Turkish Ships To Start Drilling For Oil, Gas Offshore North Cyprus

[Swordsmyth]

Turkish exploration ships will soon start drilling for oil and gas offshore the northern part of Cyprus, the energy minister of the Turkish Cypriots told Turkish Anadolu Agency on Wednesday, a move that could reignite tension between Turkey, Cyprus, and Greece regarding the exploration rights off the eastern Mediterranean island.
Turkey, which recognizes the northern Turkish Cypriot government and doesn’t have diplomatic relations with the internationally recognized government of Cyprus, claims that part of the Cyprus offshore area is under the jurisdiction of Turkish Cypriots or Turkey.
“We will protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots and take the necessary steps on the issue of natural gas, just as we do on other issues,” Ozdil Nami, the energy minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), told Anadolu Agency.
The president of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, has proposed that the Turkish Cypriots keep their share of the oil and gas income in a special fund until a solution to the divided island of Cyprus is reached. The Turkish Cypriot energy minister Nami, however, called this proposal “irrational and illogical,” according to Anadolu Agency.
“Turkey is the easiest, most economical and fastest route in transporting natural gas extracted in the eastern Mediterranean to Europe,” Nami told the Turkish news agency.
Turkey will not allow other countries to drill for gas in Turkish or northern Cyprus waters in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned in November, while both Turkey and Cyprus were getting ready to drill in the area where the countries have overlapping claims of maritime territories.
ExxonMobil planned to begin drilling for oil and gas offshore Cyprus in the fourth quarter last year, while Turkey warned against exploration offshore Cyprus in what it says is ignoring the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Exxon has found a commercially viable oil reservoir in Block 10 offshore Cyprus, Greek newspaper Kathimerini Cyprus reported last week, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. Official results from Exxon are not expected until the end of this week, Kathimerini Cyprus said last week.

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-N...th-Cyprus.html

[Swordsmyth]

Turkey will begin drilling for oil and gas with two drillships off the coast of Cyprus, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Daily Sabah reported Feb. 21.

The Cypriot government issued a complaint to the United Nations in January that Turkey was planning to conduct drilling operations in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone.

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situa...-minister-says

[Swordsmyth]

The European Union has expressed its “grave concern” about the upcoming drilling to be conducted by Turkey in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus.
Turkey does not recognize the government in Nicosia or its agreements regarding EEZ. Ankara thinks that the right to extract gas should also be exercised by the Turkish Cypriots and also by Turkey in the case of Blocks 4, 5, 6, and 7, through which – according to Ankara – passes the Turkish maritime border (the map below).

As KeepTalkingGreece reports, in a statement issued on Saturday, EU’s High Representative and Vice President Federica Mogherini said that the European Council had “strongly condemned Turkey’s continuous illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.”
Mogherini pledged to “respond appropriately and in full solidarity with Cyprus.”

Mogherini’s statement:

“We express grave concern over Turkey’s announced intention to carry out drilling activities within the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus. In March 2018, the European Council strongly condemned Turkey’s continued illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean. In this context, we urgently call on Turkey to show restraint, respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus in its exclusive economic zone and refrain from any such illegal action to which the European Union will respond appropriately and in full solidarity with Cyprus.”

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-...ing-cyprus-eez

[Swordsmyth]

A Turkish ship on May 3 began drilling in a disputed section of the Mediterranean Sea claimed by both Cyprus and the Turkey-recognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, prompting the United States and the European Union to issue statements calling for Turkey to stop its drilling, EUobserver reported May 6. In response to the European Union's statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry replied on May 4 that "We will protect our own rights and interests within our continental shelf, as well as those of the Turkish Cypriots."

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situa...eign-responses

[Swordsmyth]

With the U.S. and the EU chiming in this weekend with their own warnings, today, Turkish Naval Forces on board the Fatih reported threats over their radios of international arrest warrants coming from the Greek Cypriot authorities if the vessel does not vacate Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
As of this afternoon, the ship’s location is still in the EEZ, with Turkey refusing to budge.


Earlier this year, a high-level Turkish government official told us that in a future standoffs over oil drilling in the disputed territory, Turkey could protect its civilian ships “with military ship”.
Turkey is following through on a threat to start drilling in disputed waters that it made most recently in February.
On Monday, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan address a NATO meeting in Ankara, saying that Turkey fully expected the military alliance to support Turkey’s rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.
A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement on the same day criticized the U.S. warning as being “neither constructive nor compatible with international law”. It also said that “the Greek Cypriot Administration’s EEZ delimitation agreements with the countries in the region are not valid for Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, and one of these agreements violates Turkey’s continental shelf rights”.
Turkey repeated its intention to continue its natural gas and oil drilling in the region, saying that “our drilling and seismic vessels will resolutely continue their activities in our continental shelf in the areas where our Government granted the Turkish Petroleum licenses in 2009 and 2012”.

More at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-N...-Drilling.html

[goldenequity]

https://twitter.com/Ozkok_/status/1126049140071383041




https://worldview.stratfor.com/artic...-oil-us-greece

What Happened

The countries of the Eastern Mediterranean are on course for some choppy waters. On May 6, Turkey said its ships would continue to explore for oil and gas in an area of the sea that Cyprus considers to be part of its exclusive economic zone. Turkey issued the statement after the United States and the European Union criticized it for sending a ship to explore for energy in a zone that Cyprus and breakaway Northern Cyprus dispute, prompting Cyprus to file international arrest warrants for the crew of the Turkish drilling ship.

https://twitter.com/Ozkok_/status/1126060292218159105

[Swordsmyth]

The president of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades has slammed Turkey for its “unprecedented escalation of illegal action” which constitutes a “second invasion” in the eastern Mediterranean, blaming Ankara of illegally drilling inside its exclusive economic zone.
Cyprus has this week raised the issue in an informal European Council meeting in Sibiu, Romania, with European Council President Donald Tusk planning to make official comments on the matter. EU leaders are also set to consider Cyprus' allegations during meetings at the end of May and in June, which Cypriots fear could merely be more European lip service on the matter.


Also on Thursday UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt also expressed Britain is “concerned by Turkey’s announcement to begin drilling in Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone,” according to Reuters. “This situation must be deescalated and all parties show restraint,” he said. “Hydrocarbons development should benefit all Cypriots and support a settlement,” the foreign secretary added.
Both the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government and Turkey - which occupies northern Cyprus - have overlapping claims of jurisdiction for offshore oil and gas research in the natural gas-rich eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey says it's adhering to international law, to which Cypriot government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou responded by calling out “Turkey’s blatant and unprecedented violations” of Cyprus’ exclusive zone.
Prodromou said that both Anastasiades’ and European People’s Party leadership “condemn the Turkish intervention (and) call on Turkey to abandon these illegal activities.” Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras added that the crisis was “a European issue and not just a Cypriot one,” adding that “international law cannot be violated.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently been provocatively sending warships near Cypriot waters in order to ward off foreign competition to oil and gas research, according to Cypriot officials, also seeking to bar Cypriot ships and planes from freely traversing its own European recognized waters.


More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-...rges-eu-action

[goldenequity]

https://twitter.com/Ozkok_A/status/1127874213149380608

[Swordsmyth]

The Turkish government will send a second drillship to waters near Cyprus, according to Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Ekathimerini reported May 13. Federica Mogherini, the EU high commissioner for foreign affairs, expressed concern about the plan, calling on Turkey to respect Cyprus' sovereignty and warning that the European Union would respond "appropriately."

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situa...-waters-cyprus

[Swordsmyth]

...

Greek Cyprus issues arrest warrant for Turkish drillship Fatih’s personnel, hiking tensions
https://www.dailysabah.com/energy/20...iking-tensions

[Swordsmyth]

Turkey has threatened to respond in kind if Cyprus follows through on arrest warrants for crew members of the Turkish drilling vessel Fatih and officials with the Turkish Petroleum Corporation for "illegally" entering Cyprus' continental shelf in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Hurriyet Daily News reported June 10.

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situa...rrest-warrants

[Swordsmyth]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said Turkey would not back down from gas exploration in Cyprus after southern European leaders urged Ankara to stop."We continue and will continue to search in those areas that are ours," Erdogan said during a televised speech in Istanbul.
"Someone has given an order. They will apparently arrest our boats' personnel. You will come off badly if you do so," Erdogan warned, after Cyprus reportedly issued arrests warrants for crew members of Turkey's drilling ship, Fatih, last week.
After a summit of the southern European Union countries in Valletta, the seven nations issued a joint declaration on Friday, expressing "serious concern over actual or potential drilling activities within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone".
They urged the EU to keep an eye on the issue "and, in case Turkey does not cease its illegal activities, to consider appropriate measures in full solidarity with Cyprus".
The Turkish foreign ministry on Saturday said the declaration was "biased" and contrary to international law, accusing the European Union of siding with EU members Cyprus and Greece.


Erdogan on Sunday also hit out at French President Emmanuel Macron over his support for Cyprus.
Macron said on Friday the EU would "not show weakness on this matter".
"What business does France have here?" Erdogan said. "Turkey is a guarantor power in Cyprus. Greece and the UK are guarantor powers as well. What are you?
"Are you making such statements for Total? Show you have the power of attorney. So it means you have left the presidency and have now begun work as a lawyer," he quipped.
Energy giants Total of France and Italy's ENI are heavily involved in exploring for oil and gas off Cyprus as well as ExxonMobil.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/erdogan-says-...152230874.html

[Swordsmyth]

The European Council called Turkish drilling off Cyprus illegal and said "targeted measures" could be taken against Turkey, the BBC reported June 21. Sanctions could include visa bans and asset freezes, and also freezing already-suspended talks on a customs union and EU accession. Turkey sent a second ship into the disputed area on June 20, with Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez saying his country will continue drilling, Deutsche Welle reported June 20.

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situa...lling-possible

[goldenequity]

H.K ����
@Ibra_Joudeh
US Senate forces Cyprus to block Russian ships in eastern Mediterranean
http://dlvr.it/R7Ssbk

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:00 P.M.) – The Russian Navy will no longer be allowed to dock and refuel in Cyprus after a last-minute U.S. Senate bill was passed on Tuesday.

Led by warhawk senators Marco Rubio (R) and Bob Melendez (D), the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee bill requires Cyprus to block all Russian naval vessels from docking at their ports as part of their arms embargo against Moscow.

Cypriot President President Nicos Anastasiades called the new bill ‘unfortunate’, saying that it will “affect the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus to a large extent”.

(yeah... and no Vaseline either.)

[Swordsmyth]

The Turkish drillship Yavuz has arrived at a location off the Karpas Peninsula off the coast of Cyprus, making it the second Turkish drillship to operate in an area that Cyprus has claimed as its exclusive economic zone, Reuters reported July 8. The move prompted a rebuke by the Cypriot government, which said Turkey was breaching Cyprus' sovereignty.

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situa...-cypriot-coast

[Swordsmyth]

Turkey and Europe are headed for a showdown in the eastern Mediterranean over Turkish plans for oil and gas exploration and drilling in Cypriot-recognized waters, with the European Union reportedly now mulling cutting financial assistance to Turkey over the illegal drilling. EU envoys are reportedly meeting Wednesday to discuss various punitive measures against Turkey, including suspending aviation talks and even sanctions.
The latest crisis was triggered after Turkish drilling vessel Yavuz sailed to an area off Cyprus’ east coast at the start of this week — the second to follow a first drilling vessel, Fatih, which had already been exploring in Cypriot waters. Notably, the vessels have been accompanied by the Turkish military, including drones, F-16 fighters, and warships.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay had warned over the weekend while speaking from the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus: “Those who move against the legitimate rights of Turkey or the Turkish Cyprus and discount Turkey in the region will not be able to reach their aims,” according to Hurriyet Daily.
However, EU foreign minister Federica Mogherini warned Turkey this week that the EU would respond "appropriately and in full solidarity with Cyprus" after Ankara announced the deployment of the Yavuz drilling vessel. Previously, the Fatih had been deployed a mere 42 miles off the west coast of Cyprus.

Turkey's drilling vessel "Fatih" was given a salute by a Turkish Air Force F-16 jet pic.twitter.com/BtdOUM9DiP
— TRT World (@trtworld) June 28, 2019

The EU's Mogherini said following news of the second drill ship deployment that it's an "unacceptable escalation" which violates EU-member Cyprus' sovereignty:

Turkey’s declared intention to illegally conduct a new drilling operation northeast of Cyprus is of grave concern. This second planned drilling operation, two months after the start of the ongoing drilling operations west of Cyprus, is a further unacceptable escalation, which violates the sovereignty of Cyprus.

“We call on the Turkish authorities, once again, to refrain from such actions, act in a spirit of good neighborliness and respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus in accordance with international law,” she added.
The Cypriot government has repeatedly condemned Turkey's "blatant violation of international law" and urged the EU to take firmer action.
“The Republic of Cyprus is determined to continue to defend its legal rights to the benefit of all its legal citizens, intensifying its efforts at a legal, political and diplomatic level, using all means at its disposal, especially in the framework of the European Union,” a new Cypriot government statement reads.
The president of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades previously slammed Turkey for its “unprecedented escalation of illegal action” which constitutes a “second invasion” in the eastern Mediterranean, blaming Ankara for illegally drilling inside its exclusive economic zone.
Both the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government and Turkey - which occupies northern Cyprus - have overlapping claims of jurisdiction for offshore oil and gas research in the natural gas-rich eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently been provocatively sending warships near Cypriot waters in order to ward off foreign competition to oil and gas research, according to Cypriot officials, also seeking to bar Cypriot ships and planes from freely traversing its own European recognized waters.
But Erdogan is also bumping up against other Mediterranean countries' plans in the region — notably Israel and Egypt as well, at a moment he's engaged in multiple crises both domestic and related to the West — even as Turkey has long sought EU membership.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-...cypriot-waters

[Swordsmyth]

The European Union is set to curb contacts and funding for Ankara in retaliation for what it calls Turkey's "illegal" drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus and stands ready to ramp up sanctions further, a draft statement seen by Reuters shows.In trying to take Ankara to task over what the EU sees as Turkish interference with Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, the bloc is walking a thin line, careful not to antagonize an important partner.
"Despite our best intentions to keep good neighborly relations with Turkey, its continued escalation and challenge to the sovereignty of our Member State Cyprus will inevitably lead the EU to respond in full solidarity," Donald Tusk, president of the European Council of ministers, said on Wednesday.
On Thursday, national envoys in Brussels were discussing a joint decision to punish Turkey, a draft of which said:
"In light of Turkey's continued and new illegal drilling activities, the (EU) decides to suspend negotiations on the Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement and agrees not to hold further meetings of the high-level dialogues for the time being."
"The Council endorses the (European) Commission's proposal to reduce the pre-accession assistance to Turkey for 2020 and invites the European Investment Bank to review its lending activities in Turkey, notably with regard to sovereign-backed lending," it said.
It added that the EU would be ready to introduce more restrictive measures against Turkey should Ankara continue drilling.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/eu-signals-sa...084527969.html

[Swordsmyth]

A surprisingly muscular response beyond mere threatening rhetoric out of the European Union over Turkey's violations of Cypriot territorial waters related to offshore drilling operations: the EU has agreed to bring financial and political sanctions against Turkey after repeat warnings of the past weeks.
European Union officials on Monday agreed political and financial sanctions against Turkey after Ankara went ahead with drilling operations off Cyprus despite repeated warnings, European diplomats said. — AFP


"The conclusions on Turkey have been adopted and they will be made public in the coming hours," the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters following a meeting of foreign ministers.


The AFP reports the following after the EU ministers' meeting and announcement of impending sanctions:
The details are not due to be published until 10:00 pm (2000 GMT), but the most serious measure is understood to be a cut of 145.8 million euros ($164 million) in the European funds allocated to Turkey for 2020.
The European Investment Bank has been asked to revisit the conditions set out for providing financial support to Ankara, according to several European sources.
The EU is also expected to downgrade its dialogue with Turkey, without cutting it off completely.


More at: https://oilprice.com/Geopolitics/Eur...-Drilling.html

[Swordsmyth]

Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci has proposed the establishment of a joint committee to help foster cooperation between the Turkish and Greek parts of Cyprus over oil and gas exploration, Reuters reported July 13.

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situa...mittee-oil-gas

[Swordsmyth]

European Union decisions to curb contacts and funding for Turkey over its drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus will not affect its determination to continue energy activities in the region, the Turkish foreign ministry said on Tuesday.The ministry said the EU's failure to mention Turkish Cypriots in its decisions, taken on Monday, "showed how biased and partisan the EU is on the subject of Cyprus".

"The decisions will not affect in the slightest our country's determination to continue hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean," the ministry statement said.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/1-turkey-says...045052142.html

[Swordsmyth]

Turkey's military is prepared to reinvade Cyprus “if needed for the lives and security of Turkish Cypriots,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.
“The entire world is watching our determination. No one should doubt that the heroic Turkish army, which sees [Northern] Cyprus as its homeland, will not hesitate to take the same step it took 45 years ago if needed for the lives and security of the Turkish Cypriots,” state-run Anadolu News Agency quoted Erdogan as saying.

Erdogan issued the statement as the nation marks the 45th anniversary of Turkey's deeply controversial invasion of northern Cyprus in 1974, long condemned by the bulk of UN member countries.

"Those who dream of changing the fact that Turkish Cypriots are an integral part of the Turkish nation will soon realize that it is in vain," Erdogan added.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-...r-eu-sanctions

[Swordsmyth]

Turkey is continuing its oil and gas drilling operations in the eastern Mediterranean, sending yet another ship to drill for hydrocarbons amid a strained dispute over exploration rights that has drawn the attention of the European Union and the United States.
Two Turkish ships continue to drill offshore Cyprus and a third will join them at the end of August, Turkey’s Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said aboard one of the drill ships in comments this week, as carried by Reuters.

The ships Fatih and Yavuz continue drilling operations, and the Oruc Reis seismic exploration ship is set to join the work at the end of this month, Reuters quoted Donmez as saying.

More at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-N...terranean.html

[Swordsmyth]

Turkey will continue exploring for oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean waters around disputed Cyprus, and “No project can be realised if Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are not involved,” President Recept Erdogan said, as quoted by Cypriot media.
“We will continue to defend the rights of Turkish Cypriots with the same dedication,” Erdogan said following a meeting with the head of the Cypriot Turks.

More at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-N...l-And-Gas.html

[Swordsmyth]

https://twitter.com/RT_com/status/1172283749721133056

[sam1952]

But drilling for oil and natural gas is killing the planet! All that methane in the atmosphere..
Who cares who owns the rights... stop the drilling now!

[sam1952]

double post

[Swordsmyth]

The Turkish drillship Yavuz will begin exploration operations in the Eastern Mediterranean on Oct. 7, according to Turkish officials, Reuters reported Oct. 4. The Cypriot government has condemned the planned activity.

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situa...claimed-waters

[Swordsmyth]

There are rules in exploring energy resources in the Mediterranean Sea, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday, warning Turkey not to engage in drilling activity that is "illegal" and "unacceptable"."We've made clear that operations in international waters are governed by a set of rules. We've told the Turks that illegal drilling is unacceptable and we'll continue to take diplomatic actions to ... ensure that lawful activity takes place," he said during a visit to Greece.
"No country can hold Europe hostage," Pompeo told a press briefing.
Tensions between Cyprus and Turkey over offshore drilling have intensified after Ankara sent a drilling ship to an area already licensed by Nicosia to Italian and French energy companies.
Earlier on Saturday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged the United States to use its clout to defuse tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus and Turkey are locked in a dispute over offshore rights.
Mitsotakis told Pompeo that Turkish moves south of the island in recent days were a "flagrant violation" of Cyprus' sovereign rights.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/1-greek-pm-asks-u-082353440.html

[Swordsmyth]

Cyprus, Greece and Egypt called on Turkey on Tuesday to "end its provocative actions" in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, including exploring for oil in Cyprus' territorial waters, which they called "a breach of international law".On Thursday, Turkey said it had sent a drilling ship to the area where Greek Cypriot authorities have already awarded hydrocarbon exploration rights to Italian and French companies.
"The Heads of State and Government expressed their grave concern over the current escalation within the maritime areas of the eastern part of the Mediterranean, condemning the continuing Turkish actions in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus and its territorial waters, in violation of international law," Cyprus, Greece and Egypt said.
Their joint statement was released after Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades met Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo.
The three countries expressed concern at "new attempts to conduct illegal exploration" in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, the statement said.

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/cyprus-greece...151633327.html

[Swordsmyth]

The European Union on Monday unveiled a system for imposing sanctions on Turkey over its unauthorized gas drilling in Mediterranean waters off Cyprus but no Turkish companies or officials have yet been targeted.EU foreign ministers adopted a mechanism making it possible "to sanction individuals or entities responsible for, or involved in, unauthorized drilling activities of hydrocarbons."
EU member countries can now come forward with names of those they think should be listed.
The sanctions would involve travel bans and asset freezes on people and "entities" like companies or organizations. EU citizens and firms would be banned from providing them funds.
Turkish warship-escorted drillships began exploratory drilling this summer in waters where EU-member Cyprus has exclusive economic rights, including areas where European energy companies are licensed to conduct a hydrocarbons search.
Turkey doesn't recognize Cyprus as a state and claims nearly half of the ethnically split island nation's exclusive economic zone as its own.
Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence.
In a statement, the Turkish foreign ministry said Ankara would continue protecting its energy interests and those of Turkish Cypriots and that any hope it would step back from such drilling is "futile."

More at: https://news.yahoo.com/eu-unveils-sa...192815242.html