Turkey will not allow other countries drill for oil in North Cyprus waters

Turkey will not allow any country exploit gas reserves in Turkish and TRNC waters of the eastern Mediterranean said Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday. 

The eastern Mediterranean is believed to be rich in natural gas, and attempts to tap resources there have revived tensions between Turkey and Greece, which has a defence protection pact with the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government.

Turkey and Cyprus have overlapping claims of marine jurisdiction and both plan to carry out exploratory drills this year. Ankara only has diplomatic relations with north of the island that is not recognised by other countries.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the delivery of a naval corvette and submarine, Erdogan said countries that thought they could operate in the east Mediterranean or Aegean seas without Ankara’s agreement were mistaken.

We will not accept attempts to extract natural resources in our country, Cyprus or in the eastern Mediterranean, Erdogan said.

Last month Turkey complained that a Greek frigate had harassed a Turkish exploration ship west of Cyprus. Greece denied the charge and Cyprus accused Turkey of stirring up tensions.

North Cyprus, which is supported by Ankara, says any offshore wealth also belongs to its citizens, as partners in the establishment of the Cyprus republic in 1960.