It is “unacceptable” that the Greek Cypriots take unilateral steps in the Eastern Mediterranean, President Ersin Tatar said on Tuesday.

The remarks by Ersin Tatar were regarding the Greek Cypriot administration’s unilateral steps in exploration of hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“These kinds of issues are handled though cooperation, solidarity, and law in the world. The Greek Cypriots should stay away from researching wealth without an agreement on (the island of) Cyprus,” Tatar told Anadolu Agency.

The Greek Cypriot side’s attitude towards the exploration of hydrocarbon resources is not “correct,” Tatar said, adding that such studies are risky without an agreement on Cyprus.

He said it was a “great injustice” that the Greek Cypriot administration behaved as if the so-called Republic of Cyprus belonged only to itself and carried out activities by ignoring the Turkish Cypriot people.

The Greek Cypriot side should consider Turkey’s warning, he urged, warning that if the tension escalates, things will get worse than before.

“I don’t think anyone would benefit from such tensions,” he added.

He went on to say that if any gas is found in the region, Turkey is the safest route to transfer this gas to Europe.