Turkey on Friday accused Cyprus of increasing tension in the Eastern Mediterranean after a consortium of Italian and French energy companies found more natural gas off the island earlier this week.
Cyprus's hydrocarbon activities "have been carried out unilaterally," and "violate the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, who are one of the co-owners of all natural resources of the island," Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgic said.
"These activities also increase the tension, and threaten peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean," he said in a statement, adding that Turkey "would not allow hydrocarbon exploration or exploitation activities in its continental shelf without consent."
