Pressure to solve the decades old Cyprus problem is mounting in the face of hydrocarbon projects in the Mediterranean, meanwhile expectations of a productive outcome remain low.
Two leaders of the three Cyprus guarantor powers, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Turkish President Erdogan met on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. Although the meeting was said to be cordial – President Erdogan invited PM Tsipras to visit Istanbul; Erdogan reiterated the Turkish view that South Cyprus was acting unilaterally in its search for gas deposits offshore the island. PM Tsipras countered that the Cyprus issue had to be resolved first before any other matters could be addressed.
All foreign ministers representing the three guarantor powers have discussed the Cyprus problem in New York, Britain, the third guarantor for Cyprus is said to be too involved with Brexit to have any strong influence on the Cyprus issue.
Ekathimerini
