“The media reports informing that the GCA has granted a hydrocarbon exploration permit to the ExxonMobil – Qatar Petroleum consortium for the so-called license area 5, which was declared unilaterally, ignoring the rights of our country and the Turkish Cypriots, has once again made it clear who is really in favor of inciting tension in the Eastern Mediterranean,” said Tanju Bilgiç, the spokesman of Turkey’s Foreign Ministry.

Bilgiç noted that a part of the so-called license area in question violated Turkey's continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean, adding that this one-sided step also ignored the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, the co-owners of the Island.

“As has been the case so far, Turkey will never allow any foreign country, company or vessel to engage in unauthorized hydrocarbon exploration activities in its maritime jurisdiction areas, and will continue to resolutely defend her rights and those of the TRNC,” Bilgiç concluded. (ILKHA)