The foreign minister sought to clarify a statement made during a lunch on Thursday, which, as he said, was wrongly interpreted.

“I did not say that the revenues in question will be exclusively earmarked for the Turkish Cypriot community to satisfy Turkey’s demands,” Kasoulides said in a written statement.

“I said that the Republic is examining the creation of the said account … where part of the revenues from hydrocarbons could be deposited and through investment, they could benefit the future generation of Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” he said.

Turkey, which supports a Turkish Cypriot breakaway state in north Cyprus, disputes Nicosia’s rights to search for gas.

Greek Cypriots say Turkish Cypriots can share potential benefits, but only when there is a peace deal.

Anakara has sent a research vessel, the Barbaros, to carry out seismic surveys close to exploration sites that Cyprus has already licensed to Italy’s ENI, France’s Total and U.S. Noble Energy. The move prompted President Nicos Anastasiades to pull out of reunification talks.

Source: Cyprus Mail