Akıncı highlights need for hydrocarbon cooperation between the two sides of the island

President of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, Mustafa Akıncı has said that tensions were running high in the area due to the Greek Cypriot side’s reluctance to share hydrocarbons with the Turkish Cypriot side.

Speaking at a conference on Thursday, Akinci highlighted the importance of making use of the Eastern Mediterranean’s energy potential to serve peace and prosperity in the region.

He stated that he had shared with the Greek Cypriot leader his views on the matter on numerous occasions, Akıncı said that there was a need to either set up a joint committee on this issue or for the Greek Cypriot side to suspend its activities until a settlement was reached.

The natural gas could be combined with Israel’s gas and marketed to Europe via Turkey if a solution in Cyprus is reached. Connecting the TRNC with Turkey and Israel with South Cyprus via an electricity cable is on the agenda. Interconnectivity could be achieved between these countries but the Greek Cypriot side has plans to exploit the natural gas on its own and to send it to Italy via Crete he said.

Speaking on the UN’s efforts for a settlement, Akıncı said that the UN Secretary General will be sending an official to the island to see if there are any prospects for moving forward.

He said that the Turkish Cypriot side agreed to this on the condition that any new talks would be results orientated, would not be open-ended and would be within the framework of a strategic package.