LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Turkey has once again called for Cyprus offshore resources to be shared by both communities on the island on Wednesday
In a visit to Northern Cyprus capital Lefkosa, Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met President Dervis Eroglu Wednesday reiterating his support for Turkish Cypriots.
"It is not possible to remain silent to the unilateral activities of the Greek part, that are carried out without taking into consideration of the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots," said Cavusoglu in a joint press conference with Eroglu.
Turkey and the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have 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.
The Turkish Cypriot government has already repeated their firm stance on many occasions that the resources of the island of Cyprus belong to both communities and that the Turkish Cypriots will not give up their rights on those resources.
Negotiations between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot administration had resumed after a two-year pause in February 2013.
However, the Greek Cypriot administration suspended the talks over the divided island on Oct. 7 after Turkey sent a ship to monitor an oil-and-gas exploration mission off the coast of Cyprus.
Turkey and Greece are the guarantor countries for the disputed Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Both Turkish and Greek Cypriots are trying to find a way to settle their decades-long conflict.
"Providing a permanent and fair solution to the Cyprus issue is a primary goal of our foreign policy," said Cavusoglu.
