North Cyprus could launch its' own gas exploration if talks fails

North Cyprus could launch its' own gas exploration efforts, a move that could threaten to complicate an already-fraught situation in the eastern Mediterranean. 

Turkish Cypriot minister Kudret Ozersay in an interview with Reuters, said if joint energy exploration with both Cyprus communities in fails, the Turkish Cypriot side would go it alone.

Currently, south Cyprus is leasing out blocks at sea for oil and gas exploration. As North Cyprus is unrecognized, international energy firms do business with the Greek-Cypriot government.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously warned that energy exploration can only take place with the consent of Turkish Cypriots.

Either we will do it together – by discussing, agreeing and moving together – or things will stop, or, we (Turkish Cypriots) will do the same thing: we will start exploiting and drilling as well, Ozersay was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Turkish Cypriot minister Kudret Ozersay

 Turkish warships have already forced Italian energy giant ENI to pull a drill ship from the region. 

Source: Greek Reporter