Turkey's Erdoğan defies EU sanctions threat over East Mediterranean drilling

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday that he would not give in to EU demands to stop oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean around Cyprus.

Brussels has repeatedly warned Turkey to halt drilling off the coast of EU member Greek Cyprus, and announced on Monday that a framework had been agreed to impose travel bans and asset freezes on the individuals and companies involved.

"Do not dare to give an ultimatum to Turkey about the developments on Cyprus," Erdoğan said in a televised press conference. "We do not care about it, and we will proceed on our path."

The discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean has sparked a dispute between Greek Cyprus side and Turkey.

Erdoğan also called on European Union to give its efforts in handling Daesh prisoners.

"Review your attitude toward a country which keeps so many Daesh members in prisons and similarly controls them on the Syrian side," Erdogan said, using another name for the ISIS terror group.