Eroglu’s proposals to Bank Ki-moon and his contacts in New York
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (25.09.11), Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu met the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York on Saturday.
Following the meeting, Eroglu told reporters that they discussed the Cyprus talks as well as recent developments regarding oil and natural gas exploration in the Mediterranean which, as he claimed, was directly related with the Cyprus talks.
Noting that they presented a new proposal including four topics to Ban within that scope, Eroglu claimed that the proposal was presented to the UN as a way of solution to the problem regarding Cyprus’ efforts to explore oil and natural gas in the Mediterranean.
Listing the topics, Eroglu said: “1. Let’s suspend the oil and natural gas exploration simultaneously until a comprehensive solution is found to the Cyprus problem.
2. If this is not going to happen, then we shall set up an ad-hoc committee shaped by representatives of both peoples. We shall give some authorities to the committee such as: explorations, agreements and licences depend on written approval of both sides, and we will negotiate the ratio of sharing the richness which will be found.
3. We shall use the income to finance the comprehensive talks.
4. Adoption of the plan shall not harm the positions of both sides.”
Eroglu alleged that Ban was pleased with the proposal.
When asked whether the “TRNC [breakaway regime] could give authorization to explore oil and natural gas only for the north of the island after signing the agreement on the delineation of continental shelf with Turkey”, Eroglu said that the “Turkish Cypriots had rights on all underwater wealth around Cyprus island and so the TRNC had the right to give authorization both north and the south of the island”.
When asked how this process would affect the intensified Cyprus talks, Eroglu said that “TRNC wanted to pursue talks”, adding that the talks would continue on Tuesday. Eroglu then held a bilateral meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
Moreover, A.A. (25.09.11) reported that Eroglu, speaking to reporters on Sunday, denied the postponement of a tripartite Cyprus meeting which will be held in New York in October.
Eroglu told that the tripartite summit, which would be held between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders and the UN in New York at the end of October, would not be postponed due to the oil exploration crisis in the Mediterranean.
Noting that there were large reserves, especially natural gas, around Cyprus, Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side earlier asked the Cyprus Government to delay oil exploration as Cyprus talks were under way, but the Greek Cypriots did not respond, and they began oil exploration.
Regarding the tripartite summit, Eroglu said that it would be a one-day summit, adding that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sincerely supported an agreement.
Meanwhile, illegal Bayrak television (online, 25.09.11) reported that Eroglu, who had been holding a series of contacts on the sideline of the 66th regular session of the UN General Assembly in New York, visited also the Islamic Cultural Centre, which is known for its important work on inter-religious dialogue.
He received information about the activities of the Centre during his meeting with the Centre’s chairperson Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.
During the meeting, the Imam expressed the hope that the Cyprus talks will be completed with a successful outcome and the Turkish Cypriots will live in prosperity.
For his part, Eroglu praised the Imam for his contribution to inter-religious friendship and invited him to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
