Ships and aircraft from eight nations took part in annual drills on Wednesday to boost safety and security procedures on vessels and oil rigs off Cyprus’ southern coastline amid ongoing tensions with Turkey over competing claims to hydrocarbon reserves.
According to Ekathimerini, the “Nemesis” exercise, in which the US, France, Italy, Britain, Israel and Egypt took part, involves search and rescue, medical evacuation and anti-pollution operations.
One drill also involved a fictional scenario where Cypriot forces had to liberate an oil rig and support ship that fell into the hands of terrorists.
“We recognise that the utilisation of our exclusive economic zone comes not only with benefits, but also with responsibilities and I would like to assure you that the Republic of Cyprus is committed to adhere to them,” Cypriot Defense Minister, Charalambos Petrides, said before the start of the exercise.
In response, Turkey said those areas where the exercise took place lie inside waters that Turkish Cypriots claim as their own and have licensed the Turkish Petroleum Company (TPAO) to conduct its own hydrocarbon search.
Source: Ekathimerini.
