Turkey has threatened reprisals against companies bidding for gas-drilling projects off Cyprus.
Russia's Novatec is among 15 firms and consortiums seeking a license to carry out exploratory drilling off the island's southern coast.
The island has been divided into a Turkish Cypriot north and internationally recognized EU-member Greek Cypriot south since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on May 18 that companies seeking a license to search for gas deposits off Cyprus would be banned from future Turkish energy projects.
Ankara demands that the Greek Cypriots postpone offshore drilling until there is a solution to the decades-old Cyprus problem and has retaliated by launching its own exploratory drilling in Cypriot waters.
Russia's Novatec is among 15 firms and consortiums seeking a license to carry out exploratory drilling off the island's southern coast.
The island has been divided into a Turkish Cypriot north and internationally recognized EU-member Greek Cypriot south since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on May 18 that companies seeking a license to search for gas deposits off Cyprus would be banned from future Turkish energy projects.
Ankara demands that the Greek Cypriots postpone offshore drilling until there is a solution to the decades-old Cyprus problem and has retaliated by launching its own exploratory drilling in Cypriot waters.
