Turkey Threatens EU After Sanctions Plan

A day after the European Council decided to adopt a framework for restrictive measures in response to Turkey's “unauthorised” drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean, close to Cyprus borders, Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened November 12 that Ankara will continue to deport Isil (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) terrorists.

The council's decision means it will be possible to sanction individuals or entities responsible for, or involved in, drilling for oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean. “The sanctions will consist of a travel ban to the EU and an asset freeze for persons, and an asset freeze for entities. In addition, EU persons and entities will be forbidden from making funds available to those listed,” it said.

Turkey has begun drilling east of Cyprus, in waters claimed as part of the maritime zone of EU member Cyprus, Turkey's energy ministry confirmed August 7. Turkey's Cyprus drilling campaign began in May when TPAO drilling vessel Fatih began drilling north west of the island, with the Yavuz taking up a position east of the island early July.

According to official statistics, there are 1,201 Isil terrorists in Turkish prisons, some of them Europeans. According to local daily Sabah, Erdogan said that it does not matter whether these countries accept the terrorists or not. “The American Isil terrorists stranded in the buffer zone on the Greece border is none of Turkey's concern, deportations will continue regardless,” Erdogan said, referring to an American terrorist who was not admitted by Greece, leaving him stranded.

Turkey is home to about 3.7mn Syrian refuges and the country has repeatedly said it would open doors for refugees to go to Europe. Turkey says it will continue explorating for oil and gas in the region.