Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey has been considering forcing its way into the area of energy exploration in Cyprus.

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said the government was considering a plan for Ankara to begin exploring for crude oil and natural gas in the so-called Cypriot exclusive economic zone.

Yildiz said a Turkish seismic vessel, already searching in the eastern Mediterranean, could enter the Cypriot zone by late October.

“It [the vessel] will work there, for three weeks more,” Yildiz said. “Later, we will speak with Prime Minister [Recep Erdogan] as to whether it will enter Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone. If the prime minister approves, the vessel could enter to the north or south of Cyprus because it has both a technical and political dimension.”

In an interview with Turkey’s A Haber, Yildiz did not cite any Turkish request to enter the Cypriot zone. In 2012, Ankara warned that it could use the Turkish Navy to enter Cypriot waters.

  Cypriot exclusive economic zone, Recep Erdogan, Taner Yildiz, Uninvited: Turkey plans to search for energy in Cypriot waters