LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
The Cyprus peace talks will resume between the Greek Cypriot administration and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in a few weeks, the UN secretary-general's special adviser on Cyprus has announced.
Espen Barth Eide's remarks on Tuesday came after a meeting with the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Dervis Eroglu in Lefkosa.
Eide said Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiadis was ready to go back to the negotiating table and said talks would resume within a few weeks.
"There have been 24 envoys before me, but I think I will be the last one," said Eide.
Eide added he will continue to have talks with the elected president on the Turkish side after upcoming presidential elections are held in the TRNC on April 19.
In October 2014, Turkey and the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus strongly opposed any "unilateral" move by the Greek-Cypriot administration to explore any hydrocarbon resources around the island, saying its natural resources should be exploited in a fair manner under a united Cyprus.
Exploration mission
The Turkish-Cypriot government repeatedly said on many occasions that the resources of the island of Cyprus belonged to both communities and that the Turkish Cypriots would not give up their rights to the resources.
Negotiations between the TRNC and the Greek-Cypriot administration resumed after a two-year pause in February 2013.
However, the Greek-Cypriot administration suspended the talks over the divided island on Oct. 7, 2014 after Turkey sent a ship to monitor an oil-and-gas exploration mission off the coast of Cyprus.
Turkey later removed its exploration vessel Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa from the seas around the island.
"The removal of Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa vessel from the territorial waters of Cyprus is a step from Turkey, which ensures the quick continuation of the negotiations," said Eide.
Resolution 'wanted'
He also added not only Turkey, but also other related countries wanted a resolution to the dispute.
Eide said after the suspension of talks, many people have worked to overcome all obstacles to the resumption of negotiations.
"Now, situations that can thwart the maintaining of the negotiations have been removed," he added.
Cyprus has remained divided into Greek and Turkish parts since a Greek Cypriot coup to unite the island with Greece was followed by a Turkish peace mission to aid Turkish Cypriots in the north in 1974.
