‘Turkish drill ships continue activities in E. Med.'

ANKARA

Turkey’s drill ships continue exploration and research activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, the country’s president said on Monday.

“Turkish drill ships continue coordinated exploration and research activities in the Eastern Mediterranean,” said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ahead of his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Erdogan expressed hope that “problems” would not arise in Aegean and Mediterranean seas in the future.

Turkey has consistently contested the Greek Cypriot administration’s unilateral drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, asserting that Turkish Cypriots also have rights to the resources in the region and that Ankara has the right to conduct hydrocarbon drilling.

On the purchase of S-400 air defense system from Russia, the president said: “Turkish National Defence Ministry and Turkish General Staff are planning on where the S-400s will be deployed.”

“May the S-400s be beneficial for our country, region and especially for the world,” Erdogan added.