Shortly after Cyprus has declared it would start drilling for gas and oil off its coasts within days, Turkish Prime Minister said on Monday his country would also begin drilling off northern Cyprus.

Shortly after Cyprus has declared it would start drilling for gas and oil off its coasts within days, Turkish Prime Minister said on Monday his country would also begin drilling off northern Cyprus.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkish aircraft, frigates and torpedo boats would watch over the Eastern Mediterranean, escalating a row over rights to hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean.

At a news conference before leaving on a visit to the United States, Erdogan repeated Turkey's opposition to exclusive economic zones agreed by Cyprus and Israel last year.
"We have different approaches to the exclusive economic region that they announced," he said. On this matter, with regard to the military, we will monitor this region with air force, frigates and torpedo boats".

Erdogan said an agreement with the Turkish Cyprus would taken place and exploration for gas and oil could start off northern Cyprus this week.
"In a very short time, possibly this week, it may happen in this exclusive economic region, we will start", he said.

AGREEMENT TO TAKE PLACE
Meanwhile in Ankara, the energy ministry said Monday sign a seabed border agreement with the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) ahead of oil and gas prospecting in Cypriot waters by the Turkish state oil company.
TRNC which is also called Turkish Cyprus, is only recognized by Turkey. The island has been divided into two separate territories since 1974 when Turkish troops occupied the northern third of the island following a coup by right wing Cypriot army officers supported by Greece.

Turkish Cyprus “will sign the agreement as soon as possible”, the energy spokesman told German press agency DPA.
“The exact site of the survey isn't clear yet but it will between the Turkish coast and the coast of Cyprus”, the spokesman in Ankara said.

Turkey has been warning for two years that it would take action if Cyprus goes ahead with its own plans to allow drilling in waters to the south of the divided island.

Ankara's protests have become more intense ahead of the planned commencement of drilling at the end of this month by US oil company Noble Energy off the Cypriot coasts, and ahead of Nicosia taking over the European Union's rotating presidency at the end of this year.