Daily Sabah: We will not abandon Turkish Cypriot rights on gas reserves: President Erdoğan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pledged on Wednesday to protect Turkish Cypriots' rights on Island's natural gas reserves until a fair distribution of resources is agreed with the Greek Cypriot administration.

He added that he will not to stop Turkey's drilling activities near the island.

"Turkey will never stay out of recent developments in Cyprus," he said at an address during the 60th year reception of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation.

"Our research vessel is now continuing its drilling activities. We will continue to be there as long as the Greek Cypriot administration and Greece continue to ignore our warnings on the issue," he added.

Peace negotiations between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot administration resumed after a two-year pause in February 2013. 

However, they were suspended by the Greek Cypriot side on October 7 when Turkey sent the Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa research vessel, and military ships to accompany the Greek Cypriot mission, to show Turkey's stance on the one-sided research.  MORE