EU funding cuts will not affect its drilling off Cyprus – Turkish officials

Turkish authorities say European Union decisions to curb contacts and funding for the country over its drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus will not affect Ankara’s determination to pursue energy activities in the region.

Turkish foreign ministry made the disclosure earlier today.

EU foreign ministers on Monday suspended negotiations on the comprehensive air transport agreement and agreed not to hold the association council and further meetings of the EU-Turkey high-level dialogues for the time being.

It also endorsed a proposal to reduce the pre-accession assistance to Turkey for 2020 and invited the European investment bank to review its lending activities in Turkey, notably with regard to sovereign-backed lending.

The Turkish foreign ministry said the decisions will not affect in the slightest turkey’s determination to continue hydrocarbon activities in the eastern Mediterranean.

The dispute stems from overlapping claims to regional waters by Turkey and Cyprus, linked to the 45-year-old split of the Island between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and Ankara’s rejection of agreements Cyprus has reached with other Mediterranean states on maritime economic zones.