Foreign minister briefs EU counterparts over Turkish incursion

Nicosia was on Monday briefing EU foreign ministers on Turkey’s latest provocations inside the island’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as an unfazed Ankara amplified its rhetoric by hinting a second drillship would be despatched to waters around Cyprus.

Foreign minister Nikos Christodoulides was in Brussels attending the Foreign Affairs Council, briefing his EU counterparts on Turkey’s actions in Cyprus’ EEZ. On the sidelines Christodoulides was also set to have a series of one-on-one meetings with other EU foreign ministers.

At the gathering in Brussels, EU ministers were however more preoccupied with the situation in Libya, as well as the Iran nuclear deal; US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was expected to make an unscheduled stop there to discuss developments on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The Foreign Affairs Council was not anticipated to issue a statement on Cyprus, government sources told the Cyprus Mail.

Any announcements regarding the EU’s stance – or measures – relating to Turkey’s incursions into Cypriot maritime zones would be left to the next formal European Council summit, to be held in early June.

“In the interim, the government is working diplomatically to lay the groundwork for the EU’s response,” the same sources said.

Christodoulides had a meeting on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council with EU Commissioner on enlargement and neighbourhood policy, Johannes Hahn who said he shares Cyprus’ grave concern over Turkey’s drilling plans within the Republic’ EEZ.

He reiterated that “the European Council has strongly condemned such actions in the Eastern Mediterranean” and warned that “this position holds.” He also called on Turkey for restraint and respect of the member states’ sovereign rights.

On the status of the Turkish drillship, the Fatih, the sources said the vessel remains stationary at the same position, west of Paphos.

There was no information on whether the rig had begun actual drilling.

“But we are operating on the assumption that the Fatih does have the wherewithal to drill.”

The government meanwhile is still gathering data on the individuals and companies involved with the three ships supporting the Fatih, with a view to applying for international arrest warrants.

Meantime Turkey’s energy minister Fatih Donmez announced that their second drillship, the Yavuz, would “soon” be undertaking drilling operations in the eastern Mediterranean.

This will occur once the Yavuz is outfitted with the necessary equipment, Donmez told Milliyet newspaper.

For this year, he added, Turkey plans two drills in shallow waters, and three to four drills in deep waters.

Commenting on the Greek Cypriot reaction, the Turkish minister reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots have ‘rights’ on certain parts of the EEZ declared by Cyprus.

Donmez spoke of efforts to exclude Turkey from the “eastern Mediterranean equation”, alluding to hydrocarbons resources.

“Any formula which leaves Turkey out of this equation is wishful thinking. We have long stated that we would be conducting our own explorations.”

Turkey’s finance minister Berat Albayrak made similar remarks speaking to CNN Turk.

“The Fatih is already mobilised, and in coming days our second drillship, the Yavuz, will also be mobilized.

“Based on scientific realities, I can clearly state that in Turkey by 2020 we shall be hearing very pleasant news about oil and natural gas, especially relating to explorations at sea and on land. I want our 82 million citizens to know this.”

Turkey is laying claim to parts of various blocks in Cyprus’ EEZ saying the areas in question form part of its continental shelf. The claim includes part of Blocks 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Turkish Cypriots signed a ‘Continental Shelf Delimitation Agreement’ with Turkey in September 2011. This ‘agreement’ states that it has been signed in line with international law and with respect to the principle of equity, though the ‘TRNC’ is not recognised internationally. It is on this basis that Turkish Cypriots declared an ‘EEZ’ which in effect claims that half of Cyprus’ EEZ belongs to them, including blocks 1,2,3,8,9,12 and 13.

Asked about Turkey’s second drillship being sent to the Cypriot EEZ, the government sources told the Mail that, although no scenario can be ruled out, it is possible Turkey is playing psychological warfare games with Nicosia.

“Maybe that’s what they want us to think, to keep us on edge.”