The FINANCIAL — Turkey said on Saturday plans by Greek Cyprus to begin gas exploration in the Mediterranean amounted to "provocation" and it would consider carrying out offshore surveys with Turkish Cyprus if drilling went ahead.
The comments by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu were the latest in a row over ownership of potential hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean and come at a time of heightened tension in the region after ties between Turkey and Israel became strained.
The internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government has said it will pursue its offshore gas plans and block Turkey's European Union entry talks as long as Ankara challenges its decision.
Turkey, the only country to recognize the Turkish Cypriot state in northern Cyprus, has taken a direct role in the row, saying any reserves around the island belong not only to Greek Cypriots but also Turkish Cypriots.
"If this fait accompli continues we have steps of our own that we will take … northern Cyprus can carry out the same explorations with Turkey and TPAO," Davutoğlu told a news conference, referring to Turkey's state-owned oil and gas exploration company.
"We will not accept any fait accompli. This must be understood by the international community."
Texas-based Noble Energy, under license from the Greek Cypriot government, is expected to start work imminently on a block southeast of the island. Its drilling rig was moved into position on Thursday.
Davutoğlu said a delegation from Turkey's energy ministry had travelled to Turkish Cyprus to discuss the topic with officials.
He said the "one-sided" exploration plans by Greek Cyprus were a "provocation", especially coming only weeks before an October United Nations deadline for a peace settlement for the divided island.
On Friday, the UN appealed to all involved for a peaceful resolution to the dispute and said any gas finds should benefit both communities if they ended their conflict.
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