Ankara: Turkey has accused Cyprus of adding to the level of unrest in the eastern Mediterranean after a group of Italian and French energy companies discovered additional natural gas off the island earlier this week.

According to Turkish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tanju Bilgik, Cyprus' hydrocarbon activities "have been carried out unilaterally" and "violates the rights of Turkey Cypriots, one of the co-owners of all natural resources of the island."

He added that Turkey "will not allow hydrocarbon exploration or exploitation activities in its continental shelf without consent" and that "these activities also increase tensions, and threaten peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean."

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The country's energy ministry announced on Wednesday that a group led by France's Total Energy and Italy's Eni discovered additional natural gas offshore Cyprus.

Turkey vigorously opposes Cyprus' exploration program, citing conflicting jurisdictions on its own continental shelf or in the waters of the separatist Turkish Cypriot state in northern Cyprus, which are acknowledged only by Turkey.

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These allegations have been denied by Cyprus' internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government, which is believed to speak for the entire island. After a brief coup organized by the then-ruling Greek military in 1974, Turkey intervened, dividing the island of Cyprus.

The Greek government in Cyprus is not accepted by Turkey.

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Over the years, attempts to broker a settlement between the two sides have failed.