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ANKARA, Aug. 24-- Turkey vowed to "resolutely" continue to explore hydrocarbon resources off Cyprus in Eastern Mediterranean despite international warnings. "We are continuing right now the exploration activities and will continue resolutely to do so with the same determination," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, rebuking warnings from the European Union and the United States to stop its drilling activities. In a new manifest of determination on Friday, Erdogan said during a public speech that "there will be no turning back and no withdrawing in Eastern Mediterranean. We know our rights." Turkey is pressing ahead in its conflict with Cyprus, which is also an EU member, over undersea energy reserves, accelerating its efforts by sending warships and exploration vessels into disputed waters. In the last two months, Turkey dispatched several drilling and exploration ships into the waters around Cyprus, searching for gas discoveries in areas that are also claimed by Cyprus. The drilling ships have been escorted by a growing flotilla of Turkish naval vessels, submarines, drones, and patrol aircraft. Turkey's attitude prompted a rebuke from the Greek Cypriots as well as the EU, which called Ankara's actions "illegal" and last month levied symbolic financial sanctions on Turkey. Turkey has been an official candidate country to the European bloc since 2005 but accession talks have been frozen for years. | 
