Yesterday, the National Security Council announced that Ankara is determined to protect the interests and rights within its own continental shelf as well as the areas authorized by TRNZ in order to conduct research for natural gas in Cyprus EEZ.

Following discussions on developments in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean the Turkish National Security Council decided that Council “Turkey will continue to protect the interests and rights within its own continental shelf and as a guarantor power in areas where the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has authorized”.

This was the longest meeting in history of the Security Council and was characterized by Turkish media as “historical record.” The meeting lasted 10 hours and 20 minutes instead of the usual four to five hour sessions.

The long meeting was also the first under the presidency of Wiki Erdogan and also the first time of Ahment Davutoglu participating as Prime Minister.