UN Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide has warned that the impasse between Turkey and South Cyprus over offshore drilling is “really quite dangerous”, ‘Famagusta Gazette’ reports.
Eide met with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Evangelos Venizelos in Athens yesterday.
“Because it is in everybody’s interest that the negotiations to find a settlement continue. What’s happening right now is actually quite dangerous, and I encourage everyone to do their best to avoid any kind of further escalation”, he said.
Eide arrives in Cyprus later today where he will have separate meetings with President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot President Dervis Eroglu.
On Wednesday, President Eroglu said that the removal of the Turkish research vessels from [South] Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone is “out of the question” and that the research vessels are carrying out activities on behalf of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Eroglu added that the Greek Cypriot side “should have acted wisely”.
The United States have expressed concern about the latest events in the Eastern Mediterranean and hope that diplomacy would be used to resolve the issue.
