Cyprus has said that tension-raising Turkish threats over oil exploration could mean obstacles being placed on Ankara's path towards European Union membership.
Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis told reporters that Turkey could not persist in trying to derail Cyprus's oil search by demanding in a threatening manner that the internationally-recognized government stop the venture.
She said Ankara's behavior was being monitored by Brussels and its attitude towards the country's oil exploration could not go unchecked; otherwise "certainly there will be repercussions.
"There is already one serious consequence relating to the energy chapter" of EU accession negotiations, Kozakou-Marcoullis added, saying that because of Turkish behavior, "it would be inconceivable to open" the chapter.
She was responding to Turkey reiterating that it would secure its "legal rights and interests" if Nicosia proceeds with oil and gas exploration off the East Mediterranean island's south coast.
Cyprus formally invited tenders for oil exploration and drilling rights despite the escalating growing row with Turkey.
Hasan Erkacica, a spokesman for Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, said recently that the completion of the first round of licensing would see "tensions in the region escalate."
February's launch of the licensing round came just two days after Ankara announced its own plans for oil and gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean, triggering protests by Nicosia.
Cyprus is offering licenses for an area of about 70,000 square kilometers, where oil deposits are estimated at between eight and 10 billion barrels.
It has also signed gas and oil exploration and exploitation accords with Egypt and Lebanon, triggering strong objections from Turkey.
Ankara has warned Cairo and Beirut to delay the deals, saying they infringe on the rights of the island's breakaway Turkish Cypriot statelet which is recognized only by Turkey.
Nicosia lodged official protests against these threats with the United Nations and the European Union.
Cyprus, an EU member state, has been divided since 1974 when Turkey seized and occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia seeking to united the island with Greece.
© Monday Morning 2007
