ENI says it will follow through

Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides got a reassuring statement in Rome this week from ENI’s Executive Vice President Lapo Pistelli, who said the energy company will honour its commitments with Cyprus.

Christodoulides, who traveled to Rome for other official duties, also met Pistelli who reiterated his conmpany’s commitment to honour all contracts regarding exploratory surveys at six locations within the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

ENI, an Italian energy company which is active elsewhere in the Mediterranean, failed last month to carry out an exploratory drilling in Block 3 of the Cypriot EEZ, following a NAVTEX issued by Turkey.

A statement issued later by the Foreign Ministry said that during the meeting there was consensus regarding the importance of the Eastern Mediterranean as a vital source for hydrocarbons in the area and Europe.

The role of Cyprus in future partnerships and planning in the field of hydrocarbons was also discussed, according to the statement.

Christodoulides, who was recently appointed to his new post, travelled to Rome to participate in a meeting to support Lebanon’s security forces, as well as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).