Geopolitics Magazine November - December 2014 | Page 70

Geopolitics & Daily News Magazine

by Nikos Topouzis

The Peace (s)Quad…

Planet’s most troubled area is definitely the Middle East.
Many interstate wars, civil conflicts, guerilla fronts and international coalition interventions have cause
numerous deaths and outspoken poverty in one of world’s richest territories. The first and most
important mistake that many “analysts” and politicians commit when trying to reach conclusions on the
Middle East, is that they observe the area as a distant region of Earth with no influences from/to
surrounding regions.
Τake a look at regions like the Central Asia, Caucasus mountain area, Pakistan / Afghanistan borders
and the region of Eastern Mediterranean. Any form of instability, or power vacuum in any of these
areas causes turmoil in the Middle East and the other way around. On the other hand if these regions
retain a certain degree of stability, then peace and prosperity is a prospect for the MidEast. These
areas work like communicating vessels.
My region of interest lies south of Greece, north of
Egypt, west of Israel and surrounds Cyprus. The
Eastern Mediterranean Plateau with its recently
discovered gigantic oil and (mostly) natural gas
reserves is the new energy’s Eldorado. A vast sea area
with prospects of great wealth for all countries and
companies that will be beneficiary to its exploitation. In
order for exploitation to commence, delimitation of each
country’s EEZ needs to take place first.
Delimitation can take place by several methods. The
safest and more “just” is by addressing the issue to the
International Court of Law. A time consuming method
though. I surely doubt if the countries of the East Med
have the time of the will to use the Court as a solution. The most sincere method though is through
diplomacy. Diplomacy and strategic planning aiming to the welfare of the people living in the shores of
East Med. The resources are vast and enough for all countries!
Greece, Egypt, Israel and Cyprus need to work together and they need to work fast. They have to
declare delimitation zone for their EEZ and begin the much expected drilling operations on the area.
Greece’s strong navy and Airforce, Egyptian enormous army and geopolitical strength, Israel’s strong
armed forces and closer to US policy makers and Cypriot geostrategic position and strategic
partnership with Russia, ensure that no country will dare to question the deal stuck by these for
partners for Peace in the region.
Let me point out some aspects. The delimitation of EEZ’s in the region should definitely include a fair
EEZ for the Palestinian authority. The deal should be open for more countries to participate: Lebanon
at first, Libya if stabilized under the efforts of general Haftar, and Syria. A much troubled Syria that
needs to be pacified and gain stability after the murderous “Arab spring” invaded the land….

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