Cyprus Talks: Turkey has done its part to solve Cyprus problem - Turkish FM

Turkey had done its part to solve the Cyprus problem, Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event, Cavusoglu said not only did Turkey do its part for a settlement in Cyprus but also brought new ideas to the negotiating table.

Following the collapse of talks in Crans-Montana for a federal settlement, it is Turkey which has brought other options to the table and which insists that all the sides should agree on what we shall be discussing before we launch a new process of negotiations. We are also holding unofficial talks to that end. What is the aim of all of this? To achieve a result, Cavusoglu argued, according to Turkish Cypriot media reports.

He stated that Turkey desired a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus problem, adding that this did not mean they were overlooking the Greek Cypriot side’s drilling activities off the coast of the island and in the Eastern Mediterranean.

We are looking out for Turkey’s and the Turkish Cypriot people’s rights. Previously we would only have the Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa vessel conduct seismic surveying in the area. But today we have our own drilling platform. Drilling platform Alanya 1 has commenced drilling in its area. Our second platform is to arrive in the coming days. So we have begun conducting our own drilling activities within our Exclusive Economic Zone as well as areas licensed by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, said Cavusoglu.

Source: Cyprus Mail