The issue of the descent of the new Turkish driller Abdulhamid Han is a game for nerves, as occupying Turkey avoids announcing where the vessel, which will set sail on August 9, will be sent on its maiden voyage. It also sends misleading messages, so as not to give the impression of intentions. Ankara obviously wants to surprise Nicosia, but also Athens, in order to limit the possibilities of any reaction, although it considers their movements predictable. The occupying power, probably, wants to constantly have Greece and Cyprus in the socket.
The information states that various scenarios are being considered from the Turkish side, although it is estimated that in all probability the decisions have been made and will be announced soon. The same information states that the Abdulhamid Han will move in two phases, and this – if confirmed – seems to have been decided for tactical reasons.
What does the information say?
The first drilling of Abdulhamid Han, according to a scenario, which the occupation force is oriented towards, will not be carried out in the Cypriot EEZ. It will not, initially, drill in a licensed offshore block of the Republic of Cyprus. In all probability, the first drilling, which will also have a test character, will take place in the Gulf of Antalya.
A second scenario is to send the drill to the west of Cyprus, in an area where the first drilling took place, in May 2019. The drilling was on target, about 60 kilometers northwest of Paphos, near Akamas. It is recalled in this regard that the choice of this area is linked to efforts that Ankara has been making for years to enforce fait accompli, and for this reason it also submitted its position in writing to the United Nations and the European Union. It is further noted that Turkey claims in international organizations (UN and EU) that it has “legal rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, mainly west of the longitude 32°16’18″E.”. The reading on a map of the longitude displayed by the Turkish side shows that this line actually touches the western end of Cyprus, in the area of Akamas. This line starts from the coast of Turkey and extends to Egypt.
If they proceed in this scenario, possibly after a first drilling in the Gulf of Antalya, it will mean that Ankara will once again dispute an area near Cyprus, west, north of the licensed sea blocks 6 and 7 (the French-Italian ENI-TOTAL consortium).
Another scenario is for the rig to go directly to a licensed offshore block. This possibility is not currently confirmed, but it seems to be on the table and depending on the data and political circumstances, it cannot be ruled out. And the choice will be made either in an area “claimed” by Turkey or considered to belong to the occupying regime. Occupying Turkey, as far as the Cypriot EEZ is concerned, in some parts of the sea, claims that the Turkish oil company, TRAO, is acting on behalf of the pseudo-state. “Any claim (by the Republic of Cyprus) regarding the hydrocarbon activities of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should be addressed to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” the Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations said in a letter to the United Nations. New York, Feridun Sinirioglu, dated March 18, 2019. That is, to make the pseudo-state an “official” and “equal” interlocutor of the Republic of Cyprus.
Data and announcements
In view of the fact that the newly acquired drilling rig will make its maiden voyage, this requires a special ceremony, from which the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan himself, will not be absent. There, Erdogan is expected to set the framework for the next steps. It is taken for granted that the Turkish side will organize a fiesta, through which it will send messages to Athens and Nicosia, but also to third parties, and will further raise the tone, launch threats.
It is recalled in this regard that the Minister of Energy of Turkey, Fatih Donmez, announced that the new drilling rig will sail from the port of Mersina on August 9. For his part, Turkey’s vice president, Fuat Oktay, while in the occupied territories on July 20 for the celebrations of the invasion, announced that the Turkish floating drilling rig will begin its work in August in the Eastern Mediterranean, without announcing in which region. It is noted that the drilling rig was also visited a few days ago by the occupying leader, Ersin Tatar, who wished that “may the drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, perhaps around Cyprus, be fruitful”.
Source: philenews.com
Source: Capital
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