Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Praxoulla Antoniadou conveyed a message of peace to Turkey, stressing that the possibility of finding hydrocarbon reserves in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) offers a golden opportunity for all countries in the region to resolve their differences,

Addressing the workshop entitled “Energy Issues Facing Cyprus”, organized by the Cyprus Institute, The Cyprus Industrialists and Employers Federation and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, the Minister said that Turkey should recognize Cyprus’ sovereign rights and contribute to efforts to solve the Cyprus problem thus normalising its relations with the Republic of Cyprus.

She said that in September, Cyprus began exploration drilling in site 12, in its Exclusive Economic Zone with reference to hydrocarbons. “Noble Energy which is conducting the exploration drilling expects to have some first indications of the possible existence of hydrocarbon reserves within 73 days of the commencement of drilling, i.e., roughly by beginning-middle of December”, she said.

“Turkey now has a golden opportunity to prove itself to be a true peacemaker in the area of the Eastern Mediterranean, by respecting the sovereignty rights of all EU member states, through both words and actions and by truly contributing to the success of the peace process with reference to Cyprus through the encouragement of the Turkish Cypriot leadership to work for an agreed solution of the Cyprus problem that will be reunifying Cyprus on the basis of the commonly agreed basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as this is defined in relevant UN resolutions”, Antoniadou stressed.