Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey has reported the launch of energy exploration off
the coast of Cyprus.

Officials said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has
approved the start of drilling off the coast of the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus.

Officials said drilling, meant to rival a similar effort by the
rival Republic of Cyprus, was inaugurated in an April 26 ceremony attended
by Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz.

“This work has strategic significance and we attribute great importance
to it,” Yildiz said.

The Turkish minister acknowledged that the current drilling effort could
fail to find either crude oil or natural gas. But Yildiz said Ankara would
sustain the offshore exploration in cooperation with Northern Cyprus.

  offshore exploration, Turkey’s Erdogan approves oil drilling off northern coast of Cyprus, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus