A United Nations official said the spat between Cyprus and Turkey over natural gas that saw the Greek Cypriot side pull out of reunification talks was a serious issue, as he urged the sides to avoid further escalation.
Greek Cypriot Leader Nicos Anastasiades with UN Special Advisor Espen Barth Eide.
“And I think it’s very important now that everybody acts responsibly and avoid further escalation and that we as soon as possible create an understanding that the oil and gas resources, as President (Nicos) Anastasiades has repeatedly stated, is for all Cypriots,” UN special adviser Espen Barth Eide told reporters after meeting Anastasiades on Wednesday morning.
“It’s a serious issue that we also see in all the parts of the world when you have maritime disputes, it illustrates one of the points that I have raised earlier in my presence here which is that oil and gas can be either a blessing or curse. If it is well managed it will be a source of wealth for all Cypriots, if it becomes a source of tension it will be a problem for everyone and then it will more of a curse than a solution.”
Anastasiades pulled out of talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on Tuesday in response to Turkey’s announcement that it was reserving areas for seismic surveys south of the island and within Cyprus’offshore blocks.
Anastasiades has asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to convince Turkey to stop violating Cyprus’ sovereignty, warning that such actions “would deal a heavy blow to the negotiations for the settlement of the Cyprus problem.”
“They have the potential to destroy the efforts of creating a good and positive environment and actually derail the whole negotiating process,” the president said in a letter to Ban.
Eide is scheduled to meet with Eroglu later on Wednesday.
“I continue to talk to both sides about how to develop the ideas for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem,” he said. “I recognize that this is a very tense moment because the situation has become more complex given the developments at sea. But I also underline what I told you and both sides when I was here first that there are strategic reasons why status quo is utterly unacceptable.”
Küfi Seydali
Comment by KS
They are all paying lip service to the fact that “Oil and Gas rezerves around Cyprus belong to all the Cypriots”, However, that is not what the Greeks are doing! The reason behind this treacherous behaviour is the fact that Greeks understand the term “Cypriots” as the Greeks living in the South under their juristiction. As long as this attitude does not change, any discussions are a complete waste of time. As Turkish Cypriots we appreciate the firm stand demonstrated by the Turkish Government on this issue.