Alliance News: Cyprus Peace Talks On Pause Amid Tiff On Oil, Gas Exploration

Cyprus is temporarily pulling out of peace talks with the Turkish Cypriot north, President Nicos Anastasiades said Tuesday, following Turkey's announcement that it plans to carry out the exploration of oil and gas off the island's southern coast.

"The party leaders unanimously condemn and denounce Turkey's aggressive activities in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Cyprus," government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said, adding that it was not certain when peace talks would resume and that any resumption would depend on developments.

The announcement comes less than a month after both Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu agreed to speed up the pace of peace talks. The two were scheduled to meet on Thursday.
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