Erdoğan blasts EU, tells EU not to threaten Turkey over Cyprus

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told the EU not to threaten Turkey over it's actions in Cyprus, blasting the Union for wasting it's time discussing EU membership.

Erdoğan made the comments on Monday during a news conference he held ahead of his official visit to the US.

Reacting to the decisions taken at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on Turkey’s exploration and drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, Erdoğan said Turkey have rights in Cyprus as a guarantor power. 

The EU forgets that we are a guarantor in Cyprus. Greece and Britain are also guarantors. We have rights here as a guarantor power. We also have rights in the area called the exclusive economic zone. These rights are stemming from the international law, Erdoğan said.

Countries which have no rights according to the international law are coming and carrying out works there however they say Turkey cannot enter this area. They also say that they will impose sanctions. The EU had already wasted Turkey’s time by keeping on saying that we will accept you as a member. You did not fulfil your promises to Turkey. It’s not binding for us to be at the negotiating table. The negotiations could end instantly, he added.

Calling on the European Union, Erdoğan said “do not attempt to threaten us on the developments in Cyprus. 

We don’t care at all and we will continue on our way.