Cypriot Foreign Minister: Reunification would help region

Cyprus under total Cypriot rule would improve security, stability and cooperation in the southeast Mediterranean, Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, the country's foreign minister, said at a Dec. 21 Newsmaker press conference.

Cyprus has been divided since l974 when Turkey invaded the northern part of the island nation. Turkish troops remain there.

Kozakou-Marcoullis, a former ambassador to the U.S., said Turkey has threatened to mobilize its Navy if Cyprus attempts to extract natural gas from an undersea zone known as Aphrodite. Drilling began in September without incident.