TRNC’s rights cannot and will not be ignored - Erdoğan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reiterated the Turkish side’s determination regarding the Greek Cypriot side’s one sided hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking to reporters on his return from the Turkey-EU summit in Varna, Bulgaria, the Turkish President said that it was out of the question for Turkey to take a step back from its position regarding hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean.

We are saying that the TRNC’s rights cannot and will not be ignored. The EU is not acting impartial on this issue” he added.

Erdoğan also pointed out that the hydrocarbon resources off the coast of Cyprus belonged to both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.

Unfortunately the Greek Cypriot side has different intentions. They keep on saying that they can invite which ever company they want to carry out exploration. We are telling them that this is not right and that the two sides should decide jointly on which international company will carry out the exploration. This is what international law dictates he said.

BRT