Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Ozersay has hit out at Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ statement that “the illegal attempt of Turkey to drill in Cyprus’ EEZ is part of its tactics to create a fait accompli”.
Ozersay argued: “If the Greek Prime Minister is looking for a fait accompli, let him look in the right place, let him look at the activities of the Greek Cypriot leadership” and added: “The initiation by the Greek Cypriot side to license areas within Turkey’s continental shelf, even the attempt to declare parcels that coincide with the Turkish continental shelf, is a violation of international law.
“In this respect, ignoring these illegal attempts by the Greek Cypriot side, even Turkey’s drilling activities within its continental shelf boundaries, cannot be a natural thing. Why does not Greece utter a word when the Greek Cypriot side usurp our rights, the rights of the Turkish Cypriots by granting illegal licenses to ENI and TOTAL companies?
“We, as the TRNC, stand by Turkey regarding the drilling activities, which will be held within the limits of its continental shelf, west of Cyprus”.
Vatan
