The Greek delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Energy and Environment Dimitris Ikonomou, left the opening ceremony of the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) amid a scandal in protest against the provocative statements of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, RIA Novosti reported referring to Skai TV channel.

Erdogan at a ceremony in Edirne said that Turkey will not stop exploration and drilling on the Cyprus’ shelf and the Cyprus EEZ. According to him, the rights of Turkish Cypriots to possess energy in the shelf of the island are violated in the Mediterranean Sea, Ankara acts within the international rights.

Ikonomou informed that he left the ceremony with the delegation a minute after the provocative statements. 

Later, the Greek MFA condemned Erdogan’s statements, calling him the main violator of international law in the region. 

Athensa expressed the hope that the leadership of Turkey will realize that respect for international law is his duty.

The initial throughput of the TANAP pipeline is 16 billion cubic meters of gas per year. TANAP shareholders are: Southern Gas Corridor CJSC - 51%, SOCAR Turkey Enerji - 7%, Botas - 30%, BP - 12%.

Cyprus has been de facto divided between the Greek and Turkish communities since 1974.