Stating that Turkey has repeatedly emphasized, the Turkish Cypriots, as the co-owners of the Island have equal rights on the hydrocarbon resources of the Island, the statement said: "The Turkish Cypriot Government granted exploration and exploitation licenses to the Turkish Petroleum (TP) in 2011. TP’s ongoing survey and drilling activities in these license areas aim at protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, not Turkey. Until these rights are guaranteed, the TP will continue to operate in these license areas."

It call on all the EU members, especially Italy to abandon their attitudes that ignore the very presence of Turkish Cypriots and their rights.

Underling once again that the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas to the West of the Island of Cyprus will only be possible after the resolution of the Cyprus issue, the statement added: " It is out of question for Turkey to start maritime boundary delimitation negotiations with an entity that does not represent the Turkish Cypriots and usurps the title of the 'Republic of Cyprus' since 1963. The only interlocutor of the Greek Cypriots is only the Turkish Cypriots, until the resolution of the Cyprus issue." (ILKHA)