Turkey-Cyprus Tensions Escalate With Naval Exercise

Source:Voice of America Date:18May2019

Former senior Turkish diplomat Aydin Selcen, suggests that beyond the harsh rhetoric, Turkey has a legitimate case and a compromise needs to be found.

“There are no realistic projects in that part of the Mediterranean without the coordination with Turkey,” he said. “Yet more and more we see that the U.S. coordinates Israel, Egypt, the Greek administration on Cyprus and Greece, apparently more pressure on Turkey.”

Washington has helped facilitate energy exploration and development cooperation between Israel, Egypt, the Cypriot government, and Greece. Turkey, which has strained relations with all the countries, has criticized such diplomatic moves.