NICOSIA, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations said it understands Cypriot concerns over Turkey warning a ship engaging in exploratory gas drilling in the eastern Mediterranean island's exclusive economic zone, an UN official said here Thursday.
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Elizabeth Spehar, met with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades mainly to discuss the prospects of resuming stalled peace negotiations.
"I was here principally to listen to him. He expressed his concerns with respect to what is happening with the hydrocarbons issue. These are concerns that we understand and which we are conveying to New York," Spehar said.
Last week, Turkish warships blocked the way for drillship "Saipem 12000" as it was proceeding to a drilling target between the south-eastern shores of Cyprus and Lebanon.
The ship, operating on behalf of Italian ENI Energy Company, has since been stationary 25 nautical miles off Cyprus.
Intensive diplomatic efforts have been going on since to resolve the standoff. The European Union and several countries have expressed support to Cyprus.
Spehar said that she also discussed with Anastasiades the issue of resuming negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots for the reunification of Cyprus, which was partitioned in 1974, when Turkey occupied part of its territory in reaction to a Greek inspired coup.
"We had some preliminary discussions about that, and I did reassure the president that we remain available for undertaking the good offices of the Secretary-General," she said.
Cypriot government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said that Anastasiades told Spehar that the reunification negotiations, also aimed at bringing back into the government Turkish Cypriots, could not resume as long as Turkey continues its actions of the last few days in violation of Cypriot sovereignty inside its exclusive economic zone.
Spehar said she will meet with the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Mustafa Akinci, but did not specify when.
