Barbaros Navtex will not be renewed

TURKISH Cypriot “foreign minister” Ozdil Nami stated in an interview with Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris on Sunday that the Navigational Telex (Navtex) for the Turkish seismic research vessel “Barbaros” won’t be renewed.

Nami also called on President Nicos Anastasiades to resume the peace talks by coming back to the negotiation table, “without setting any conditions”.

Last October, Anastasiades suspended his participation in the talks following the issuing of the NAVTEX by Turkey, as the Turkish seismic research vessel violated the Republic’s exclusive economic zone. Repeated calls for the withdrawal of the Barbaros went unheeded by Ankara, which announced in January the NAVTEX`s extension until April 6, 2015.

The resumption of the peace talks is the top topic on UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide’s agenda, who arrived in Cyprus on Monday. During his visit, which ends on March 18, he will have meetings aiming at the resumption of UN-backed talks.

According to a press statement issued by the Secretary General`s Good Offices Mission in Cyprus, Eide`s schedule will include meetings with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, and their respective negotiating teams.

Eide is looking forward to this visit “as a chance to continue his dialogue with the leaders on the resumption of structured negotiations”, the statement said.

“As part of his outreach to other actors who have a crucial role to play in efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement, Mr Eide will also host an event for women civil society representatives and media from both communities,” the press statement added.

Eide was expected to meet with the Turkish Cypriot negotiating team on Monday and the Greek Cypriot team on Tuesday. Eide is also expected to be received by Anastasiades this morning and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglou later in the day.

“Good to be back in Cyprus,” tweeted Eide on Monday evening, posting a picture of a meeting with his staff in preparation for his meetings with the two leaders on Tuesday.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.