Turkey warns companies against Cyprus gas search
By SUZAN FRASER
The Associated Press
ANKARA, Turkey —
Turkey on Friday called on major international oil and gas companies seeking a license to search for gas deposits off of Cyprus to withdraw their bids, saying it will not allow exploration to go ahead and threatening to ban them from Turkish energy projects.
Companies such as Russia's Novatec, Italy's ENI, France's Total and Malaysia's Petronas are among 15 firms and consortiums seeking a license to carry out exploratory drilling off southern Cyprus. Cyprus has been divided into a Turkish Cypriot north and internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south since a 1974 Turkish invasion that followed a coup by supporters of unity with Greece.
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