Erdogan marks 36th foundation anniversary of TRNC

By Merve Yildizalp

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's president on Thursday issued a message, marking the 36th foundation anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to be celebrated on Friday.

In the message, Erdogan said Turkey will never allow anyone to usurp the Turkish Cypriots’ rights on hydrocarbon resources.

Turkey, as a guarantor nation for the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC), is currently carrying out hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean with two drilling vessels, Fatih and Yavuz, along with Oruc Reis and Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa seismic vessels in the same region.

Turkey has consistently contested the Greek Cypriot administration’s unilateral drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, asserting that the TRNC also has rights to the resources in the area.

“No one, especially the European Union, has the right to turn the Turkish Cypriots into the captive of the Greek Cypriot games,” Erdogan said.

“Turkish efforts for a just and sustainable political solution on Cyprus was not reciprocated by the southern side,” he added.

* Writing by Dilara Hamit