Turkey to Egypt: Do not exceed your authority’ by threatening us

Turkey yesterday warned some countries against “exceeding their limits” following recent comments over the Turkish oil and gas exploration activities to the south of Cyprus.

Last week, Cyprus hosted the 19th World Conference of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK) in the capital Nicosia, during which Egypt, Israel and the US said that military action against Turkish naval forces in the Eastern Mediterranean was “an option”.

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The Egyptian Ambassador to Cyprus, Mai Taha Mohamed, stressed that her country “won’t hesitate to take military action against Turkish navy vessels off Cyprus if necessary,” while the American envoy, Cathleen Doherty, described Turkey’s behaviour towards the Greek Cypriot administration as “unacceptable”.

In response, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hami Aksoy, said: “We recommend to the representatives of the relevant countries that they do not exceed their authority.”

“Within this framework, as we have previously stated on numerous occasions, Turkey is determined to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots and to continue supporting them,” the statement concluded.

READ: Erdogan tells Cyprus not to test Turkey over gas standoff