Ship en route to drill off Cyprus coast
ANKARA: Two Turkish drill ships are continuing operations in the eastern Mediterranean and another ship will join them this month, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said, as a dispute over natural resources there fuels tensions between Turkey and Cyprus.
EU member Cyprus and Turkey have argued for years regarding the ownership of fossil fuels in the eastern Mediterranean, where Ankara says Turkish Cypriots are entitled to a share of the resources.
Turkey rejects agreements the internationally-recognised Cypriot government has reached with other Mediterranean states on maritime economic zones.
Turkey has sent two drilling ships, Fatih and Yavuz, as well as an exploration vessel, to operate in waters off the divided island of Cyprus, prompting accusations from Greece that it is undermining security in the region.
Aboard the Yavuz drill ship, off the northeastern coast of Cyprus, Mr Donmez told reporters that a second exploration vessel — the Oruc Reis — would begin work in the area by the end of August. A frigate and patrol boat accompanied the Yavuz.
“Fatih is continuing to drill in the Finike-1 borehole in the areas licenced to Turkey. Yavuz is continuing its operations in the Karpaz-1 borehole,” he said.
Turkey’s operations in the region have drawn a reaction from its Western allies, including the European Union and the United States.
“We support a peaceful, stable region and we discourage provocative actions by any players,” US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon said on Tuesday, when asked about Turkey’s moves in the region.
EU foreign ministers last month suspended negotiations on a
comprehensive air transport agreement and decided not to hold further EU-Turkey high-level dialogue for the time being.
Cyprus was divided in 1974 after a Turkish invasion triggered by a brief, Greek-inspired coup. Several peacemaking efforts have failed and the discovery of offshore resources in the eastern Mediterranean has complicated the negotiations.