Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Turkey Deploys Armed Drones to Northern Cyprus as Tensions Escalate

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - Turkey has deployed armed drones to northern Cyprus as
   tensions escalate in the gas-rich eastern Mediterranean over energy
   resources and control of their distribution. Greek- and Turkish
   Cypriots remain at loggerheads over the issue with the dispute now
   drawing in other nations.

   The drones arrived after the Turkish Cypriot government, which is
   recognized only by Ankara, granted permission for their deployment. The
   drones are intended to protect Turkish research ships searching for
   hydrocarbons in contested waters of the Mediterranean Island.

   "It's a tactical move with strategic implications," said international
   relations professor Huseyin Bagci of Ankara's Middle East Technical
   University. "What it does, it increases the feeling of security on the
   Turkish side [of Cyprus], with developments in the eastern
   Mediterranean Sea, and that Turkey is ready to take risks defending
   Turkish Cypriots and its [Turkey's] rights."

   Cyprus is partitioned between Turkish- and Greek Cypriot communities
   following Turkey's 1974 invasion in response to an Athens-inspired
   coup. Only the Greek Cypriot government is internationally recognized.
   The offshore discovery of natural gas is the center of rising tensions
   over control and ownership of territorial waters between the two
   communities.

   The dispute is exacerbating regional tensions, with Israel the latest
   country to find itself embroiled in the disagreement. Israel, along
   with Egypt, signed a mutual energy research pact with the Greek Cypriot
   government.

.