French Minister for Armed Forces
Florence Parly
visited Cyprus for the first time on July 17 as a consortium of France’s
Total and Italy’s ENI begun drilling in Block 11 of the Mediterranean
island’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), despite threats from
neighbouring Turkey.
Parly was reportedly briefed by her Cypriot counterpart
Christoforos Fokaides
on Total’s drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ. Fokaides met Parly at the Zenon
crisis management centre in Larnaca, ahead of her visit to the French
Navy frigate Languedoc, which is currently operating in the East Med,
Cyprus Mail reported.
Cyprus government spokesman
Nicos Christodoulides
said on July 17 the natural gas exploration was going as planned. “There
is nothing causing concern or affecting our energy planning,” he said.
Meanwhile, following a session of Turkey’s Security Council, chaired by Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
a statement said they had evaluated the failed Conference on Cyprus in
Switzerland, stressing Ankara’s determination to maintain the interests
of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) surrounding
hydrocarbons in the East Med.
Turkey’s seismic survey ship Barbaros was reportedly sailing some 39
nautical miles off the Paphos coast on July 17 but far from the West
Capella, the drillship working for Total in Block 11.
US company Noble Energy made Cyprus’ first natural gas discovery
offshore in 2011. “Every time physical activity takes place in Cyprus
EEZ, Turkey resorts to threats and provocations,” Cyprus Natural
Hydrocarbons Company CEO
Charles Ellinas said. “It
happened when Noble Energy was drilling in Block 12 and when ENI was
drilling in Block 9 and it is happening now and very likely in the
future,” he added.
Turkey has warned Cyprus as well as Italian energy majors ENI and
Total over offshore hydrocarbon exploration in Cypriot EEZ. Asked it the
Commission is monitoring the situation and whether the EC supports
Cyprus, France and Italy to drill in Cyprus’ EEZ, European Commission
spokesperson
Maja Kocijancic told New Europe in a
written response on July 19,” We are aware. Channels of communication
are open. Parties are aware that any kind of source of friction, which
could damage the neighbourly relations, should be avoided”.
Ellinas told New Europe on July 18, “Turkey’s objections in Block 11
are purely in terms of protecting the rights of Turkish Cypriots, or at
least that’s the justification used. Block 6 is different. Turkey claims
its continental shelf extends that far and claims part of Block 6
belongs to it”.
Last week, Turkey said the frigate TCG Gokceada had orders to track
the West Capella drillship that arrived in Cyprus’ EEZ in the early
hours of July 12.
On July 13, Turkey’s Foreign Minister
Mevlut Cavusoglu
said it would take measures against Greek Cypriot exploration for oil
or gas around Cyprus. He added that Turkish Cypriots had rights over
those reserves.
On July 18, Greek Foreign Minister
Nicos Kotzias
said in Nicosia that work must be undertaken to create a new,
well-prepared chance to solve the Cyprus problem. “We must work so that a
new chance is given to negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem, but
this chance must be well prepared and effective,” he said, speaking at a
news conference following a meeting with his Cypriot Foreign Minister
Ioannis Kasoulides.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/turkey-fuming-french-frigate-patrols-off-cyprus-energy-drilling-begins/