Offshore staff

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkey will explore the eastern Mediterranean says its energy minister; weeks after Cyprus announced similar plans in agreements with Egypt and Lebanon.

Turkey had warned Cyprus not to search for oil and gas in the area, claiming legal rights and interests. Turkey also insisted that Turkish Cypriots should have a say in the island's oil-and-gas rights.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said the exploration deals with Egypt and Lebanon would go ahead.

Cyprus signed a deal with Lebanon last month to mark out their undersea border to facilitate future oil and gas exploration. It signed a similar deal with Egypt last year and agreed to jointly exploit potential oil and gas fields.

Bidding will begin Feb. 15 for offshore exploration licenses, says Papadopoulos, with application evaluation taking place over the next six months.

The first round of exploration licensing involves 11 offshore blocks totaling around 60,000 sq km (23,166 sq mi).

Turkey does not recognize the Greek Cypriot government in the island's south. The island has been divided since Turkey's invasion in 1974, triggered by a Greek Cypriot coup attempt by supporters of union with Greece.

2/14/07