ATHENS, Greece: Cyprus' president said Wednesday his government would press ahead with an offshore oil and gas exploration program, dismissing strong objections from Turkey.
But Tassos Papadopoulos warned that it was uncertain whether possible fuel deposits off the island's southern coast would be sufficient for commercial exploitation.
"We will exercise our sovereign rights," Papadopoulos said. "If (Turkey) wants to break international law in an act of provocation, I believe the international community must judge this."
"The exploitation of deposits, if they are located in commercially exploitable quantities — and this is a major if — will be handled accordingly," Papadopoulos said after talks with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.
Angering Turkey, Cyprus opened international bidding last week for 11 offshore areas, with a number of international firms showing interest. The divided island's internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government has also signed deals with Lebanon and Egypt to mark out Mediterranean sea boundaries.
Papadopoulos accused Turkey of engaging in "threats and provocations" by warning Cyprus not to go ahead with the project.
Karamanlis said it was "self-evident" that EU member Cyprus had the sovereign right to conduct offshore exploration.
He said Turkey, as a candidate for EU membership, was "obliged to maintain good neighborly relations and conform to international law."
The island has been divided into a Greek Cypriot controlled south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north since a Turkish invasion in 1974. Turkey — which does not recognize Papadopoulos' Greek Cypriot government — has said the exploration project would conflict with Turkish rights in the area, as well as those of Turkish Cypriots.
Turkish officials said they could proceed with their own exploration plans, threatening tension with Greece. Both countries came close to war in 1987 because of a dispute over oil rights in disputed areas of the Aegean Sea.
But Tassos Papadopoulos warned that it was uncertain whether possible fuel deposits off the island's southern coast would be sufficient for commercial exploitation.
"We will exercise our sovereign rights," Papadopoulos said. "If (Turkey) wants to break international law in an act of provocation, I believe the international community must judge this."
"The exploitation of deposits, if they are located in commercially exploitable quantities — and this is a major if — will be handled accordingly," Papadopoulos said after talks with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.
Angering Turkey, Cyprus opened international bidding last week for 11 offshore areas, with a number of international firms showing interest. The divided island's internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government has also signed deals with Lebanon and Egypt to mark out Mediterranean sea boundaries.
Papadopoulos accused Turkey of engaging in "threats and provocations" by warning Cyprus not to go ahead with the project.
Karamanlis said it was "self-evident" that EU member Cyprus had the sovereign right to conduct offshore exploration.
He said Turkey, as a candidate for EU membership, was "obliged to maintain good neighborly relations and conform to international law."
The island has been divided into a Greek Cypriot controlled south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north since a Turkish invasion in 1974. Turkey — which does not recognize Papadopoulos' Greek Cypriot government — has said the exploration project would conflict with Turkish rights in the area, as well as those of Turkish Cypriots.
Turkish officials said they could proceed with their own exploration plans, threatening tension with Greece. Both countries came close to war in 1987 because of a dispute over oil rights in disputed areas of the Aegean Sea.
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