There is a confrontation of opinions between the two countries; Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had already spoken about a possible dispute between the countries in a speech to the UN General Assembly last Thursday. He explained they would do what they had to do, while Cyprus President, Demetris Christofias, condemned Turkey's attitude saying that an intervention of Turkey would cause serious complications in the region. The Cypriots supports they have the full right to exploit their area to find energy, but Turkey argues that offshore natural resources belong to both communities of the island. Therefore, after Turkey warned Cyprus to stop their drilling for gas plans and Cyprus ignoring it, Turkey has sent an energy exploration ship to look for gas and oil in the Mediterranean Sea, in waters off the Turkish-controlled north of Cyprus.
Cyprus's modern history has been dominated by enmity between its Greek and Turkish inhabitants and their respective governments. In my opinion, these events will clearly harm reunification talks betwee
23 September 2011
Source: BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15037774
The main obstacle that has to be surpassed to reach any kind of negotiation or talk would be a change in the policy priorities of Turkey. Erdogan has shown along the years his aim for a greater and more powerful country, but the ways that Erdogan has shown make this objective more than obscure. We can mentioned the long discussed debates about muslim radicalism and violation of human rights, but also the illegal occupation of Cypriot territory is another evidence of Erdogan's misunderstanding of the Turkish nation, its weaknesses and strengths. Turkey is among the impending powers such as India or Brazil, but it is needed a wide change in the conception of such a complicated state.
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