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TURKISH SHIP EXPLORES NEAR GREEK CYPRIOT GAS RIG
Today's Zaman
Sept 27 2011
Turkey
Turkey said on Tuesday it was exploring for gas in an offshore zone
where Greek Cyprus started drilling last week, the latest step in a
battle over Mediterranean resources that overshadowed the resumption
of peace talks for the divided island.
On Sept. 23, Turkey dispatched its only research vessel, the Piri Reis,
to the eastern Mediterranean.
"Piri Reis, escorted by warships, has started research in the same
area where Greek Cypriots are exploring," Omer Celik, deputy chairman
of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) who oversees
foreign affairs, said on Twitter.
"We have shown clearly to everyone that we will not allow the eastern
Mediterranean to become a Greek Cyprus-Israel goal," Celik said in
another message.
The Turkish Cypriot prime minister had said overnight that the vessel
had begun exploring, but did not say precisely where. Greek Cypriot
sources have said the Turkish vessel is about 80 km (50 miles) from
where the Greek Cypriots are drilling.
The question of who has the right to tap what may be the world's
biggest natural gas find of the past decade has added sudden urgency
to long delayed efforts to settle the conflict over Cyprus, divided
since 1974 into Greek and Turkish enclaves.
The internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government says it has
a sovereign right to drill. Turkey, the only country to recognize
a separate Turkish Cypriot government in the north of the island,
says the island's status must be resolved first.
In Nicosia, Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish
Cypriot leader DerviÅ~_ Eroglu resumed peace talks on Tuesday after
a 10-day break for UN General Assembly deliberations.
The two sides are racing to make progress on complex reunification
negotiations before a scheduled encounter with UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon at the end of October. The hydrocarbons controversy had
not come up in the talks, a source close to consultations told Reuters.
Last week, US-based Noble Energy started drilling offshore on behalf
of Greek Cyprus in an area termed Block 12, south of the island.
Turkey has pledged to drill for gas on behalf of Turkish Cypriots
unless the Greek Cypriots stop.
"If the Greek Cypriots agree to stop, we'll stop too. But if they
insist on proceeding, they know very well Turkey's attitude," Turkey's
minister for European Affairs, Egemen BagıÅ~_, visiting the Turkish
side of the island, said on Tuesday.
"We have to warn against Greek Cypriot provocation. The resources
are not going anywhere, so why are they being used to block [Cyprus
reunification] negotiations?"
BagıÅ~_ said the Greek Cypriots cannot unilaterally claim right over
"the island's shared resources" and added: "Those who take unilateral
steps in this regard will get the response from Turkey."
Last week, Turkey and Turkish Cyprus signed their own pact outlining
maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, paving the way for
gas exploration. Turkey said it would protect any research vessel with
warships, raising the prospect of an armed stand-off on the high seas.
Turkey's Navy has made no announcement regarding the deployment of
warships in the area. But captain of the research ship, Umut Yenice,
told the Anatolia news agency on Tuesday that the crew was "in frequent
contacts with the Turkish frigates nearby."
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-258151-turkish-ship-explores-near-greek-cypriot-gas-rig.html
Today's Zaman
Sept 27 2011
Turkey
Turkey said on Tuesday it was exploring for gas in an offshore zone
where Greek Cyprus started drilling last week, the latest step in a
battle over Mediterranean resources that overshadowed the resumption
of peace talks for the divided island.
On Sept. 23, Turkey dispatched its only research vessel, the Piri Reis,
to the eastern Mediterranean.
"Piri Reis, escorted by warships, has started research in the same
area where Greek Cypriots are exploring," Omer Celik, deputy chairman
of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) who oversees
foreign affairs, said on Twitter.
"We have shown clearly to everyone that we will not allow the eastern
Mediterranean to become a Greek Cyprus-Israel goal," Celik said in
another message.
The Turkish Cypriot prime minister had said overnight that the vessel
had begun exploring, but did not say precisely where. Greek Cypriot
sources have said the Turkish vessel is about 80 km (50 miles) from
where the Greek Cypriots are drilling.
The question of who has the right to tap what may be the world's
biggest natural gas find of the past decade has added sudden urgency
to long delayed efforts to settle the conflict over Cyprus, divided
since 1974 into Greek and Turkish enclaves.
The internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government says it has
a sovereign right to drill. Turkey, the only country to recognize
a separate Turkish Cypriot government in the north of the island,
says the island's status must be resolved first.
In Nicosia, Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish
Cypriot leader DerviÅ~_ Eroglu resumed peace talks on Tuesday after
a 10-day break for UN General Assembly deliberations.
The two sides are racing to make progress on complex reunification
negotiations before a scheduled encounter with UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon at the end of October. The hydrocarbons controversy had
not come up in the talks, a source close to consultations told Reuters.
Last week, US-based Noble Energy started drilling offshore on behalf
of Greek Cyprus in an area termed Block 12, south of the island.
Turkey has pledged to drill for gas on behalf of Turkish Cypriots
unless the Greek Cypriots stop.
"If the Greek Cypriots agree to stop, we'll stop too. But if they
insist on proceeding, they know very well Turkey's attitude," Turkey's
minister for European Affairs, Egemen BagıÅ~_, visiting the Turkish
side of the island, said on Tuesday.
"We have to warn against Greek Cypriot provocation. The resources
are not going anywhere, so why are they being used to block [Cyprus
reunification] negotiations?"
BagıÅ~_ said the Greek Cypriots cannot unilaterally claim right over
"the island's shared resources" and added: "Those who take unilateral
steps in this regard will get the response from Turkey."
Last week, Turkey and Turkish Cyprus signed their own pact outlining
maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, paving the way for
gas exploration. Turkey said it would protect any research vessel with
warships, raising the prospect of an armed stand-off on the high seas.
Turkey's Navy has made no announcement regarding the deployment of
warships in the area. But captain of the research ship, Umut Yenice,
told the Anatolia news agency on Tuesday that the crew was "in frequent
contacts with the Turkish frigates nearby."
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-258151-turkish-ship-explores-near-greek-cypriot-gas-rig.html