TURKEY: GREEK CYPRIOT PLANS ABOUT OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION ARE AN "ADVENTURE"

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.06.200 9 01:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey says Greek Cypriot plans to launch offshore
oil and gas exploration are an "adventure" that is likely to fuel
tensions and hamper reunification talks, tuskishny.com reports.

Burak Ozugergin, the foreign ministry spokesman, reiterated on June 11,
that Turkey was determined to protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots
in the island, warning Cyprus against unilateral moves.

Ozugergin spoke was in response to statement made on June 10 by Cyprus
that it will not agree to open the key energy chapter in Turkey’s
accession talks with the European Union because of what it said was
interference by Turkish navy ships with an offshore oil-and-gas survey
off its southern coast.

Ozugergin says Turkey does not want to stir up tensions but intends
to protect its interests.