The UN appealed today for a peaceful resolution of the matter concerning the exploitation of natural resources in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), adding that potential discovery of such recourses would be for the benefit οf all Cypriots, under the framework of a federal united Cyprus.
The statement was made by Lisa Buttenheim, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus, following the meeting between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, in the framework of direct talks aiming at a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue.
Buttenheim said that the two leaders discussed today the economy chapter, exchanging ideas and views, with the aim of reaching further convergences.
She added that the leaders authorized their experts on the economy to work on remaining outstanding issues and to report back to them upon their return from New York, where both will be next week.
She noted that the next scheduled meeting is on Tuesday, September 27, where the leaders will discuss the chapter on the EU.
Buttenheim was asked to comment on developments concerning the exploration of natural gas and their impact on the talks. She noted that the issue is not directly related to the talks and has not been discussed in the talks.
She added, however, that in case natural resources where discovered, this would benefit all Cypriots, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, under the framework of a federal united Cyprus.
“The United Nations would appeal to all involved to resolve this matter in a peaceful manner and look beyond the issues to the potential benefits that a united Cyprus can bring to Cypriots and to the region”, Buttenheim noted.
On another question concerning leaked documents from “wikileaks”, on comments by Alexander Downer, a top UN official in Cyprus, to former US Ambassador in Nicosia Frank Urbancic, Buttenheim refrained from commenting, because, as she said, “we don’t comment on things like wikileaks”.
“To my mind this is irrelevant to the process of what we’re doing which is to focus on getting a comprehensive settlement on Cyprus” Buttenheim went on. Following a remark by the press, that the leaked documents are related to the talks, Buttenheim said she had not seen them.
