It has been stated that the Greek Cypriot administration of South Cyprus has reached a “revenue agreement” with Noble Energy and its partnered consortium of companies regarding the natural gas to be exploited from the “Aphrodite” gas field, and that it stands to gain 9 billion Dollars from the gas over an 18-year period. The said agreement amounts to nothing other than the usurpation of the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people – the equal co-owners of the island and therefore the natural resources around it – and is unacceptable.

There is no place for the equal rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people within this vision!

The escalation of the unilateral, illegal and unjust activities of the Greek Cypriot administration, which turns a blind eye to all the Turkish Cypriot calls for cooperation regarding the hydrocarbon resources around the island, has, once again, demonstrated the vision of the Greek Cypriot administration, the occupier of the 1960 partnership Republic, regarding the future of the island. There is no place for the equal rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people within this vision, which is a concrete testimony to the fact that the Greek Cypriot side is not ready for sharing whatsoever.

Given this situation, these unacceptable steps are threatening the stability and security of the island and region, and are raising tensions to dangerous heights. The culprits of this situation are the international community and relevant companies which display an unjust stance, just as much as the Greek Cypriot side which insists on continuing its unilateral activities.

We will commence drilling activities in the shortest possible time

We would like to share with the public that as long as the Greek Cypriot administration insists on continuing its unilateral activities regarding the hydrocarbon resources around the island and refrains from cooperating with our side as regards our co-owner rights, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, together with the Republic of Turkey, will resolutely take all necessary steps and will commence drilling activities in the shortest possible time in the areas we have licensed to Turkish Petroleum with a view to protecting our peoples’ equal rights and interests.