Erdoğan stresses determination to protect rights of Turkish Cypriots

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan voiced Turkey's determination to protect Turkish Cypriots' rights to oil and gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean.

Following the Friday prayers in Istanbul, Erdoğan said Northern Cyprus also has rights on all resources in the region.

Erdoğan said: "We are dedicated to protect our Turkish kin in Northern Cyprus. So now our newly-purchased oil drill and exploration ships are in the region."

His remarks came after a reporter's question regarding unilateral agreements signed by the Greek Cypriot administration and several american companies for exploration and extraction off cyprus.