UPDATE - Erdogan marks 36th foundation anniversary of TRNC

ADDS DATAILS THROUGHOUT

By Merve Yildizalp

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's president said Thursday his nation will never allow anyone to usurp the Turkish Cypriots’ rights on hydrocarbon resources.

The statement was part of a message Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered to mark the 36th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to be celebrated Friday.

"My Turkish Cypriot brothers crowned their state, which they established with great struggles and sacrifices, with their achievements in democracy and economy,” he said. "However, their efforts to reach a just, lasting and sustainable political solution on the island have not been answered on the south of Cyprus.”

Stressing the Greek Cypriot side is not willing to share the island with Turkish Cypriot people on the basis of political equality, Erdogan said the isolation of Turkish Cypriots, who have shown every possible convenience for the political solution, has been persistently maintained.

"On this day of pride, we once again share the enthusiasm and joy of independence of the Turkish Cypriots, which we see as an integral part of the Turkish nation," Erdogan stated.

"I respectfully honor our martyrs and hero veterans, and wish the TRNC and Turkish Cypriot people a peaceful, safe and prosperous future from my Lord," Erdogan said.

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.

Ankara 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