Prime Minister Erhürman and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Özersay to hold meetings in Ankara
7 March, 2018TRNC Minister of Economy and Energy Özdil Nami: “The management of the island’s natural resources cannot be monopolized by the Greek Cypriot Administration”
7 March, 2018Deputy Secretary-General and Turkish Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın has stated that there is an established process and order regarding the exploration of hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean, and emphasised that the Greek Cypriot side had frequently violated the principle of joint hydrocarbon activities by the TRNC and South Cyprus.
The Turkish Presidential Spokesperson was speaking at a press conference held in Presidential Complex in Ankara today.
“There are some conflicts regarding our own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Eastern Mediterranean. Our stance will not change in this regard. However, I would like to put forward a proposal: let’s work to make the Eastern Mediterranean an area of common benefit, not an area of conflict. The Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides should work jointly under a shared benefit framework and we, as Turkey, will fully support it. We welcome the involvement of Greece or other countries in this joint work. However, if any illegal hydrocarbon exploration activities are undertaken unilaterally that violate sovereign rights, this will inevitably have consequences. Turkey will not hesitate to take proportionate and necessary steps to protect its interests under international law,” said Kalın.