Barbaros set for return to Cypriot EEZ
Prospects for peace talks resuming on the divided island of Cyprus appear limited as, according to reports in the Turkish-Cypriot media, the Barbaros seismic research vessel is due to reenter the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone on Monday.
Nicosia has made it clear that if Ankara issues a new maritime order (Navtex) indicating the Barbaros will continue searching for hydrocarbons southwest of Cyprus, President Nicos Anastasiades would not be willing for reunification negotiations to continue.
“If Turkey renews the Navtex knowing that such an action would not allow talks to resume, it would send a negative message to the international community regarding the prospects of a resumption,” Cypriot government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said.
