(ANSAmed) – ANKARA, MAY 20 - Turkey will cease cooperation
with the companies operating in Cyprus, Anatolia news agency
reported quoting Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources Taner Yildiz as saying. According to the minister,
exploration of hydrocarbons in the eastern Mediterranean is the
right of the two sides - Cyprus and Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC, recognized only by Ankara). Last February, Turkey
ceased cooperation with the Italian company Eni over its
partnership with Cyprus in the field of hydrocarbon exploration
in the eastern Mediterranean. Yildiz said the company was
excluded from participation in the construction of the
Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline, where Eni was collaborating with the
Turkish company Calik Holding. Earlier, Ankara has repeatedly
warned about the possibility of termination of cooperation with
Eni, given it does not suspend cooperation with Cyprus in the
eastern Mediterranean. Turkey considers that the conduct of work
in the special economic zone is contrary to international law.
After Nicosia started the work in September 2011 on the development of the shelf off the coast of the island divided into Greek and Turkish parts, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey together with the TRNC will start to explore for oil and gas in a "special economic zone" of the Northern Cyprus. Turkey has repeatedly expressed its categorical opposition to the works, demanding to cancel plans for the development of hydrocarbons by Cyprus. (ANSAmed).
After Nicosia started the work in September 2011 on the development of the shelf off the coast of the island divided into Greek and Turkish parts, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey together with the TRNC will start to explore for oil and gas in a "special economic zone" of the Northern Cyprus. Turkey has repeatedly expressed its categorical opposition to the works, demanding to cancel plans for the development of hydrocarbons by Cyprus. (ANSAmed).
