Cyprus plays EU card after oil threats by Turkey

NICOSIA (AFP) - Cyprus said yesterday that tension-raising Turkish threats over oil exploration could mean obstacles being placed on Ankara's path towards European Union membership.

Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis told reporters that Turkey could not persist in trying to derail Cyprus's oil search by demanding in a threatening manner that the internationally recognised government stop the venture.

She said Ankara's behaviour was being monitored by Brussels and its attitude towards the country's oil exploration could not go unchecked, otherwise "certainly there will be repercussions.

"There is already one serious consequence relating to the energy chapter" of EU accession negotiations, Kozakou-Marcoullis added, saying that because of Turkish behaviour "it would be inconceivable to open" the chapter.

She was responding to Turkey reiterating that it would secure its "legal rights and interests" if Nicosia proceeds with oil and gas exploration off the eastern Mediterranean island's south coast.

Cyprus has formally invited tenders -- with an August 16 deadline -- for oil exploration and drilling rights despite the escalating growing row with Turkey.

At least five oil companies, including Russian and Chinese firms, have shown a keen interest, the government has said.

Hasan Erkacica, a spokesman for Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, said on Tuesday that the completion of the first round of licensing would see "tensions in the region escalate."

February's launch of the licensing round came just two days after Ankara announced its own plans for oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, triggering protests by Nicosia.

Cyprus is offering licences for an area of about 70,000 square kilometres (28,000 square miles) where oil deposits are estimated at between eight and 10 billion barrels.

It has also signed gas and oil exploration and exploitation deals with Egypt and Lebanon, triggering strong objections from Turkey.

Ankara has warned Cairo and Beirut to delay the deals, saying they infringe on the rights of the island's breakaway Turkish Cypriot statelet which is recognised only by Turkey.

Nicosia lodged official protests against these threats with the United Nations and the European Union.

Cyprus, an EU member state, has been divided since 1974 when Turkey seized and occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia seeking to united the island with Greece.