Greek Cypriots accuse Turkey of "provocation" as talks continue
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Talks to reunify the island of Cyprus must proceed despite "provocative actions" by Turkey, Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias said on Thursday. (UPDATED)
"The talks to solve the Cypriot issue must continue despite the difficult conditions and the provocations of Turkey," AFP quoted Christofias, who is on an official visit to Greece, as saying after his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.
Cyprus has been divided since 1964 when Turkish Cypriots were forced to withdraw into enclaves.
Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in September opened negotiations in a U.N.-brokered bid to reunify the island but the initiative has made little tangible progress.
The launch of negotiations marked the first major push for peace since the failure of a U.N. reunification plan in 2004, which was approved by Turkish Cypriots but overwhelmingly rejected by the Greek Cypriots.
Complicating the issue is recent tension between the Greek Cypriot administration and Turkey over oil exploration rights.
Greek Cypriots have signed gas and oil exploration deals with Egypt and Lebanon, sparking Turkish protests that the deals damage the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.
On November 13, a Turkish warship turned back a Norwegian-flagged exploration vessel sailing off Cyprus southern coast, whereby Nicosia accused Ankara of having resorted to 19th century-style gunboat diplomacy.
Ankara countered that the Greek Cypriot oil search mission had violated its territorial rights and vowed to protest to international bodies.
Christofias on Thursday said his administration was committed to ending the island's division but would not allow Greek Cypriot interests to be compromised.
"We denounce what we deem irresponsible and provocative actions of Turkey in Cyprus and the Aegean Sea," Christofias said on Thursday.
Greece has backed Cyprus in its oil row with Turkey, having itself had a similar spat with Ankara some two weeks ago.
On November 15, a Norwegian survey ship commissioned by the Turkish government called off a search in the southeastern Aegean after Athens complained that the exploration was being conducted in its waters.