Fighter jets to be stationed in Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus. It is still unclear whether gas exploration will take place in areas where Israel and Greek-controlled Cyprus have divided exploration rights.Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused both Israel and Cyprus of “oil madness”, and continue his diplomatic confrontation on two fronts: one with Israel, and one with Cyprus

Turkey to Azerbaijan: Stand with us against Israel - US-based Persian-language website says Turkish ambassador to Baku urges the former soviet republic to 'reconsider' its relations with Israel;According to the report, Ambassador Hulusi Kilic said that Israel should take into account "possible problems" with the oil pipeline that crosses from Azerbaijan to Turkey, and also supplies oil to Israel. He did not go into further details.
Israel supplies Azerbaijan advanced military equipment and helps train its army. As part of the cooperation between the two states, Israeli defense systems manufacturer Elbit Systems recently opened an office in the former soviet republic, and is planning to build a plant for the joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles. Baku has yet to issue a response to the Turkish ambassador's remarks, but the head of the Azeri Press Office told the local radio station that Azerbaijan hopes the "crisis between Israel and Turkey ends soon."


25.09.11


Turkey is set to begin natural gas exploration in the coming days in the Eastern Mediterranean, north of Cyprus. According to reports in the Turkish media, the exploration will be accompanied by a fleet of Turkish war ships and submarines.Turkey’s war planes will also be stationed in the northern part of the island, which is under Turkish control. It is still unclear whether the exploration will take place in the areas where Israel and Cyprus divided exploration rights in an agreement signed last year. Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused both Israel and Cyprus of “oil madness”.

As it happens, the conflict over Mediterranean oil allows Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to continue his diplomatic confrontation on two fronts: one with Israel, and one with Cyprus. Turkey is the only county that recognizes the pro-Turkish regime in North Cyprus, and claims that the pro-Greek government in the southern part of the island does not have the authority to sign deals with Israel.

The threats to use military, naval, and air power to strengthen the exploration come on the heels of Erdogan’s threats earlier this month to accompany future Gaza flotillas with war ships. According to Israel’s defense establishment, Erdogan is using empty threats in order to bolster his relations with the Arab world, and that Turkey has no intention of entering into a military confrontation with Israel.
Another reason that is causing Turkey to step up its threats against Greek-controlled Cyprus is the fact that in another nine months, it is expected to assume the EU rotating presidency. Turkey considers the move a slap in the face from the EU, which refused to allow Turkey to join.
A confrontation over oil rights in the Mediterranean will inevitably and directly involve the United States, as its company, Noble Energy, conducts explorations on behalf of Israel and Cyprus.



Turkey to Azerbaijan: Stand with us against Israel
The Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan called on Baku to stand beside Ankara in its diplomatic struggle against Israel and "reconsider" its relations with the Jewish State, a Persian-language US-based website reported on Sunday. According to the report, Ambassador Hulusi Kilic said that Israel should take into account "possible problems" with the oil pipeline that crosses from Azerbaijan to Turkey, and also supplies oil to Israel. He did not go into further details.

The Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline supplies 10-20% of Israel's oil consumption. A similar amount is supplied to Israel by Kazakhstan, through the same pipeline that crosses through Turkey. Responding to the Turkish ambassador's comments, the website quoted Israel's Ambassador to Baku Michael Lavon Lotem as saying that third-party interests should not be allowed to affect the strategic relations between Jerusalem and Baku. Azerbaijan has become an important strategic asset for Israel's security and foreign affairs. In 2010, the trade between the two countries totaled more than $2 billion – double than the trade between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Israel also supplies Azerbaijan advanced military equipment and helps train its army. As part of the cooperation between the two states, Israeli defense systems manufacturer Elbit Systems recently opened an office in the former soviet republic, and is planning to build a plant for the joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles. Baku has yet to issue a response to the Turkish ambassador's remarks, but the head of the Azeri Press Office told the local radio station that Azerbaijan hopes the "crisis between Israel and Turkey ends soon."





http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/turkey-to-deploy-warships-over-gas-dispute-with-cyprus-1.386659

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4127332,00.html