A harsh reaction came from former Rear Admiral Cihat Yaycı to the claims that Turkiye's only remaining drilling exploration ship in the Eastern Mediterranean, Abdülhamit Han, will be towed to the Black Sea.
Stating that there should be no step back from drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, Yaycı once again emphasized the "Blue Homeland".
"IF SO, SHAME ON YOU!"
"There are rumors that the Abdulhamit Han drilling ship, which is the only one left in the Eastern Mediterranean, will be towed to the Black Sea. In order for the drilling ship to pass under the bridges, its towers will be dismantled and then reassembled. The same process will be repeated to return to the Eastern Mediterranean. This means approximately 1 year. Conducting drilling and seismic research in the Eastern Mediterranean means, above all, protecting our seas! As of the last quarter of 2020, we had not left the map of the University of Seville due to the pressure of the European Union and the desire to get along with Greeks and Greeks! In its last report, the EU made insults and threats against Turkey in Greek-Greek language," Yaycı said.
"DO WE RESPOND BY WITHDRAWAL?"
"Some will try to find an excuse to withdraw from the Eastern Mediterranean by saying that they are sending us to extract gas in the Black Sea as soon as possible. However, our economic interests and existence in the Blue Homeland can only be protected with seismic and drilling ships. Our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) rights are not used through military activities. If they are sincere, they should send our idle seismic research ships to the west of 028 East longitude, where almost no seismic research has been done so far. If the Republic of Turkey hesitates to conduct drilling and seismic research for some reasons, then let's transfer some ships to the TRNC for a certain period of time. Drilling and seismic research should be carried out by hoisting the TRNC flag on these ships. Thus, a great contribution is made to the recognition of TRNC and to the strengthening of the national pride of the TRNC people," Yaycı added.