US Ambassador: We do not approve of military response to solve energy disputes

In her comments during a discussion on the state of play of energy delibarations in the Eastern Mediterranean US Ambassador Kathleen Doherty said that the US does not approve of a military response to an energy dispute.

The US diplomat said that her country is in the process of designing a new strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean region and that the US is a firm supporter of Cyprus's right to expore and exploit its natural resources. Those resources should be shared equitably between the two communities on the island in the framework of a settlement of the Cyprus problem, Doherty said.

Doherty reminded delegates of the conference that based on her experience in dealing with energy affairs, developing hydrocarbon resources will take more than a decade for the project to materialize.

US - Turkey relations have been tricky as of late said the Ambassador while stressing that Turkey has a role to play in the Eastern Mediterranean and indeed Europe in terms of political and energy planning.