President Demetris Christofias has briefed Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on his contacts in New York in the framework of the UN General Assembly. In a 35-minute telephone conversation with Papandreou, Christofias briefed the Greek PM on his meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, his lunch with the Representatives of the Permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as the separate meetings he has had with heads of state and government, whom he briefed on the Cyprus problem and on Cyprus` exploratory drilling in the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Christofias and Papandreou also discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, as well as the Turkish threats over the exploratory drilling in the Cypriot EEZ.

Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus’ northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. Following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil exploration in its exclusive economic zone, Ankara has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf.

Drilling has already begun and is being carried out by Houston-based “Noble Energy”, off Cyprus’ south-eastern coast.