President Mustafa Akinci met with US State Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Mathew Palmer, on Friday.
According to a press release from the president’s office, Akinci conveyed to the senior US diplomat why the Turkish Cypriot side did not believe the US arms embargo on South Cyprus should be lifted.
He warned that such a move would have a negative impact on peace efforts in Cyprus.
“The two also had the opportunity to discuss the Turkish Cypriot side’s views and positions regarding the issue of hydrocarbons”, the press release read.
“The president once again explained to Mr Palmer how the Greek Cypriot side has always rejected the proposal to establish a joint committee to take up the issue, leaving the Turkish Cypriot side with no option but to take reciprocal steps on drilling”, the statement said.
According to the press release, President Akinci also conveyed to the US State Assistant Secretary the fact that the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy Jane Holl Lute had not yet been able to complete her mission to find common ground between the two sides “due to the fact that he the Greek Cypriot side has been backtracking on previous agreements reached on political equality”, he said.
BRT
