Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, referring to the arrest warrants issued by South Cyprus for the crew of Turkish drillship ‘Fatih’ and officials of the companies, which cooperate with Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), issued a written statement. [‘Fatih’ was last sighted around 30 nautical miles off the west coast of Cyprus. Ed.]
He said that no one could ignore the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. He added that no one would be able to force Turkey to retreat from claiming its rights.
“If there is someone who commits an illegal action, injustice and lawlessness, it is the Greek Cypriot side, which makes agreements and explorations [in the Eastern Mediterranean] ignoring our proposals and rights”, Tatar said. He said that South Cyprus and those who cooperate with it, were trying to exclude Turkey and the TRNC from the Eastern Mediterranean and usurping Turkish rights.
“Either we will agree within the framework of justice and fairness or we will do whatever they are doing within the framework of the principle of reciprocity”, he warned. Tatar said that the Turkish side was in favour of discussing the natural gas issue outside efforts to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem. Such a step would significantly contribute to the settlement of the issue, he noted.
“We are warning the UN and the third parties: We will not be responsible for the results that will be caused by the fact that the Greek Cypriot side continuously rejects our proposals and takes decisions which increase tension”, the prime minister concluded.
BRT
