Turkey, Greece agree Cyprus' marine resources belong to island

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, during a meeting with his Greek counterpart in Athens, said that both countries agree that Cyprus' natural resources in the Mediterranean belong to its own people.
He said, after meeting his Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras, that both sides would be working together on energy routes in the eastern Mediterranean in the event of reaching a solution on the disputed island.
On the subject, he underlined the importance of avoiding any unilateral steps, adding that in spite of difference of opinion between the neighbours, there were no disputes.
Talks on the matter, along with Turkey's interests in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, will commence in the soonest time possible, he said, adding that the current talks were highly positive.
The meeting, which also included Cabinet members of both sides, aid the loosening of their tense relationship over the past dozens of years, he said.
Davutoglu thanked Greece for its support of Turkey's European Union membership, referring to huge gains for the continental bloc, which includes Greece, as well as Turkey itself.
The Turkish premier had arrived at Athens a day earlier, accompanied by 10 ministers and a large group of businessmen, proceeding to hold talks with President Karolos Papoulias, before attending a joint business forum.
Source: KUNA