Ertuğ: “The hydrocarbon issue should be a catalyzer for consensus not a reason for conflict”
12 January, 2015Hochstein: “Eastern Mediterranean can make domino effect in a little change and previous earnings can be wasted”
12 January, 2015Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ergun Olgun said that the Greek Cypriot side is forming alliances in the area with countries like Israel, Egypt and Lebanon and triyiny to form a block against Turkey and the TRNC. Ergun said “we find these alliances very dangerous. Greek Cypriot side’s such actions deepens the ‘grouping’ in the region and do not serve to stability”. Following his contacts in Washington and New York, Olgun evaluated the developments in an interview with the Anadolu News Agency. Olgun stated that he met with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and some UN permanent representatives as part of his visit to USA and forwarded the opinions of the Turkish Cypriot side.
Evaluating the latest developments in the negotiations and hydrocarbon issue, Olgun reminded that “Turkish Cypriot side is at the negotiating table” and added that Greek Cypriot side, on one hand, unilaterally carries on exploratory drilling activities for hydrocarbons and, on the other hand, left the negotiating table.
Emphasizing that evaluation of a natural resources that both sides have rights on can be managed through cooperation, Olgun said “Iftaking steps to consolidate the status-quo and overlooking the legitimate rights and interests of the other side is continued , then it will not be possible to realize unity in Cyprus”.
Olgun added “ The hydrocarbon issue can be an opportunity or a curse. It should be managed properly” and emphasized that the issue can be solved at the negotiating table and leaving the negotiating table will not serve to a solution.