NICOSIA – Cyprus will persist in conducting dolphin research despite Turkey having sent in a warship to harass a vessel, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Minister Nicos Kouyialis said.

He told the Cyprus News Agency that the Cypriot vessel was within sovereign waters. “(It) was collecting information for the presence of whales and dolphins in the area, when it was approached by a Turkish frigate and forced to change its course,” he said.

He added that the research is being conducted by the Fisheries and Marine Research Department in the island’s maritime area as part of requirements as a member of the European Union – which Turkey wants to join although it won’t recognize Cyprus and bars its ships and planes.