Ankara's move in the eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Cyprus, is likely to stir up the waters since it will probably be interpreted by many as a show of its determination to protect its rights and interests in the region when faced with a unilateral Greek Cypriot move vis-à-vis the exploration.
A governmental decree authorizing the TPAO to explore for oil beyond Turkish territorial waters in the Mediterranean went into effect on Thursday after publication in the Official Gazette. According to the decree, published after Cabinet approval, the regions where the TPAO will launch geological surveys are four separate areas, two in the Antalya Basin and two in the Muğla Basin. The four blocs in total comprise more than 2 million hectares of area. Last month, Greek Cyprus stated that it would press on with offshore oil exploration, despite strong objections from Turkey, and would open new fields for hydrocarbon research by early next year.
Only a few days after this statement, it raised the stakes in the dispute, saying Turkey's objection would further impede its regional rival's effort to join the European Union. The first exploration deal by Greek Cyprus was clinched with US company Noble Energy, which has already found a large gas reservoir off the coast of nearby Israel. In response, Ankara urged third parties to use “common sense” in avoiding becoming party to actions that might be harmful to ongoing reunification talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, while also expressing determination in protecting its rights in the Mediterranean Sea.
“The Turkish Cypriot people have rights there [in the eastern Mediterranean]. You cannot ignore this. Turkey also has rights and interests there. Our intention to protect them is known by everyone,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Özügergin told reporters last month, when he also labeled Greek Cypriot actions on this issue as “in a word -- adventurous.”
In 2007, Greek Cyprus launched its first licensing round for hydrocarbons in 11 offshore blocs, most in deepwater locations, despite objections from Turkey, which militarily intervened in the north of Cyprus in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup. Turkish Cypriots in the north of the divided island say their Greek Cypriot rivals have no authority to explore for oil or gas and have warned that the dispute could upset reunification talks.
In November of last year, EU member Greek Cyprus protested to the United Nations that Turkish warships had repeatedly harassed Norwegian research vessels off the southern rim of the island over blocs earmarked for exploration. Turkey, which lies north of Cyprus, said the research ships had encroached on its continental shelf.
