"Israel", Cyprus to Hold Military Drills

Local Editor

"Israel" is set to send warships to the eastern Mediterranean for a joint military exercise with Cyprus, according to a report which appeared in the Cypriot Fileleftheros daily on Tuesday and which was cited by the Turkish Today's Zaman.

Cypriot Defense Minister Fotis Fotiou confirmed that the joint drills, which will include the participation of four or five "Israeli" warships, is due to start on April 25, the report said.

Fotiou also claimed that "the exercise will focus on the security of the eastern Mediterranean region and that of gas companies."

Turkey, which does not recognize Greek Cyprus as a sovereign country, strongly objects to natural gas exploration being conducted by Cyprus in the Mediterranean, noted Today's Zaman.

However, noted the Turkish daily, in an unexpected announcement at a meeting on Monday, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said that Turkey now considers it possible to cooperate with Cyprus and "Israel" in joint energy projects in the Mediterranean "so long as the political atmosphere allows it."

Two years ago, "Israel" began exploratory drilling in Block 12 of the Tamar natural gas field, which extends into Cypriot territorial waters.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org