Cyprus gas dispute

Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Friday said Friday the country will start offshore drilling activities within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) "in the near future," unless the  EU member-state halts its own operations in the area.

Greek Cypriot administration has strike a deal with international companies on the distribution of revenues from natural gas exploitation from the Aphrodite field in the eastern Mediterranean, drawing fresh criticism from Turkey.

The cause of Palestine and Al-Quds, or Jerusalem, will always remain the core issue for all of us, Turkey's top diplomatic Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on June 1.

Greek Cypriot energy minister said on May 21 there is a plan for eight drilling activities in 24 months in the unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone, according to Greek newspaper Kathimerini.

In a bid to revive confidence-building measures between Greece and Turkey, a delegation of Turkish military officials arrived in Athens on Monday for talks until Friday with their Greek counterparts in the presence of diplomats from both countries.

As Ankara insists on its aim of drilling in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), despite vehement objections by the European Union, another Turkish official scaled up tensions further over the weekend, calling on Cyprus to "remember 1974," referring to Turkey's invasion of the island.

Amid Ankara's stated plans to drill in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), another Turkish official scaled up tensions further over the weekend, calling on Cyprus to "remember 1974," referring to Turkey's invasion of the island.

In a sign that Ankara is further ratcheting up tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez suggested that the country's plans to start drilling off Cyprus are within its sovereign rights, calling on "all sides to respect the research and drilling exercises within our continental shelf."

With Turkey pushing the envelope in the Southeastern Mediterranean and specifically in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Nicosia hopes that Ankara's bellicose actions may be best addressed by business factors.

It is hoped that the interests of energy giants which will be drilling there may act as a deterrent.

Britain is concerned by Turkey's intention to begin offshore drilling operations in an area claimed by Cyprus as its exclusive economic zone, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday.
"Concerned by Turkey's announcement to begin drilling in Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone," Hunt said.