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EU, Cyprus Protest as Second Turkish Ship Plans to Drill Off Island

Reuters

   ISTANBUL / ATHENS - A Turkish ship planning to drill for oil and gas
   close to Cyprus dropped anchor off the island on Monday, triggering a
   strong protest from Nicosia and a rebuke from the European Union.

   Last month, EU leaders warned Turkey to end its gas drilling in waters
   around the island or face action from the bloc, after Greece and Cyprus
   pressed other EU states to speak out.

   EU member Cyprus has discovered natural gas in areas off the south of
   the island, though nothing has been extracted. Turkey disputes the
   rights of the island to explore for gas, sending drill ships of its own
   to stake a claim around the island.

   In a move that could further strain ties with Cyprus over exploration
   rights, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez was quoted by the Anadolu
   news agency on Saturday as saying the Yavuz drillship would start
   drilling within a week.

   Refinitiv Eikon shipping data showed the Yavuz arrived off the east
   coast of Cyprus overnight. Another Turkish vessel, the Fatih, has been
   on the west of Cyprus since early May.

   "Turkey's declared intention to illegally conduct a new drilling
   operation northeast of Cyprus is of grave concern," the EU foreign
   policy branch said in a statement.

   It was, it said, "a further unacceptable escalation which violates the
   sovereignty of Cyprus."