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Gazprom, Rosneft not interested in Cyprus proposals on its fields

This territory is disputed with Turkey
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, March 22 (Itar-Tass) – Gazprom and Rosneft have not become interested in Cyprus's proposals on its fields, a source at the Russian Energy Ministry told reporters.

There is no result so far, he said after the talks, mentioning the problem of the territory disputed by Turkey.

When asked whether there were concrete figures and how well prepared the proposals were, the source said they (Cypriots) proposed to participate in a tender. There is no seismological conclusion on the field. It is not clear what a field it is. It must be studied deeply, he said.

"Gazprom and Rosneft have not become interested in the proposals," he concluded.

On Thursday, Gazprombank said it negotiated to buy a business in Cyprus. According to the bank's first vice-president Yekaterina Trofimova, spread of information about participation of the bank in some or other projects is initiated by the Cypriot authorities to show that the republic's government had alternatives (to the EU proposed conditions).

On Monday, there was information that Gazprombank had interest in gas assets of Cyprus on the offshore field and readiness to provide financial support for the republic in exchange for the assets. On Wednesday, Cypriot media reported that Cyprus Popular Bank might be sold to Russian investors, including Gazprombank. "The risks are very high, and the quality of Cypriot banks' balances is doubtful. So, a deep analysis of the assets is needed," Trofimova added.