Ertuğ: “No one wants war in the Eastern Mediterranean”
9 May, 2017Ordinary Trials continue to be elected for international festivals
10 May, 2017Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu has said that the TRNC and Turkish Republic is a guarantee of peace and prosperity in the island. Ertuğruloğlu made the statement in reaction to President Mustafa Akıncı’s “war tam tams and mehter anthem” statement.
Minister Ertuğruloğlu stressed that the Turkish Republic always protects the interests and rights of the Turkish Cypriots, and that Turkish seismic exploration vessel Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha has begun seismic data accumulation works in the Eastern Mediterranean with the TRNC’s permission and President Akıncı’s reaction to Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha vessel cannot be accepted.
Ertuğruloğlu was reacting to President Akıncı’s statement, “We want to hear peace and friendship songs in the Eastern Mediterranean instead of war tam tams and mehter anthem”.
The Minister made a reminder that that although the Greek Cypriot side has no sovereignty in the region, it issued a violation warning to the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha vessel. He said “The Greek Cypriot Administration has always refused the proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side to cooperate on natural gas studies and to postpone excavations after a possible solution. On the other hand, the Greek Cypriot side is continuing its unilateral steps regarding our natural resources”.
“Greek Cypriot Administration does not respect to the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and continues to sign agreements with international petrol companies and make tenders as they own all natural resources in the island” Ertuğruloğlu added.
“Within this context, we will continue to protect our rights and interests with cooperation of Turkish Republic. I receive with astonishment President Akıncı’s assessing Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha vessel’s response as war tam tams. Turkish Cypriot people wish peace in this island but Greek Cypriot Administration does not consider the Turkish Cypriots as their equals and show the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey as obstacles in front of peace and as the supporters of war ” Ertuğruloğlu stressed.