Turkey's vice president says his country is stepping up a search for hydrocarbons off ethnically divided Cyprus with the dispatching of a survey vessel to join two drillships and another research craft operating in waters around the east Mediterranean island nation.
Fuat Oktay says Turkey will "never submit" to sanctions imposed by the European Union over its drilling and won't hesitate to take additional steps in defense of its rights and those of breakaway Turkish Cypriots to the area's energy reserves.
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Turkey's vice president says his country is stepping up a search for hydrocarbons off ethnically divided Cyprus with the dispatching of a survey vessel to join two drillships and another research craft operating in waters around the east Mediterranean island nation.
Oktay was speaking at celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus that followed a coup mounted by supporters of union with Greece.
A girl sits on her father's shoulders as they watch the Turkish acrobatic aircraft jets make a heart sign in the sky, during a military parade celebration marking the 45th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Cyprus was split into Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by supporters of union with Greece. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
A girl sits on her father's shoulders as they watch the Turkish acrobatic aircraft jets make a heart sign in the sky, during a military parade celebration marking the 45th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Cyprus was split into Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by supporters of a union with Greece. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
A girl sits on her father's shoulders as they watch the Turkish acrobatic aircraft jets perform, during a military parade celebration marking the 45th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Cyprus was split into Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by supporters of union with Greece. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
A soldier walks by the graves of soldiers killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, in the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 45th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, July 19, 2019. Some thousands of Greek and Cypriot soldiers were killed in 1974 during the Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of the northern part of the island of Cyprus. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
The graves of soldiers killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus during a unset at the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 45th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, July 19, 2019. Some thousands of Greek and Cypriot soldiers were killed in 1974 during the Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of the northern part of the island of Cyprus. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
A soldier trims the graves of soldiers killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, in the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 45th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, July 19, 2019. Some thousands of Greek and Cypriot soldiers were killed in 1974 during the Turkish invasion on July 20, 1974 and subsequent occupation of the northern part of the island of Cyprus. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
The EU says Turkey is drilling in waters exclusive to EU member Cyprus and is therefore a breach of international law.
Turkish acrobatic jets fly, during a military parade celebration marking the 45th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Cyprus was split into Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by supporters of union with Greece. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
Oktay was speaking at celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus that followed a coup mounted by supporters of union with Greece.
Turkish acrobatic aircraft jets fly, during a military parade celebration marking the 45th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Cyprus was split into Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by supporters of a union with Greece. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
A girl sits on her father's shoulders as they watch the Turkish acrobatic aircraft jets make a heart sign in the sky, during a military parade celebration marking the 45th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Cyprus was split into Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by supporters of union with Greece. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
A girl sits on her father's shoulders as they watch the Turkish acrobatic aircraft jets make a heart sign in the sky, during a military parade celebration marking the 45th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Cyprus was split into Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by supporters of a union with Greece. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
A girl sits on her father's shoulders as they watch the Turkish acrobatic aircraft jets perform, during a military parade celebration marking the 45th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion in the Turkish occupied area of the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Cyprus was split into Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by supporters of union with Greece. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
A soldier walks by the graves of soldiers killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, in the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 45th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, July 19, 2019. Some thousands of Greek and Cypriot soldiers were killed in 1974 during the Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of the northern part of the island of Cyprus. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
The graves of soldiers killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus during a unset at the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 45th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, July 19, 2019. Some thousands of Greek and Cypriot soldiers were killed in 1974 during the Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of the northern part of the island of Cyprus. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
A soldier trims the graves of soldiers killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, in the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery during the 45th anniversary in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, July 19, 2019. Some thousands of Greek and Cypriot soldiers were killed in 1974 during the Turkish invasion on July 20, 1974 and subsequent occupation of the northern part of the island of Cyprus. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)