Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey has sought to stop the Republic of Cyprus from using
energy assets as collateral for its bailout.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Nicosia did not own the natural gas
fields in the eastern Mediterranean. The ministry, warning of a regional
crisis, said Turkey claims the fields along with the breakaway Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus.

“Possible plans to put the island’s joint resources as collateral for ‘a
solidarity fund’ or any other loan agreement is just another reflection of
the Greek Cypriot illusion that it is the sole owner of the entire island
and it risks a fresh crisis in the region,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry
said on March 23.

On March 25, Nicosia announced a bailout agreement with the European
Union. It was not clear whether the gas fields were included in the bailout.

  eastern Mediterranean natural gas fields, European Union, Turkey warns Cyprus against leveraging energy assets, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus