The United States are seeking ways to defuse the tension caused by the violation of Cyprus` exclusive economic zone by Turkey but the possibility of discussing the exploitation of natural gas at talks to solve the Cyprus problem has not been raised, Minister of Energy Yiorgos Lakkotrypis said on Wednesday, noting that the government`s reply is that defusing the tension should come from those who caused it.
Referring to a meeting he had earlier on Wednesday in Nicosia with Acting Special Envoy and Coordinator for Energy Affairs at the US State Department Amos Hochstein, Lakkotrypis said they discussed Cyprus` plans regarding explorations for natural gas and the exploitation of resources, as well as Turkish provocations.
Lakkotrypis said the US support Cyprus` sovereign rights and that contacts would continue over the next few months.
Published by: www.cna.org.cy
