Turkey boils the waters in Medditerranean with gas exploration agreement
Posted on 09/27/2011 8:08:19 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Turkey and Turkish Cyprus signed a deal on Wednesday in New York to establish a ground for offshore gas exploration in a move set to escalate the already high regional tensions over Mediterranean energy reserves and border issues.
On Tuesday, the Greek Cypriot administration confirmed that drilling had begun in a southeastern offshore block, adjoining a gas field in Israeli waters reputed to be the world's largest gas reserves find of the past decade. With the latest agreement the ethnic Turkish northern half of Cyprus, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, marked its marine borders with Turkey and will issue licenses for offshore oil and gas drilling in response.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the offshore gas drilling by Greek Cyprus and Turkey's estranged ally Israel as "madness" before signing the deal with the Turkish Cypriots to pave the way for Turkish exploration off international water araın Cyprus island...
Turkish Cypriot state, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, has only been recognised by Turkey, while the Greek Cypriot administration is internationally recognised and represents the island of Cyprus in the European Union.
Spokesman of Greek Cypriot administration Stefanos Stefanou said in New York that "Turkey has committed yet another unlawful act, signing an agreement with an illegal entity. "With this unlawful act, Turkey is trying to prevent the Cyprus republic from exercising a self-evident right which is recognized by the entire international community," he added. "The international community is asking Turkey to respect international law.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalturk.com ...
Turkey boils the waters in Medditerranean with gas exploration agreement
Down to the bottom of the, husbands and wives, Turkish sailors lost their lives...
Erdogan sees opportunity in the turmoil around him.
I have seen the offshore exploration prospect in presentations on Noble Energy’s website. It is huge and on trend with the giant gas discoveries Tamar and Leviathan offshore Israel.
The Turks have no rights in these southern waters off Cyprus. To the east, borders are with Israel, then north to Lebanon.
If Turkey makes a move on the Cypriots in the event of discovery, it will be a reactivation of a longstanding war. There are many more ethnic Turks living in occupied Cyprus (north part of the island) than in the country republic of Cyprus (south). Of course it is nothing new for the Ottomans to be picking on Cyprus.
:’) He *is* the turmoil around him.
Thanks FE. I think it will appear to be getting to the brink, then blow over, and not to Turkey’s benefit. Putin and/or Medvedev will travel to the Balkans soon.
But Turkey is part of NATO now. For whatever that’s worth.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Isn't that a little like Jeff Dunham signing a deal with Achmed the Dead Terrorist?
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