France, UAE, Egypt, Greece and Cyprus accused of being 'alliance of evil forces': Turkey

Turkey on Tuesday accused the five countries of being "forces of evil" following criticism from France, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Greece and Cyprus over Ankara's policies in the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya.

These five countries want to spread chaos and instability in the Eastern Mediterranean and to sacrifice the hopes of establishing democracy in Libya to indifferent and aggressive dictators, said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy. Want.

5 Countries foreign minister on Monday to discuss the situation in the eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey is drilling for oil and gas at the bottom of the sea, part of Cyprus's economy. Comes within limits. The conference also considered the situation in Libya.

Last year, Turkey signed an agreement with Libya's internationally recognized government on military cooperation and demarcation of maritime borders.

Turkey says it has acquired non-economic rights in the vast eastern waters of the Eastern Mediterranean under the agreement and that no energy project can be carried out without its approval.

Greece and Cyprus protested the agreement, saying it violated international law and affected their rights in the territorial waters.

The five countries have said it is Turkey's sixth illegal mining attempt in Cyprus' economic waters within a year. Turkey does not recognize Cyprus as a state on linguistic grounds and considers all its maritime boundaries as Turkish maritime boundaries.

Turkey has sent its naval warships with oil and gas exploration ships in the Eastern Mediterranean and insists it is protecting its and Turkish Cyprus' interests in the natural resources found in these seas. Is.