Turkey condemns EU decision to suspend high level talks

ANKARA, July 16 (KUNA) -- Turkey on Tuesday condemned the European Union's decision to suspend high-level talks between the two sides over Ankara's offshore oil and gas exploration activities in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Monday that it won't affect their determination to continue hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and will continue to protect Turkish Cypriots' rights, as well to increase their activities in this aspect.
This decision shows how prejudiced and biased the European Union is on the Cyprus issue as Turkish Cypriots who have equal rights to the natural resources of the island, it added.
The European Union's Council on Foreign Relations decided to reduce the pre-accession assistance to Turkey and invited the European Investment Bank to review its lending activities, notably with regard to sovereign-backed lending. (end) rs.gaa