Energy and Water Resources Minister Dr. Uzi Landau Meets with Cyprus
Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Praxoula Antoniadou Kyriacou

(Communicated by the Energy and Water Resources Minister's Media Adviser)

Energy and Water Resources
Minister Dr. Uzi Landau today (Tuesday), 24.1.12, at the Mt. Zion Hotel in
Jerusalem, met with Cyprus Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Praxoula
Antoniadou Kyriacou. The two discussed infrastructure issues, including
possible bilateral cooperation in the field of energy.

Today's meeting is in continuation of Minister Landau's visit to Cyprus last
November in the framework of President Shimon Peres's visit. During his
meetings with Minister Kyriacou and other senior officials in Nicosia,
Minister Landau first raised the idea of an underwater electricity cable to
link Israel and Cyprus.

At today's meeting, which was held in an especially warm and friendly
atmosphere, the two ministers discussed the next steps to advance the
project. "This will provide back-up for the electricity economies of both
countries and will be the first link of its kind between Israel and Europe,"
Minister Landau said. He added that, "It is possible that the future link
with Cyprus will provide Israel with maximum security in its energy
economy." Cyprus and Greece are due to sign an MOU for a project to lay a
600-kilometer undersea cable to link Cyprus with [mainland] Europe. When
both projects are operational, Israel will – in effect – be linked to the
European electricity grid.

The two ministers also discussed the latest natural gas discoveries.
Minister Landau noted that the Energy and Water Resources Ministry
Director-General Shaul Tzemach has been appointed to chair an
inter-ministerial committee to present him with recommendations regarding
future Israeli policy vis-à-vis the developing natural gas sector. The
committee is due to finish its work by early March.

Before the meeting, Minister Landau introduced his Cypriot counterpart to a
group of Israeli entrepreneurs and business people in the energy and water
sectors and emphasized the importance that Israel ascribes to projects with
Cyprus, in which both private and government companies are involved.

Minister Kyriacou said that, "Bilateral ties are strong and of longstanding.
One cannot speak of a new start here; rather of new opportunities that have
opened before us and which strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation for the
benefit of all residents of the region."

Minister Landau wished Cyprus well as it prepares to assume the EU
Presidency on July 1st.