ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey will begin drilling for resources around Cyprus, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday, a move that could create tensions with neighboring Cyprus and Greece over ownership of natural resources.<\/p>\n
Attempts to tap gas and oil in the eastern Mediterranean have caused friction between Athens and Ankara.<\/p>\n
Turkey and the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government in Cyprus have overlapping claims of jurisdiction for offshore oil and gas research in the eastern Mediterranean, a region thought to be rich in natural gas.<\/p>\n
Turkey will start drilling around Cyprus because the Greek Cypriot government did not listen to Ankara\u2019s suggestions to ensure the rights of Turkish Cypriots, Cavusoglu said during an interview following a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur second platform is coming in February. We were going to send it to the Black Sea, now we are sending it to the Cyprus area,\u201d Cavusoglu said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur drill ship Fatih is currently in the Alanya-1 area, its work there will be done in March. We are shifting that to the south too,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He did not specify whether Turkey would drill for oil or natural gas.<\/p>\n
Turkey launched its first drill ship \u201cFatih\u201d in October to drill off the coast of Turkey\u2019s southern Antalya province and had said a second ship that it purchased would operate in the Black Sea.<\/p>\n
Breakaway north Cyprus, which is supported by Turkey, says any offshore wealth also belongs to them, as partners in the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960.<\/p>\n
Greek Cypriots, who run the island\u2019s internationally recognized government, say any future benefits of gas finds will eventually be shared by all Cypriots.<\/p>\n
Cavusoglu said Ankara would not be satisfied by such statements.<\/p>\n
The island was split in 1974 after a Turkish invasion triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. Countless peacemaking endeavors have failed, and offshore wealth has increasingly complicated peace negotiations even though Greek Cypriots say that matter is not up for discussion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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