There was no sign of a Turkish naval escort for the Piri
Reis and its 10 crew as the vessel set out, although Energy Minister Taner
Yildiz had raised the possibility of such a security measure earlier this week.
Regional tension rose after Cyprus's Greek Cypriot
government announced Tuesday that drilling had begun in a southeast offshore
area adjoining a gas field in Israeli waters reportedly the world's largest
find in the past decade.
Texas-based Noble Energy is carrying out the drilling in the
Cypriot block. Speaking in New York on Thursday, Cypriot President Demetris
Christofias said more blocks could be thrown open for exploration over the next
12 months.
Turkey contests a Cypriot-Israeli accord signed last year to
create exclusive economic zones in the waters between them.
It also argues that Cyprus should not be exploiting natural
resources until a settlement is reached between the Greek Cypriot government
and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state for the reunification of the island, and
that any revenues should benefit both communities.
Christofias gave assurances this week that any money earned
from a gas find would be used for the good of both sides regardless of whether
a settlement had been reached.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan touched on the dispute
in an address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday.
"Turkey expects to see that all parties involved make
efforts so that the Greek Cypriot administration ends initiatives that cause
tension not only in the island but the region," he said.
