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A large number of Turkish surface vessels (frigates OHPerry, MEKO 200TN-and ballistic missile Kilic) and Type 209/1400 submarines sailed a few hours ago by naval port of Marmaris (Aksaz) and at this moment between Rhodes and Kastelorizo, where operating ban and sea exercises anti-submarine warfare using real ammunition.
The area pursued the same area which is to start prospecting for oil, by Turkish oil companies in early 2012. Currently Kastelorizo is strategic for Greece, as Ankara has pulled a disproportionately large number of vessels for a simple regular exercise.
Certainly the timing chosen by the Turks to make such large forces (estimated at more than ten Turkish military carried out at the moment) is far from random.
Next week passes in the Cypriot shelf Homer Ferrigton of Noble Energy, but we that this is more related to any attempt to demonstrate that the crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean reflexes directly affect Kastelorizo.
But there is another element that might have "irritated" Ankara. Two vessels, according to the Italian "Explora" had halt the Turkish Navy, cable-laying work out exactly the same area activated by the Italian vessel before an abrupt interruption of research it.
Cypriot Energy Service head Solon Kassinis expects exploratory drilling of Block 12 to start before October 1.
Noble Energy Inc. (NYSE: NBL) says that it will push ahead with its Cypriot offshore exploratory well at Block 12, in spite of warnings from Turkey not to do so.
If President Demetris Christofias chooses to push ahead with drilling, he is essentially calling Turkey’s bluff. Failure to do so effectively acknowledges Turkey’s dominion over the island.
Kassinis added that any fears from Noble Energy have been assuaged by the US Embassy in Nicosia which has told the company to go ahead and expedite the exploration process.