A TURKISH oil exploration vessel left the Aegean port of Izmir yesterday to carry out surveys off northern Cyprus as part of Turkey’s pledge to question Cyprus’ rights over hydrocarbon deposits in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
According to Reuters, there was no sign of a Turkish naval escort for the Piri Reis and its 10 crew as the vessel set out, although Energy Minister Taner Yildiz had raised the possibility of such a security measure earlier this week.
However, Turkish daily Aksam reported yesterday that three Turkish navy frigates Salih Reis, Sokullu Mehmet Pasa and Oncu also left from Izmir port with the aim of acting as a hindrance to any drilling in areas that Turkey claims lie in its own territorial waters or those of the breakaway state in the north.
According to the paper, one frigate will sit six miles from Cyprus, which should be visible from the island’s western city of Paphos while the other two will patrol the area. Three submarines also reportedly sailed Thursday morning from Golcuk naval base.
Cyprus’ EEZ has been carved into 13 blocks, from which Texas-based Noble Energy has concession rights over Block 12, the Aphrodite field, where exploratory drilling began last Sunday evening.
Speaking in New York on Thursday, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias said more blocks could be thrown open for exploration over the next 12 months.
Citing sources, state broadcaster CyBC reported last night that two major energy companies have bought seismic data on Cyprus’ EEZ while a third is preparing to do so ahead of a second round of licencing for Cyprus’ remaining blocks.
Tensions in the eastern Mediterranean reached worrying heights last week before drilling started with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan threatening to deploy warships to prevent Israel and Cyprus from exploiting their natural resources.
As one EU diplomat told the Cyprus Mail, the chances of “hot things happening” when drilling started “looked seriously possible”. As it turned out, the Turkish leadership decided in favour of a combination of threatening their own drilling in the area with low-level air and sea presence near the Aphrodite field.
They kept up the pressure on Cyprus by signing a continental shelf agreement with the breakaway state, immediately denounced as illegal, null and void by Cyprus and Greece.
According to the Turkish paper, Turkey is claiming Blocks 2 and 3 in Cyprus’ EEZ for the breakaway state, sending three torpedo boats to patrol them. Blocks 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are also being dragged into the spotlight with Turkey claiming them for itself.
The diplomat suggested Turkey was probably seeking to keep its response to Cyprus’ drilling “noticeable but measured, knowing that there are things you can do to heat it up later if you need to”.
Communications Minister Efthymios Flourentzou yesterday said Turkish fighter planes had violated the Nicosia Flight Information Region but not Cyprus’ sovereign airspace “in a strict sense”, adding that Cyprus has denounced the incident internationally.
The continental shelf agreement between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots has yet to be made public, though making the “shelf” overlap with Cyprus’ EEZ, would give Turkey the pretext sought to intervene in any drilling in an area believed to be rich in natural gas.
During his speech to the UN General Assembly, Christofias gave assurances that any money earned from a gas find would be used for the good of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots regardless of whether a settlement had been reached.
Erdogan gave his response from the same podium later on Thursday: “Turkey expects to see that all parties involved make efforts so that the Greek Cypriot administration ends initiatives that cause tension not only in the island but the region…Otherwise, we will do what we have to do.”
Acting government spokesman Christos Christofides replied yesterday: “We want to send the message that there is a strong incentive for the Turkish Cypriots, which is enhanced by the finding of hydrocarbons, for a solution of the Cyprus problem.”
He added that there were some thoughts on how the Turkish Cypriots could benefit, which would be announced after political decisions are taken.
Speaking to reporters after his speech at the General Assembly, Christofias said a way could be found for Turkish Cypriots to also benefit from any gas findings, adding they have nothing to lose from the exploitation of natural resources.
Asked to elaborate and state whether this would come before or after a solution, he said this was not the time to discuss which fund could be created, when and how, noting it was “under examination by the leadership of the Cyprus Republic”.
Back home, the news of sharing the island’s wealth before a solution was not welcomed by all. DIKO vice-president Nicolas Papadopoulos accused Christofias of increasing his “generous offers … despite the growing Turkish intransigence on all levels”.
DIKO spokesman Fotis Fotiou expressed “particular concern” about the general reference, saying he hoped Christofias “does not have in mind to limit any rights of the Republic or cause any confusion the Turkish side will rush to properly exploit”.
EDEK spokesman Demetris Papadakis said the president’s reference was “unacceptable”, and sent the wrong message, encouraging separatist actions of the breakaway state.
EVROKO leader Demetris Syllouris said the statement was “dangerous” and “contradictory”.
Meanwhile, at the UN Headquarters, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with Erdogan on Thursday, where they discussed a range of issues including Cyprus’ exploratory drilling.
Ban reportedly called on Erdogan to avoid tension in the region and solve disputes in a peaceful manner.
According to Cyprus News Agency sources, Erdogan was infuriated by the fact that the UN chief raised the issue of Turkish threats towards Cyprus.
Ban also discussed the Cyprus issue with the Presidents of the European Commission Manuel Barroso and the European Council Herman Rompuy.
