By Ahval

Nicosia issued a navigational telex on Friday reserving for naval exercise some parts of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), where Turkey’s second drillship, the Yavuz, is expected to anchor to begin exploring for hydrocarbons, Greek daily Kathimerini reported.

According to Kathimerini the navigational telex was issued for parts of blocks 2 and 3 for naval exercises from July 1 to 10.

Turkey sent a vessel to waters well inside the Cyprus EEZ in early May which later started drilling. The Yavuz, accompanied by Turkish navy, set sail last week to start operating off the Karpas Peninsula on the northeast of Cyprus in early July.

Block 3 is also where Turkey had prevented exploratory drilling by Italian firm Eni in February 2018, Kathimerini said.

The struggle for rich gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean has been fuelling tensions between Turkey, Cyprus and Greece. European Union member states and U.S. officials have objected to Turkey’s increasing drilling efforts in the region.

Turkey, the only nation to recognise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, maintains that attempts by Cyprus to conduct gas exploration are a violation of the rights of the Turkish part of the divided island.

The European Council, which is made up of the EU’s political leadership, issued a statement last week condemning Turkey’s actions and saying it would now consider what measures to take in response.

“The European Council expresses serious concerns over Turkey’s current illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and deplores that Turkey has not yet responded to the EU’s repeated calls to cease such activities,” it said in the statement.

France is sensitive to Cyprus’ “difficulties” with neighbouring Turkey and backs Nicosia’s bid to get Ankara to stop unlawful gas drilling off its shores, the Associated Press quoted a senior French senator as saying on Friday.

Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Christian Cambon said both France and the European Union rejected Turkey’s actions. He also said France would protect its energy company Total’s licensed gas search off Cyprus, according to Cyprus News Agency.

According to Kathimerini, Nicosia is doing everything it can to ensure the participation of Total in blocks that have already been licensed to Italy’s Eni, as well as a consortium of the Italian company and South Korea’s KOGAS.

Greece also awarded on Thursday licence to Total to search for hydrocarbons off the island of Crete.