Solution to Cyprus ‘to boost gas sector’: Greek FM

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

Greek and Turkish Cypriots can reach welfare together, Bakoyannis says. DAILY NEWS photo / Emrah GÜREL

A solution to the Cyprus issue would also help resolve disputes over the Mediterranean’s energy resources, according to former Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis.

“We absolutely need a solution in Cyprus,” the former minister said during an energy business session at the Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul yesterday. “This would be a solution needed for cooperation in natural gas.”

The former minister was commenting on natural gas resources off the Greek side of the divided island, which is causing a row between the two parties.

”We need a solution now,” she addressed the audience. “Maybe some of you think that you do not need Europe anymore. But you need Europe and Europe needs Turkey … Greeks and Turks in Cyprus can only reach welfare together.”

Greek Cypriot gas research and extraction in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea is in harmony with international law, Bakoyannis said, adding that various companies were engaged in such activity there.

“Doubtlessly, Greek Cyprus is a part of the European Union. Thus, those reserves also belong to the European Union. We want the required solution in the Cyprus issue to be achieved as soon as possible, so that developments will be positive,” she said.