Turkey‘s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy issued a statement on Monday concerning reports on Cypriot and Greek media that Nicosia had issued arrest warrants for the personnel of Turkey’s ”Fatih” drilling vessel.
“If it [the Republic of Cyprus] dares to do so [issue the arrest warrant], nobody should doubt that we will give the necessary response,” Aksoy’s statement noted, taking yet another provocative and aggressive tone against Nicosia.
The warrant has not been officially issued as of this time, and there are only media reports suggesting that the Republic of Cyprus is thinking of going ahead with such a plan.
The issue is about the multinational personnel of Turkey’s drilling vessel ”Fatih,” whose name means ”Conqueror.”
The ”Fatih” is moving along the edge of the Republic of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, an area which Ankara does not accept as legally established. Its declared intentions are to conduct research and drilling operations in what Turkey calls its ”continental shelf,” a claim which clearly contradicts international law.
Ever since the ”Fatih” reached this area in Eastern Mediterranean several weeks ago, the EU, the US and other major global powers and organizations have called on Turkey numerous times to stop ratcheting up tensions and violating the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus.
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