‘GCs believe Cyprus and its seas belong to them’
THE fundamental problem with the Greek Cypriot side is its belief that Cyprus and its seas belongs to them, President Mustafa Akıncı said yesterday after meeting a top US diplomat.
“Far from sharing [the island’s natural resources] with Turkish Cypriots, they don’t even want to talk about the issue,” Mr Akıncı commented after receiving US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell at the Presidency, adding: “A mentality transplant for the Greek Cypriots is a must.”
Earlier Economy and Energy Minister Özdil Nami had said the TRNC was “ready to talk” with the Greek Cypriot side on how best to exploit the island’s potential offshore natural resources.
Speaking on Thursday, Mr Nami said talks on hydrocarbons could take place under the auspices of the UN.
He made the offer to his counterpart Georgios Lakkotrypis, as a second ExxonMobil-chartered research vessel arrived in Limassol this week to begin exploration in “Block 10” of the Greek Cypriots’ self-declared exclusive economic zone (EEZ), to the southwest of Cyprus.
It comes a month after Turkish warships blocked a drillship hired by the Italian energy firm Eni from entering waters east of the island in “Block 3” of the EEZ, an area also claimed by the TRNC.
“If [Mr Lakkotrypis] wants to discuss the issue with us there are ways to do it, we can sit down and talk like civilised people,” Mr Nami said.
“But if their whole scenario is based on using hydrocarbons for political purposes and making accusations, then this [creates] tension.”
He said both sides could agree on a way to share any natural gas and oil found, without waiting for a solution to the “Cyprus problem”.
Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades has said that a “sovereign fund” could be set up to distribute a share of any revenue to the Turkish Cypriots — but would only be handed out after a solution to the island’s division.
After meeting Mr Anastasiades yesterday, Mr Mitchell said his country “supports the Republic of Cyprus in its right to develop natural resources, including the exclusive economic zone”, and reiterated the US’s desire for the resumption of UN-led talks.
A spokesperson for the Greek Cypriot administration said it was “satisfied” with Mr Mitchell’s stance.
On Wednesday US ambassador to South Nicosia Kathleen Doherty said the island’s natural wealth should be “equitably shared between both communities in the context of an overall settlement”.