Ankara supports the rhetoric of tension, with Turk Foreign Secretary Mevlut Cavusoglu accuse Greece of black propaganda and claim that the solution to its issue Eastern Mediterranean in fact it depends on the fair distribution of income in Cyprus.

“We don’t let them on our continental shelf”

In his statements and referring to the statements of the ENI-TOTAL consortium on the Cyprus EEZ, the Turkish Foreign Minister noted that “indeed shelf extends to these pieces, but the drilling site is south of the southern limit of our continental shelf. We no longer allow them on our continental shelf.”

“As a result, the southern and western boundaries of our continental shelf are obvious. To the west we left the Greek islands and territorial waters 6 miles away. We work in accordance with international law. And within our continental shelf, we continue drilling and seismic exploration,” he added. He also said that “there are also areas that were transferred to us under the license of TDBC. We worked there in the past, and this will be done in the future.” .

The Turkish Foreign Minister argued that “However, the solution to the problem of the Eastern Mediterranean actually depends on the distribution of income in Cyprus. This is 50% of the problem. Fair distribution of income”.

“Greece must stop black propaganda”

After firing arrows at Athens, he said that “Greece must first stop making black propaganda and oppose Turkey. He constantly lobbies against the F-16.” He also said that “they all invoke international law, but the ‘Turks of Western Thrace’ are persecuted and their rights are violated.”

Mr. Cavusoglu also spoke about the violation of the demilitarization regime of the islands. “They do it relying on the EU. but our hands are not empty. Greece should stop this policy,” he added.

He went on to say that “as long as Greece pursues this policy, it makes no sense to relax in relation to them. We are not at war with Greece every day, but there is no honesty. There is no use in dialogue when there is no honesty.”

“We won’t get F-16s or any other product if we’re handcuffed”

Returning to the F-16 question, he said that “there was indeed an action in Congress about the F-16 from the Greek lobby, mainly from a member of Congress of Greek origin. But the decision is not binding.” “The (US) government knows that we will not get the F-16 or any other product if they handcuff us. If we need to take something, we will take it to use. Why buy a system we can’t use? And we expect that the government, based on its positive attitude towards the F-16, will also convince the Congress,” the Turkish Foreign Minister concluded.