By Magda Panaotsopoulou
ATHENS
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades agreed Friday that conditions for renewed discussions with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were "better."
"After the Barbaros withdrawal, the conditions are better for the restart of the discussions," said Tsipras in the Greek capital Athens.
The Turkish Cypriot government has repeatedly said that the resources of the island of Cyprus belonged to both communities, and that the Turkish Cypriots would not give up their rights to the resources.
Negotiations between the Northern Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot administration resumed after a two-year pause in February 2013. However, the Greek Cypriot administration suspended the talks over the divided island on Oct. 7, 2014 after Turkey sent a ship to monitor an oil-and-gas exploration mission off the coast of Cyprus.
Turkey has since removed its exploration vessel Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa.
Concerning regional cooperation, Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiadis noted “that development and cooperation efforts are not directed against any other country adding that what we want is peace with the countries of the Arab Gulf and Turkey if it wants it too."
"We have stretched out the hand to Turkey for peace and cooperation conditions so as to focus on growth for the benefit of people," Anastasiades said. "If events such as the ones in last September are repeated, there can be no dialogue in conditions of threats and blackmail."
"We agreed on a trilateral meeting with Egypt that contributes towards the safeguarding of the peace and stability in the wider area of the Eastern Mediterranean,” stated Prime Minister Tsipras adding that the trilateral meeting was an invitation to other forces of the region as well.
Tsipras, regarding the financial crisis hitting his country and many European countries, said that "it is a European crisis and we are seeking a solution within the European Union."
Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades said that Europe must cease austerity policies to help countries facing bigger problems return to economic growth.
