Cyprus committed to peace, but not at gunpoint

·

Cyprus is committed to reunification talks with estranged Turkish Cypriots but not at gunpoint, its president said on Thursday on a dispute which has deepened Greece-Turkey tensions and stymied European Union policy-making on Belarus.

A simmering decades-old conflict which split the east Mediterranean island’s Greek and Turkish Cypriots has come full circle with the issue featuring prominently in disputes between NATO allies Greece and Turkey, and now holding up EU plans to impose sanctions on Belarus.

EU member Cyprus – backed by Greece – is at odds with Turkey over maritime energy resources. It is blocking EU sanctions on Minsk until the bloc takes a tougher stance towards Ankara.

Turkish seismic research vessel Oruc Reis sails in the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Yoruk Isik/File Photo

“For the (Cyprus peace) talks to resume with realistic prospects for success, it is imperative to create an environment which will be conducive for constructive and good faith negotiations… not under conditions of intimidation or threats,” Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said in an address to the U.N. General Assembly.

Turkey has dispatched survey vessels close to Cyprus in areas the Greek Cypriot government has licenced to multinationals to explore for oil and gas.

Cyprus was split after a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief coup engineered by the military then ruling Greece. The EU admitted the island into the bloc in 2004, represented internationally by its Greek Cypriot government which effectively controls only its south. Its north is a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and European Council President Charles Michel bump elbows after the news conference at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus September 16, 2020 [Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters]

The latest attempt at reunification between the two Cypriot sides collapsed in disarray in mid-2017. Each Cypriot side blames the other for the collapse.

Anastasiades, who heads Cyprus’s internationally-recognised government, repeated that his administration was willing to place any revenues from gas exploration into an escrow account for the Turkish Cypriot community.

Sourced By: Reuters

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Over $45,000 raised to make Pontian House accessible for all

A total of $45,476 has been raised by Pontoxeniteas NSW at its Winter Wonderland Gala 2025 to install a platform lift at the Pontian House.

Star Pharmacy Group CEO Peter Piliouras takes on Chemist Warehouse in expansion plan

Peter Piliouras, CEO of Star Pharmacy Group, is aiming to double the group’s chain, taking on industry giant Chemist Warehouse.

Landlord Margarita Constanti Salamakis taken to court as bakery owner fights eviction

Margarita Constanti Salamakis is facing legal action in NSW Supreme Court after issuing an eviction notice to Marrickville bakery Miss Sina.

Mario Alexandridis at centre of Strike Force Candice raids across Sydney

Low-profile entrepreneur Marios Alexandridis has been charged in a major money laundering and unexplained wealth investigation.

SA seafood heir Sarantis Parissos jailed over police hit-and-run

Former professional footballer and seafood heir Sarantis Parissos has been sentenced to over six years in jail after a series of offences.

You May Also Like

SA twins Danny and Michael Philippou land major film deal for ‘Talk to Me’

Danny and Michael Philippou, known as RackaRacka, sold the rights to their film 'Talk To Me' to A24, a film company in North America.

Helena and Vikki Moursellas share their recipe for galaktoboureko with orange syrup

Helena and Vikki Moursellas gives us their recipe for their decadent and delicious Greek custard pie galaktoboureko.

Erdogan calls for international recognition of Turkish Cypriot entity

Erdogan called the international community to acknowledge the Turkish-administered northern region of Cyprus as an independent state.