Turkey’s resolve tested by drilling

By Stefanos Evripidou Published on September 21, 2011

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TURKEY’S RESOLVE will be tested in the race for hydrocarbons in the Mediterranean where up to seven trillion dollars worth of gas lies in the waters between Egypt, Cyprus and Crete, Turkish paper Sabah reported yesterday.

According to Sabah, Turkey will begin drilling for oil and gas after Cyprus starts drilling, as part of plans to stake a claim on the riches of the eastern Mediterranean. Its national security council will discuss the energy potential of the area in next month’s meeting.

The paper reported that in 2010 the Turkish army’s General Staff asked academics and legal maritime experts whether they thought it was worth going to war over the energy reserves of the eastern Mediterranean. The answer reportedly was ‘yes’.

Citing possession of a government document, Sabah said the Turkish government estimates there are around 15 trillion cubic metres of gas in waters between Egypt, Cyprus and Crete worth around $7 trillion.

According to the document, if Turkey fails to “hinder” drilling in Cyprus’ Block 12, this would lead to an international race for explorations in Cyprus’ remaining unlicenced blocks in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The document described the situation as “serious”, noting, “from this point onward we are headed full speed to a breaking point which will test Turkey’s decisiveness”.

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz yesterday repeated Turkey’s threat to sign a continental shelf agreement with the breakaway state in the north and proceed with seismic surveys in the area. He argued that the start of drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ was a provocation, violating international law and the rights of the breakaway state.

Senior member of the Greek Cypriot negotiating team in the peace talks, Toumazos Tselepis, yesterday commented on the possible signing of a pact between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, saying: “from an international law point of view, (the pact) will be worth as much as the paper it is written on.”

On Monday, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said explorations could start off northern Cyprus within the week.

“Of course our steps will be supported by our military air force and navy. This is not a bluff,” Turkey’s deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said yesterday.

Asked to comment on US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s support for Cyprus’ exploration efforts, Arinc said: “What’s important is what we do.”

On Monday, Clinton met Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Speaking to the media afterwards, a State Department official said Clinton reiterated US support to the peace process in Cyprus, adding that the two also discussed issues regarding energy development and gas exploration.

“The United States supports Cyprus’ right to explore for energy. It doesn’t believe that should undermine or interfere with the talks and agrees with all of those who believe that the best way to sort out the question of energy and economic development is through a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem,” the US official said.

Asked whether Clinton made that view clear to Davutoglu, the spokesman said that she was clear on how the United States sees the situation.

President Obama was due to meet Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan late last night and drilling for hydrocarbons in the region was believed to have been on the agenda.

Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou yesterday hailed as “very important” the US State Department statement supporting Cyprus’ right to exploit its energy resources.

He noted the US made it clear “they respect and recognise the right of Cyprus to explore and exploit its own natural wealth, a self-evident sovereign right”. Also, “they disassociate this right from the solution of the Cyprus problem” while also supporting the ongoing peace process.

Clinton’s voice of support was backed up by Democrat Congresswoman Shelley Berkley who said Turkey’s warnings against Cyprus taking over the EU Presidency or exploiting its natural undersea resources sound like the rantings of a bully and represent just one more effort by Turkey to solidify its illegal occupation of northern Cyprus

In a written statement, Berkley said “rather than acquiesce to this behaviour, the world community must call on Turkey to immediately end its occupation of northern Cyprus and its use of intimidation tactics against the State of Israel, the Republic of Cyprus and others in the Mediterranean community”.

She added: “Turkey’s behaviour over the past week is just its latest attempt to intimidate its neighbours and extend its hegemony in the Mediterranean.”

Meanwhile, during his meeting with President Demetris Christofias on Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pledged to raise the issue of Turkish threats over Cyprus’ gas exploration, said Christofias to reporters.

He noted that Ban did not ask that Cyprus stop or postpone drilling, adding: “The position of the Cyprus Republic is clear. We will continue. It is the sovereign right of the Cyprus Republic to explore and hopefully hydrocarbons will be found. Our Turkish Cypriot compatriots have nothing to lose, indeed they have much to gain, and this must be understood by Turkey and (Turkish Cypriot leader) Mr (Dervis) Eroglu.”

According to a UN statement, Ban “encouraged” Christofias to continue efforts to increase convergences on all chapters in the peace talks, reiterating his expectation that the sides will move the process forward, prior to the next tripartite meeting with both leaders at the end of October.

Christofias yesterday met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York where he thanked him for his ministry’s statement supporting Cyprus’ sovereign right to explore for gas. He said the Russian statement acted as a “shield for Cyprus” after which other countries followed suit.