President Akıncı: “Natural gas offers potential riches, but also potential crises”
22 February, 2018Labour Minister Çeler calls for Labour Market cooperation at the OIC
23 February, 2018Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay spoke to an AA reporter today about the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral natural gas explorations in the Eastern Mediterranean. He stressed that on one hand, the Greek Cypriot side is admitting the TRNC’s ownership of the resources but on the other hand they dismiss the will of the Turkish Cypriots.
The Minister said that Turkey and the TRNC will act cooperatively and would not allow Greek Cypriots to use natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean on a unilateral basis.
He added that the Turkish Cypriots have encounters the unwillingness to share the wealth of the island since 2004. He reiterated the UN’s statement, saying that the Greek Cypriot side should demonstrate that they are ready to share the administration and the natural wealth of the island.
“The natural gas issue is an important test for us. The Turkish Cypriot side has chosen to engage in diplomacy but to reduce, rather than escalate the tension” said the Minister.
Referring to the Cyprus issue, Özersay said, “We want to show an approach that is results-orientated rather than the same negotiations”.