Erdogan: Turkey could begin offshore oil, gas exploration

Turkey could begin offshore oil and gas exploration operations in agreement with northern Cyprus following similar moves by Cyprus, Israel and Greece, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday amid an escalating dispute over rights to hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"Currently, we also took this step with Northern Cyprus. And in a very short time, possibly this week, it may happen we will start work in this exclusive economic region," Erdogan told a news conference before leaving on a visit to the United States. (Reuters)