Cyprus blasts 'pirate state' Turkey’s new gas drilling bid

Cyprus has denounced Turkey as a "pirate state" that flouts international law as Turkey's bid to drill for natural gas in waters where Cyprus has economic rights rekindled tensions over energy reserves in the eastern Mediterranean. 

Cyprus said on Sunday that Turkey was now attempting to drill inside an exploration area, or block, south of the ethnically split Mediterranean island nation that's already licensed to energy companies Eni of Italy and Total of France.

This would be Turkey's fourth such drilling effort since last July when it dispatched a pair or warship-escorted drill ships to the island's west and east. It would also mark the second time a Turkish ship was drilling in a block licensed to Eni and Total. 

Overall, the two energy companies hold licenses to carry out a hydrocarbons search in seven of Cyprus' 13 blocks off its south coast. Other...

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