President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said that for stability in the Eastern Mediterranean the rights and interests of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots must be protected.
“Stability in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean is only possible by looking after the rights and interests of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” Erdogan told ambassadors during the fast-breaking (iftar) meal organized at the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party headquarters.
Erdogan reiterated that Ankara would not tolerate a fait accompli in the region, and all related parties are aware of the fact.
“Like all problems, we want to solve this issue with reciprocal talks, dialogue and cooperation,” he added.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.
It has seen an on-and-off peace process in recent years, including the collapse of a 2017 initiative in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Turkey, Greece and the U.K.
Turkey has consistently contested the Greek Cypriot administration’s unilateral drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, saying Turkish Cypriots also have rights to the resources in the area.