'We cannot wait with tied hands in E. Mediterranean'

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Cypriot president said they will not wait with "tied hands" if their calls for cooperation are not responded to positively regarding resources in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking exclusively to Anadolu Agency before his meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades on Tuesday, Mustafa Akinci urged Greek Cypriots to cooperate.

Akinci said Greek Cypriots should adopt a cooperative approach instead of taking unilateral steps regarding resources in the Eastern Mediterranean..

"If all these calls by us will be left unanswered, we will not just wait with tied hands and feet," he said.

Akinci said any Turkish Cypriot leader will not accept the Turks of the island to be a minority.

He added that he does not expect talks before the month of June.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.

It has seen an on-and-off peace process in recent years, including the collapse of a 2017 initiative in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Turkey, Greece and the U.K.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkey have consistently contested the Greek Cypriot administration’s unilateral drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, saying Turkish Cypriots also have rights to resources in the area.