The White House says President Barack Obama spoke Thursday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH’-jehp TY’-ihp UR’-doh-wahn) about deepening cooperation in the fight against the Islamic State group.
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The 107-kilometer (67-mile) pipeline from Anamur, Mersin province, was officially opened Saturday.
The ceremony of launching the pipeline, through which it became possible for Turkey to supply Northern Cyprus with drinking water, took place Oct.17, the Turkish TRT Haber TV channel said.
The two communities are now in talks to reunite the island, which was divided in 1974 when an attempted Greek coup was foiled by Turkish military intervention, along federal lines. But Greek Cypriot officials have said the pipeline violates global law, serves to “integrate” the north and to “augment Turkey’s influence and control over Cyprus”.
Cyprus is prone to droughts and Greek Cypriots rely on four desalination plants and a dam network for fresh water.
The four-decade division of Cyprus between the Greek-speaking south, which is an European Union member, and the breakaway Turkish-backed north has slowed Turkey’s European Union accession efforts.
A former British colony, Cyprus has a complex governance system where Britain, Greece and Turkey are “guarantors” of the island in the event of a disruption to constitutional order.
The current round of UN-brokered peace talks is widely seen as the best opportunity for a lasting peace deal but Cyprus’ foreign ministry said the pipeline comes at a “particularly critical phase in the process”.
He also said the water will bring “peace” to the island. Cyprus has one proven deposit off its southern coast that’s estimated to contain more than 4 trillion cubic feet of gas.
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“We on the Turkish side are honest about finding a solution to the Cyprus problem that has been on the agenda of the global community and the United Nations for over half a century”, Erdogan said during a visit to the north of the island.
