APD | Turkey’s Erdogan threatens Europe over Cyprus ruling

By APD writer Adtiya Nugraha

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to send back all European Islamic State (IS) jihadists to Europe to respond the European Union ruling over unauthorized hydrocarbon drilling off Cyprus waters.

The threat was conveyed by Erdogan prior to his departure to the United States on Tuesday to respond EU’s Monday move to impose sanctions on Turkey over its unauthorized gas drilling in Mediterranean waters off Cyprus.

“You should revise your stance toward Turkey, which holds so many IS members in prison and controls them in Syria,” Erdogan said.

The EU Council adopted a framework for restrictive measures to respond the unauthorized hydrocarbon drilling by Turkey in Eastern Mediterranean waters off Cyprus, enabling sanctions on individuals or entities.

The framework will make it possible to sanction individuals or entities responsible for or involved in unauthorized drilling activities of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The sanctions will consist of a travel ban to the EU and an asset freeze for persons, and an asset freeze for entities.

In addition, EU persons and entities will be forbidden from making funds available to those listed.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)