When in 2014 your correspondent asked the now-Turkish Cypriot deputy PM and foreign minister Kudret Özersay whether Turkey had the capability and political will to explore in the disputed areas surrounding Cyprus his answer was cautious, yet optimistic: “You take a risk ... But I think this can be done.”
“Just as they [the Greek Cypriots] authorised a private company, Noble Energy, it was our idea for Turkish Petroleum to do the same,” he said, hoping this would lead to a change in “attitude” by the “international community” as regards to the intractable Cyprus problem. “It will create a problem,” Mr Özersay said. (CONTINUED - 1689 WORDS)
