Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez (2nd R) and Prime Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ersin Tatar (R) tour Turkey's drillship 'Yavuz', operating in the Mediterranean Sea, on August 07, 2019. Celal Güne? - Ana
ANKARA, Turkey: Turkey's state-run news agency says a second Turkish drillship has started drilling for gas off ethnically divided Cyprus, in an area where the Cypriot government says it has exclusive economic rights.
Anadolu Agency quoted Turkey's Energy Minister Fatih Donmez as saying Wednesday that the ship, Yavuz, had begun operations in an area off the Karpas peninsula on Cyprus' east coast, reaching a depth of 1,710 meters (5,610 feet). Operations would last up to three months, he said.
Another Turkish ship, Fatih, started drilling in June 42 miles (67 kilometers) off Cyprus' west coast.
Cyprus says Turkey's drilling activities are unlawful and the European Union has announced sanctions against Turkey. Ankara insists it's protecting its rights and those of Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus' breakaway north to the area's hydrocarbon deposits.
