The Cypriot government said on Wednesday that it would bring its dispute with Turkey over the oil exploration in eastern Mediterranean to the United Nations and the European Union.
"We are proceeding within the day, to report Turkey's provocative stance both to the UN and the EU," government spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
Turkey has warned Lebanon and Egypt against carrying out oil and natural gas
exploration in the eastern Mediterranean under their agreements they signed with Cyprus in this regard, arguing that Turkey and Turkish Cypriots also had a say in the region.
But Pashiardis said they were proceeding "as planned," referring to the international tender for the offshore oil and gas exploration opening on Feb. 15.
"We will not be hauled into a public debate over an issue which solely concerns the lawful government of the Republic of Cyprus and in which neither Turkey nor the illegal (Turkish Cypriot) regime has any say," he added.
The Greek Cypriot government has signed agreements with Egypt and Lebanon on the delimitation of undersea borders to facilitate future oil and gas exploration after initial seismic findings showed possible hydrocarbons in its economic zone.
Turkey warned on Tuesday that countries and companies which want to join Greek Cypriots in oil and natural gas exploration should take into consideration "the sensitivity of the situation and will of Turkish Cypriots who are the other founder nation on the island."
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of Cyprus following a coup by a group of Greek officers.
The internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus entered the EU in the name of the whole island while the Turkish-Cypriot dominated northern Cyprus is recognized by Turkey only.
(Xinhua News Agency, 01/02/2007)