Turkey vows continued drilling in Eastern Mediterranean despite EU's threat of sanctions

Turkey will continue its drilling activities for hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean despite the EU's threat of sanctions, the Turkish foreign ministry said Monday.

"Hoping that our country will step back from its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean by submitting to threats is a futile expectation," said a ministry statement.

"In this respect, no one should doubt that we will continue our exploration and drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean in the same way," the ministry added.

On Nov. 11, the Council of the EU announced it had adopted a framework for sanctions on Turkish officials and companies over what it says is "unauthorized" drilling activity in Cypriot waters in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The sanctions could include bans on individuals traveling to the EU and asset freezes for individuals and companies involved in relevant drilling activity.

Besides, EU citizens could be blocked from providing finance to those targeted by the sanctions.

The discovery of rich gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean in the last decade has triggered a race to tap the region's underwater resources and sparked tensions between Turkey with both Cyprus and Greece.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)