Erdoğan says Turkey will stay in Syria unless other countries leave

Turkey's maritime boundary delimitation agreement with Libya was sent to the United Nations, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday.

Erdoğan said the deal -- already signed by the president -- was ratified by the parliament and published on Saturday's Official Gazette, going into effect.

On Nov. 27, Turkey and Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) signed the bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Speaking at the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's consultation meeting of provincial heads at Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul, Erdoğan said Turkey will use its rights under international law and international maritime law till the end on Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey called on the regional countries to work in a collective manner regarding the distribution of hydrocarbon reserves, which have an estimated value of hundreds of billions of dollars and turn the natural sources into an opportunity to boost bilateral ties and neighboring relations.

However, Ankara's calls have fallen on deaf ears so far and some countries attempted to isolate Turkey from the energy equation. Turkey maintains drilling activities in the Mediterranean region under escort of the country's navy elements.
ERDOĞAN SLAMS GREEK DECISION TO EXPEL LIBYAN ENVOY
Greece's decision to expel the Libyan ambassador over an agreement between Turkey and Libya on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea was a "scandal," Erdoğan said in a statement.

"So they (Greece) made a scandalous decision ... They deported the Libyan ambassador. So what happened? What have you gained?" Erdoğan told his party members in Istanbul.

Erdoğan signed the deal with Fayez Serraj, the head of Libya's UN-backed government, on November 27 in Istanbul. Ankara backs Serraj against a rival military group in Libya's east.

Erdoğan charged the deal covering military cooperation and marine jurisdictions had "foiled games" in the Mediterranean region.

"We have rights there as guarantor country. We will use our rights based on international law until the very end," Erdoğan said.

Turkey continues gas exploration activities off Cyprus with two drilling and two research vessels, Erdoğan said.

- TURKEY'S ANTI-TERROR OPERATION IN SYRIA
Turkish president went on to say that Turkey would not leave Syria unless foreign countries withdraw from the region or Syrian people demand the country's leave.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.

Under two separate deals with the U.S. and Russia, Turkey paused the operation to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned Syria safe zone.

Prior to this, Turkey led two successful operations, Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield, in northern Syria to rid the region of terrorists.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.