“We will not allow the rights of Turkish Cypriots to be violated in the Mediterranean - Erdogan warns Cyprus

“We will not allow the rights of Turkish Cypriots to benefit from hydrocarbons in the East Mediterranean to be violated,” said Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

According to report by Sky Greece, Erdoğan made the comments in reference to the search for hydrocarbons in the island’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

According to Erdoğan, Turkey is determined to protect the rights of those in the eastern Mediterranean.

As the Greek Cypriot side ignores the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and continues its aggressive policy, so we will continue to take the necessary measures, Erdogan said during G20 meetings in Buenos Aires.

At the beginning of the week Erdogan has threatened Athens and Nicosia that ultimately staking claims to the Mediterranean would involve risks for themselves.

Turkey has long objected to Cyprus drilling for gas and its claims on the island’s EEZ partly overlap with Cyprus’ blocks 1, 4, 6 and 7. Ankara also supports the north’s claims on blocks 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 12 and 13, including within few kilometres from the Aphrodite gas field in block 12.

Cyprus Mail