“The huge Turkish reconnaissance and drilling fleet has reached 52 vessels. Big and small […] From Abdulhamit to Fatih and Kanuni […] These exploration and drilling activities are currently focused on the Black Sea fields, the Sakarya 1 and 2 fields. Of course, work will continue in the southern and eastern Mediterranean. […] Everyone is looking at the eastern Mediterranean at the moment,” Mr Kalin said, expressing confidence that “one day a great reserve will be found in the eastern Mediterranean. […] maybe off the coast of Syria.”

“After we found it in the Black Sea, when we look at the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, there are strong indications that it will be found as research and drilling continues,” said the representative of the Turkish presidency, stressing that Turkey is not going to support down or back

“Listen, this is one of Turkey’s biggest achievements in recent times. Not only technical capabilities, but also political will. That is why the moment came when we fought (kavga) with Greece, with the EU, with the US, with the Greek Cypriot community, but never retreated. We will not refuse these works either,” Erdogan’s representative said.