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Turkey on Saturday said the presence in the region of a ship that will launch research activity on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus was another move breaching both the Turkish Cypriotsโ rights and violating Turkeyโs continental shelf.
The Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement that the main cause of tension in the eastern Mediterranean in recent years has been Greeceโs and the Greek Cypriotsโ โmaximalist maritime jurisdiction area claims and unilateral acts that ignore Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprusโ (TRNC) rights and interests.โ
Referring to the presence of the Nautical Geo vessel in Cyprusโ exclusive economic zone, Ankara said this was another unilateral act that, together with similar moves by Greece and Cyprus, โincrease tension in the East-Med and threaten peace and stability.โ
According to a Navtex issued by the Republic, the Nautical Geo would be executing survey operations within Cyprusโ EEZ in the south coast between September 27 and October 4.
โIn addition to Greeceโs recent attempts to violate our continental shelf in the East-Med recently, the GCA (Greek Cypriot Administration) has also announced that it will launch a research activity on 3 October with an Italian-owned, Maltese-flagged ship in the region, breaching both TRNCโs rights and violating Turkeyโs continental shelf,โ Ankara said.
The ministry referred to the proposal by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the EU โto convene an inclusive conference in the eastern Mediterranean last yearโ and the northโs proposal to the Greek Cypriot side in July 2019 regarding hydrocarbon resources. Though all these proposals are on the table, Greece and the Greek Cypriots have been attempting to engage in unilateral and provocative activities in recent months by increasing the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, it added.
It said all necessary steps are being taken against these unilateral acts of Greece and Cyprus both on the ground and at the table. โAlso, it is being brought to the attention of third countries that they should not be part of these unilateral acts,โ it added.
The ministry said Turkey will resolutely continue to protect its own and the Turkish Cypriotsโ rights in the East-Med.
Cyprus Mail
