A Turkish exploration vessel will soon illegally start looking for hydrocarbon reserves off the southeast of the Greek island of Crete, in an area Greece has declared as part of its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
According to reports, Turkey is waiting for the United Nations’ Division for Ocean Affairs to post the geographical coordinates of a maritime border agreement signed by the Turkish government and Libya’s United Nations-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in November, the Paper Yeni Şafak ("New Dawn") said.
The memorandum of understanding sees Turkey and Libya as maritime neighbours, claiming a Turkish EEZ that overlaps areas that Greece says are its own, around Crete, Rhodes and other islands.
This comes as Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month stated stated that his country will "start search and drilling activities as soon as possible in 2020 after issuing licences for the areas." The comments were made during a two-hour speech in the capital, Ankara.
The Turkish ship, the Oruç Reis, will head to an area southeast of Crete after the Turkish Petroleum Corporation issues licences for the new areas in the eastern Mediterranean added to Turkey’s EEZ after agreement with Tripoli, Yeni Şafak said.
Greece, one of a number of countries seeking to build a pipeline carrying gas to Europe across those waters, has denounced the deal between Turkey and Libya as illegal and a blatant violation of its sovereignty and has sent two letters to the United Nations explaining its objections.
Turkey already has two drilling ships off Cyprus, which continue their activities under the protection of the Turkish navy in Cyprus EEZ zone, with the EU sanctioning Turkey to stop them from drilling with no effect.
