Prospects for the reunification of Cyprus, which improved last month with the resumption of negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders after a 54-day break, have dimmed again (OGJ Online, Apr. 12, 2017).
The standoff precludes settlement of a territorial dispute that thwarts consideration of a pipeline between deepwater gas discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey.
Offshore oil and gas work figures in the latest setback to efforts to end 43 years of partition of the island nation.
Since last month’s agreement to schedule new talks by Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, new conflict has flared over Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Turkey issued maritime notices about its plans for military drills and seismic surveys in the EEZ. And Turkish frigates have menaced seismic vessels working in disputed Block 6.
Anastasiades complained about the Turkish activity in a May 8 letter to United Nations Sec. Gen. Antonio Guterres in which he said Espen Barth Eide, the UN special envoy to Cyprus, shows bias in favor of Turkey. He said Eide should not make statements or issue warnings.
On May 11, Eide appealed to leaders of both sides to relax tension, saying, “We may be looking forward to rather dramatic times.”
