CYPRUS/TURKEY: Ankara says it will begin oil and gas exploration off Northern Cyprus

Record ID: 217625

  • Title: CYPRUS/TURKEY: Ankara says it will begin oil and gas exploration off Northern Cyprus
  • Date: 20th September 2011
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (SEPTEMBER 19, 2011) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN ARRIVING FOR A NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYING: "The fact is that southern Cyprus, Israel and even Greece have already taken this step and started work by announcing this exclusive
  • Embargoed: 5th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Cyprus
  • City:
  • Country: Turkey Cyprus
  • Topics: Business,International Relations,Politics,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA3LMY7XNO4UCZ32YWEE3PQ2UH4
  • Story Text: Turkey could begin offshore oil and gas exploration operations in agreement with northern Cyprus following similar moves by Cyprus, Israel and Greece, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday (September 19) amid an escalating dispute over rights to hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean.
    "The fact is that southern Cyprus, Israel and even Greece have already taken this step and started work by announcing this exclusive economic region here. As I said before, we are currently taking this step with Northern Cyprus and it could start in a very short time, possibly this week," Erdogan told a news conference before leaving on a visit to the United States.
    Erdogan warned that Turkey's military will be monitoring the region closely.
    "We have different approaches regarding the area they declared as an exclusive economic region. In regard to this matter, we will monitor this region militarily with air forces at this point, a frigate, torpedo boats... This exclusive economic region is controversial," he added.
    Turkey disputed an agreement signed last year by Cyprus and Israel over an exclusive economic zone that set maritime borders and rights to explore natural resources.
    Turkey backs a Turkish Cypriot breakaway state in northern Cyprus and says any natural resources found offshore should belong to both communities.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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