Turkey snubs EU, US calls for Cyprus thaw

Ankara is sticking to its oil and gas exploration activities as planned in eastern Mediterranean Sea despite continued unease voiced by its old allies, the U.S. and the EU. At the moment, Turkish geophysical and seismic research vessel Piri Reis is surveying in and around the Block 12 economic zone, where Greek Cypriot drilling is also under way. The Piri Reis is expected to continue to search the area as long as needed, a senior Foreign Ministry official told the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday. The ship, however, will not approach the spot where Noble Energy has erected a rig, the official said. In the earlier talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made known the U.S.'s position on Greek Cyprus' energy exploration projects, a senior U.S. official said on condition of anonymity. Washington "supports [Greek] Cyprus's right to explore for energy" and "doesn't believe that should undermine or interfere with the talks" to resolve the Cyprus problem, the official said. The first warnings to Turkey came from EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who urged Turkey to refrain from any kind of threat against Greek Cyprus after Turkey had said it would launch its own oil and gas exploration effort. The most recent criticism of Turkey came from the EU High Commissioner Stefan Fule on Tuesday who said during a session of the European Parliament that Turkey's policy toward Greek Cyprus' gas exploration plans in the East Mediterranean is "irresponsible" and to be condemned. Turkish frigates are not directly escorting the research vessel but are sailing in the region, ready to intervene if the Piri Reis is harassed, the Turkish Foreign Ministry official said. "We already had some armed ships in the region patrolling in international waters. What we are doing now [since the Greek Cypriots began drilling] is increasing their visibility."