Foreign Minister Özdil Nami stated that the Turkish Cypriot side will act constructively for the resumption of the negotiations and added that everything depends on the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side.
Speaking to the daily Kıbrıs Newspaper, Nami expressed that if the Greek Cypriot side sets preconditions for the resumption of the negotiations as they have previously done, the negotiations shall remain suspended.
Nami, explained that due to the expiration of the issued NAVTEX on 6 April together with Saipem 1000 being overhauled for a period of three months, the Turkish Cypriot side will not issue a new NAVTEX in that period and the vessel Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa will not be sent to the region.
Minister Nami, stated that he would be pleased with the return of the Greek Cypriot Leader Nicos Anastasiades to the table within this period, however, reminded that in the one week break given in January, instead of returning to the negotiation table, the Greek Cypriot leader put forward certain preconditions. Nami, also warned that “if the negotiations commence within this three month period and in the meantime the Greek Cypriots once again embark on natural gas explorations, we will have no other choice but to respond accordingly”.
When commenting on Greek Cypriot Negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis’ remarks that due to the break in natural gas exercises in mid-April, an opportunity will arise for the recommencement of the negotiations, Nami stated that “In the one week break given at the beginning of January the Greek Cypriot side did not return to the table. Despite statements made on this regard the attitude of the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiadis is still uncertain”.