Cyprus with those of continental Europe”.

He said the three countries could better promote “stability, security, prosperity and peace” by working together, rather than separately.

“We’re living through great turbulence”, the Israeli premier said, referring to the multiple conflicts in the Middle East.

They issued a statement afterwards announcing their agreement to “strengthen our mutual cooperation, with the objective of advancing this trilateral partnership in various areas of common interest, and of working together to advance peace, stability, security and growth in this area and beyond”.

“Our partnership is not exclusive in design or nature”, he added, ” and we are ready to welcome other like-minded actors to join our efforts to promote coordination and cooperation, as well as regional peace and stability”.

Discussions centered on energy cooperation regarding newly found offshore gas reserves as well as migration, countering terrorism and boosting tourism.

The leaders also discussed talks held on Thursday by Greece, Israel and Cyprus exploring the possibility of building a natural gas pipeline to Europe, the White House said in a statement.

Netanyahu said an underwater cable would link the power grids of Israel, Cyprus and Greece.

‘It’s not feasible for commercial and political reasons, ‘ said Michael Leigh, a former director-general in the European Commission and now a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, specialising in East Mediterranean gas.

Relations between Jerusalem and Ankara deteriorated after an incident in 2010 when Israeli forces stormed an allegedly humanitarian convoy of six boats, including one under Turkey’s flag, to approach the Gaza Strip.

While some of the offshore gas will be for domestic use, Israel’s difficulty is to find a way to export what it doesn’t need, either via pipelines or LNG facilities, which could require deals with Egypt, Turkey and Cyprus.