Cyprus starts drilling in contested area in defiance of Turkey

Noble Energy starts Cyprus drilling in defiance of Turkey

US company Noble Energy Inc. (NYSE: NBL) has started drilling in Cyprus's Block 12 license. At the start of the month, the Turkish government threatened to send the Turkish navy to Cyprus if the latter continued with its plan to drill at the location. However, Noble Energy, a partner of Israeli companyDelek Group Ltd. (TASE: DLEKG), began drilling today, ten days before the end of the period stipulated in the agreement between it and the Cypriot authorities.

Here we go.

We'll see if Turkey is bluffing or not. They probably and hopefully are.

If not...

Rumblings of War: Greece and Israel sign pact amid worries about Turkey

With Turkey threatening naval action against Israel, the Jewish state and Greece have invoked a mutual defense pact they signed without publicity only 12 days ago.

“Greek Defense Minister Panos Beglitis, making the first official visit by a Greek defense minister to Israel, and his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Barak, signed a cooperation memorandum on security in Jerusalem on Sunday during the first day of Beglitis’ three-day trip,” reports the Jewish Telegraphic Agency news service.

“I come as my country’s defense minister to state our political will as a government, as well as the majority of the country’s political forces, for the two countries, the two governments, the two peoples, to work together so that we can further develop and deepen our bilateral relations in all sectors of mutual interest and concern,” Beglitis said.

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You did warn of this, and i'm also surprised they've gone ahead.

Turkey has woken up recently to protect its interests, i wouldn't bet on them bluffing.

Wait and see :/

reply to post by Vitchilo

The various reports here recently about Turkey hacking their way around the restrictions built into the aircraft so they can engage Israeli targets in a conflict doesn't bode well for Turkey bluffing. No one is even trying to clam things down or stop this from happening.

Greece is a basketcase and its government are nothing more than middle men for International Financiers. There is a real possibility of revolution brewing in greece, not such a great ally.. Turkey on the other hand are securing a powerful alliance with Egypt.

New Middle East, the Turkish version – Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday presented his country's vision for regional dominance and strategic cooperation with Egypt, which will overshadow Turkey's former allies Israel and Syria.

Interesting times indeed.

Nice move by Israel. Use an American company to do the drilling knowing full well if Turkey does anything to them America will get dragged into this. America should just turn a blind eye to what happens. The company knew they didn't belong there so what happens happens. America cannot cut it's ties with Israel fast enough to suit me.

Here's the map of Cyprus and the gas “blocks”.

www.cyprusfranchising.com...

Note that block 12 is nowhere near Turkey. Remember that 33% of Cyprus (northern part) is occupied by Turkey since 1974, what is called “ Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus “.
Considering the Armenian genocide, the conflicts with the Kurd and the occupation of northern Cyprus, Turkey is the last state that has any rights making threats and beating the drums of war.

Somebody needs to put a muzzle on Ankara.

The Middle East has enough real crisis at the moment without the Turks stirring it up further chasing hookah dreams of the Ottoman Empire.

More fuel to the fire...

Turkey to freeze EU ties if Cyprus gets EU presidency

Strongest statement yet on opposition to Cyprus' scheduled accession to rotating presidency comes amid row over offshore gas drilling.

I would be curious to hear any of the resident ATS anti-Zionists who have been cheering on Turkey's recent behavior explain why Turkey's current occupation of Cypress is acceptable while still condemning the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza?

In 1983 Turkish Cypriots proclaimed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey....

....Around 150,000 settlers from Turkey are believed to be living in the north in violation of the Geneva Convention and various UN resolutions

Turkish invasion of Cyprus

This gets interesting.Turkey is a US puppet like it or not.Their policy of arming Syrian rebels has proved it. They are just doing this for public consumption.

reply to post by buster2010


Haha, that's not gonna happen EVER.

reply to post by Drunkenparrot


Thankyou. In light of this I think war is going to break out.

Originally posted by LightAssassin
reply to post by buster2010

 

Haha, that's not gonna happen EVER.

People are quite sick of Israel's behavior, not to mention giving them money while the US is bankrupt.

If Israel keeps electing mad men like Netanyahu, it will happen alright.

reply to post by Vitchilo


So here we have a quasi agreement between Israel and Greece and then there is this.

www.nytimes.com...

Things are heating up.

reply to post by Vitchilo


Once I see US openly support Palestine and their land and halt Israel acquisition of foreign land then I'll believe it.

Until then I will believe the Bankers pulling US strings are also pulling Israels strings, who are also pulling Turkey's strings. They are masters of supporting both sides of war and have done so for many of them.

BUT I don't believe support will move away from Israel. I just don't see it. Not in time.

reply to post by buster2010

It is a shrewd move, strategically and tactically. It looks like they’re betting that a ally of all aggrieved parties doing the work will hopefully keep tensions down.

But I doubt it as Turks are notoriously arrogant and have a tendency to bite off more than they can chew.

I’m not a fan of anyone in the regions, government wise, but hold the Turkish Gov’t in a particular low regard. Bunch of gangsters in my opinion.

reply to post by TDawgRex


Yes but Egypt is still under Military Junta, no?

Are they puppets?

reply to post by LightAssassin


Ya have a point there. They are playing their cards close to the vest. I think because even they don't know where they are headed as a Nation at the moment.

But war does have a tendancy to solidify nations...for a period anyways. They could very well take that route.

Here we go : Turkey's answer :

Turkish navy to escort offshore fuel research

Turkey's energy minister says that if Cyprus starts to drill for oil and gas off its shores, Turkey will launch a similar exploration within a week under the protection of Turkish warships.

Taner Yildiz told reporters Monday that Turkish navy would "obviously" escort the research ship that would look for oil and gas in the Mediterranean.

So I guess we'll see Turkish ships looking for oil and gas in the next week in waters near Cyprus...

reply to post by Vitchilo


If it is in internationally recognized waters, let 'em drill side by side. First come, first served.

I’d rather see commercial competition, than a shooting war that will more than likely get all of us dragged into.

But things like this only serves to remind us that we need to do more research into viable and affordable alternate energy resources.

reply to post by TDawgRex

If it is in internationally recognized waters, let 'em drill side by side. First come, first served.

Well it's in Cyprus EEZ. So not anyone can go there and drill. Thing is, Turkey doesn't recognize Cyprus.

More details from yesterday :
Cyprus drilling rig to be blocked

Turkey is ready to send an exploration rig, accompanied by a warship, to claim its rights off Cyprus, a Turkish official says

Tension between Turkey and Greek Cyprus is moving toward crisis in the eastern Mediterranean Sea with Ankara’s announcement of plans to send an oil and gas exploration rig to the already unstable area, accompanied by a warship. “We have accomplished all preparatory work. We are ready to finalize the agreement [with Turkish Cyprus] to begin the process and send our platform off the Cyprus coast,” a Foreign Ministry official told the Hürriyet Daily News on Sunday.

The Greek Cypriot initiative pushed Turkey and Turkish Cyprus to announce their own action plan in retaliation. Under the plan, the Turkish Petroleum Corporation, or TPAO, will be licensed by Turkish Cyprus to launch exploration and drilling activities in the disputed area.

If the Greek Cypriots begin drilling, Davutoğlu added, Turkey and northern Cyprus will respond by signing a continental shelf delimitation accord to pave the way for their own exploration and “the two-state prospect will further deepen.”

Since Greek Cyprus has started drilling, I guess it's on.

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned concerning this. I'm pretty sure that everyone is already aware of though. Greece is desperate for cash and are looking for any and every way to allievate their debt.

Methinks it is time to buy stock in Gold and Oil. It's only going to go up once this kicks off.