Cyprus rejects Ankara call for a stop to drilling

Nicosia on Thursday rejected a call by Ankara for a halt to drilling activities off the island's south as a precondition for it to stop its own activities off the divided island. 

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said that Turkey's activities are aimed at protecting the rights of Turkish Cypriots, adding that "until these rights are guaranteed, Turkish Petroleum will continue to operate" in the areas licensed by the breakaway state.

"These rights can only be guaranteed either by jointly suspending all offshore activities in the south of the island until a comprehensive settlement is reached in Cyprus, or by launching a cooperation mechanism by the Greek Cypriots with the Turkish Cypriots in accordance with the July 13, 2019 proposal," Aksoy said.

"Otherwise, Turkey will continue resolutely to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots," said Aksoy....