ENERGY: US urges Turkey to avoid \’highly provocative\’ drill off Cyprus

The United States is deeply concerned by Turkey’s announced intentions to begin offshore drilling operations in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone and said it should think again.

“The United States is deeply concerned by Turkey’s announced intentions to begin offshore drilling operations in an area claimed by the Republic of Cyprus as its Exclusive Economic Zone,” said State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus.

“This step is highly provocative and risks raising tensions in the region. We urge Turkish authorities to halt these operations and encourage all parties to act with restraint,” the statement said.

Turkish media cited Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as saying a Turkish vessel had started drilling in areas for which Turkish Cypriot authorities in the occupied north of the island had issued a permit.

Turkey lays claim to energy resources where the Republic of Cyprus claims sovereign jurisdiction for offshore oil and gas research in the eastern Mediterranean.

Any escalation between Turkey and Washington could put more pressure on relations already strained on several fronts, including missile defence and military operations in Syria.

Cavusoglu had said in February that Turkey would soon begin drilling for oil and gas around Cyprus and on Saturday state-owned Anadolu news agency reported him as saying during a trip to the north that drilling had begun.

Turkey launched its first drillship ‘Fatih’ in October to drill off the coast of Turkey’s southern Antalya province. It said a second ship that it purchased would operate in the Black Sea but was diverted to the Cyprus area.

Nicosia has already protested against the Turkish move while the EU, Israel and Egypt has rallied in support.