International companies interested in the possibility of exploring oil and gas deposits off Cyprus' coast have been warned by Turkey not to go ahead with their plans on participating in a tender launched by Greek Cyprus last month, diplomatic sources told the Turkish Daily News.

Five international companies have contacted Greek Cyprus over the tender, Greek Cypriot Commerce Minister Antonis Michaelides was quoted as saying by international news agencies on Feb. 15. 

  Although Michaelides declined to name the companies, the Turkish government drew a short list of those companies believed to have shown interest in Greek Cyprus' drive to explore oil and gas. Some of them have wide business links with Turkey. The Greek government has said U.S., Russian and Chinese oil firms have shown interest.

  Prior to the launch of the tender, Greek Cyprus signed agreements with Lebanon for the delineation of an undersea border in January to facilitate future oil and gas exploration, which had prompted reaction from the Turkish government. A similar agreement was signed between Egypt and Cyprus last year. Turkey warned Lebanon and Egypt not to press ahead with the deals saying Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots also had rights in the region.

  Any crisis between Turkey and European Union member Greek Cyprus could further complicate Turkey's relations with the EU, which has decided to slow down accession negotiations with Ankara over its refusal to open ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels and planes.

  The Turkish government launched a diplomatic campaign towards the EU, as well as the interested countries such as the U.S., Russia and China, over the Greek Cypriot government's latest initiative, believed by Ankara to stir instability in the region.

  Some oil companies believed to have shown interest were contacted by Ankara, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources told the TDN. Some were contacted directly, in the case of Dutch Shell and some indirectly in the case of French Total.

  According to Turkish officials, the companies were told the bilateral deals Greek Cyprus had signed with Lebanon and Egypt are not recognized by Turkey. They were briefed on the peculiar situation of the eastern Mediterranean and told that the delineation of the continental shelf or of exclusive economic rights in the eastern Mediterranean is only possible through arrangements that would take into account the rights and interests of all parties. They were also told Turkey will not allow attempts to erode its and Turkish Cypriots' rights.

  The countries from which those companies originate were also contacted by Ankara. They were told to discourage these companies from going ahead with their plans on Cyprus. Some of the countries and companies confirmed to Turkey that they do not want to be a part of deals over controversial areas whereas it was not possible to get any feedback on the issue like in the of France. 

BARÇIN YİNANÇ
ISTANBUL - Turkish Daily News