Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Monday said the United States and Qatar have assured Turkey that ExxonMobil and Qatar Energy will stay out of its continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu’s remarks come just days after the companies were given an energy exploration license in disputed waters.
Earlier this month, Ankara accused the Greek Cypriot administration of violating its continental shelf by awarding the license, saying it would “never allow” anyone to carry out an unauthorized exploration in its jurisdiction.
The Greek Cypriot administration has refused the claim, vowing to continue.
ExxonMobil and Qatar Energy signed a contract Friday for oil and gas exploration and production-sharing off the island despite Turkey’s opposition to the deal.
The companies are expected to start exploration in the first half of next year.
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