Turkish Cyprus Urges Lebanon Not to Approve Oil Deal Signed with its Foes

The Turkish part of Cyprus has warned the island’s Greek side and Israel against a unilateral decision to invest oil and natural gas in their territorial waters, saying Lebanon should not go ahead in approving a deal signed with the Cypriot government.

In December, Jerusalem reached an agreement with Cyprus marking the two countries’ sea borders. That agreement came after Cyprus reached a similar understanding four years ago with Lebanon, though that pact has yet to be approved in the Lebanese parliament.

The spokesman of Turkish Cyprus told As Safir daily Monday that Ankara has warned Nicosia and Israel that their “unilateral initiative would create a very sensitive situation.”

“We will see what measures we would take if Southern Cyprus goes ahead with its agreement with Israel,” said the spokesman of Northern Cyprus.

He hoped that Lebanon would not go ahead with approving the deal signed with the Cypriot side “because that would lead to tension in the island and result in more tensions in the region.”

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-backed Greek Cypriot coup seeking union with Greece.

The breakaway state in the north, which Turkish Cypriot leaders declared in 1983, is recognized only by Ankara.