Hasipoğlu: "GC Administration Must Acknowledge Turkish Cypriots' Rights in the East Med"

Hasipoğlu stated that the agreement signed in Cairo in the presence of Greek Cypriot Leader Nikos Christodoulides and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi highlights the Greek Cypriot side’s unwillingness to share governance and natural resources with Turkish Cypriots. He noted that the agreement includes provisions for the commercial development of the Aphrodite gas field and the exploitation of Block 6 within the so-called EEZ.

Emphasizing that the Greek Cypriot side has rejected proposals for a joint energy committee, Hasipoğlu reiterated that Turkish Cypriots also have legitimate rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. He warned that ignoring these rights would lead to losses rather than a win-win outcome.

Hasipoğlu stressed that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkey had responded by signing a continental shelf delimitation agreement and granting exploration licenses to the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO). He called for international discussions, such as a planned conference in March, to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of resources.