Oil deal in Iraq should be example for Cyprus: Turkish President Erdoğan

The recent internal agreement between Baghdad and Arbil should set an example for sharing potential energy resources off Cyprus, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, vowing that Turkey will never abandon the rights of Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“We played a leading role in the mechanism that made the deal between Baghdad and Arbil possible. In the end, we came to a point where everyone is satisfied. We hold the same understanding for Cyprus. I believe the success of our energy diplomacy in Iraq will be repeated in Cyprus as well,” Erdoğan said in an address late Dec. 10, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO).

A recent deal between the central and regional governments of Iraq removed legal obstacles in front of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) marketing of its oil via Turkey. It also cleared the way for intensified energy cooperation between Ankara and Baghdad.

However, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean is more complicated than in Iraq, as Greek Cyprus is recognized as the sole sovereign state by the international community. When Greek Cyprus recently issued licenses to foreign companies to launch oil exploration off the island, Turkey sent its seismic vessel Barbaros to do its own drilling. It also deployed a warship to the region to monitor Greek Cypriot moves.

Erdoğan reiterated that Turkey will not remain above the fray on developments off Cyprus.

“We will continue our work in the region unless Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration take our warnings seriously. As with all work that takes place in Cypriot exclusive economic zones, Turkish Cypriots have equal rights by law. I want to...