TURKISH SHIPS IN CYPRUS WATERS

unsubscribe

---

The largest circulation Armenian e-magazine, circulates every Thursday. Est. 1999

TURKISH SHIPS IN CYPRUS WATERS

Cyprusnewsreport.com - Turkish seismic research ship K. Piri Reis is deep in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) just off Pissouri and Kouklia, headed towards Block 12 where Noble Energy is conducting exploration for undersea gas, according to its last-known position tracked by www.MarineTraffic.com . The ship has encroached on Block 1 of the EEZ, and has moved into the southern coast although it had been expected to only explore off the north coast of the island. It can conduct seismic exploration for 20 days and its destination is Mersin, Turkey. The move has raised new questions about just how far Turkey is willing to go in its attempt to claim rights over Cyprus' potential undersea gas-and-oil reserves. Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said that Nicosia is watching Turkey's moves with a cool head and is taking appropriate actions and measures. Turkish-Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu said: ‘We have rights on all sides of the island and we put forth that we can give the authority to any company in any region to explore natural gas. According to Prof. Dr Huseyin Avni Benli, Director of Dokuz Eylul University's Naval Sciences and Technology Institute which owns Piri Reis, the vessel is expected to reach its research area in the afternoon and begin seismic studies there. The vessel's locating device has been switched off since the afternoon of September 26th and it is unclear whether the ship has dropped anchor. But according to a report on Turkey's state news agency, the ship's 10 academics started work on Monday the 26th at 4.30pm. Turkish-Cypriot news reports say that the ship is in or very near Block 12 and is accompanied by a frigate. Turkey's research and blatant scorn for Cyprus' sovereignty follows an agreement between it and the political leadership of the unilaterally-declared 'TRNC' in the north. Both parties dispute the government's decision to go ahead with offshore gas drilling operations and signed a maritime border agreement last week. The agreement is the first step in a series of measures Turkey said it would take if the government proceeds with offshore gas drilling operations which started last week. Turkey then sent K. Piri Reis to start seismic research and explore for hydrocarbons in the area. It has also hired a ship from Norwegian company Veritas to start exploration. Ankara threatened an arms build-up in the Eastern Mediterranean, saying that it would increase its naval presence, and rousing Greece, Israel, Russia and Cyprus to take a united defensive military position over the island's sovereign rights under the International Law of the Sea. Turkey has not signed this UN treaty, which sets out the conditions that each country can use to delimit its EEZ. Greece is set to send F16 fighter aircraft to Israel in mid-October for joint exercises with Israeli F-16 squadrons, says a report on Defencenet.gr. The combined force of the two airforces would create a 'steel vice' in the Eastern Mediterranean to act as a deterrent to any military threats from Turkey, said an analyst. Meanwhile, Ankara said it has sent more frigates to patrol the area off Cyprus' coast.

Escalating tensions have increased the potential for a military incident like a dogfight in the air or a clash at sea, with Turkey and Israel ready to challenge each other at any moment. Relations between the former allies have rapidly unravelled in the months since Israeli special forces killed nine Turkish aid activists at sea on their way to take supplies to the Gaza Strip in May 2010.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that Israel's refusal to apologise over the killings - which happened in international waters - was casus belli and that he would send more Turkish navy ships to the seas off Israel, Lebanon and Gaza. But these threats and other reports of possible military action have not stopped Noble Energy which has an exploratory license for Block 12 in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone that experts say could contain 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. According to energy services chief Solon Kassinis, drilling is going according to plan and there should be results in two to three months. If undersea gas is discovered, Noble Energy said that it could be delivered from Block 12 by 2014. The sector has been dubbed 'Aphrodite' and neighbors Israel's natural gas field Leviathan which is considered to be one of the Mediterranean's largest undersea gas reserves. The first well drilled on Leviathan alone contained 16 trillion cubic feet of gas.

You can send your messages to the family on gregory@cytanet.com.cy You can make your contributions in lieu of flowers, to the following euro & dollar accounts.

Bank Name: Marfin Popular Bank Public Company Ltd Account Number: 101-1100-3421 (for contributions in Cyprus)

International subscribers of Gibrahayer e-magazine can make contributions to the following USD Account:

Bank Name: Marfin Popular Bank Public Company Ltd, Bank Address: Strovolos Industrial Area sub-Branch, Stavrou Avenue 96-I, 2034 Nicosia – Cyprus. A/C Name:Aynedjian Simon. A/C No: 101-33-002517(USD) IBAN (International Bank Account Number) CY41 0030 0101 0000 0101 3300 2517 Laiki Bank Swift Code No: - BIC: LIKICY2N

80th anniversary dinner celebrations in Larnaca Sign up by calling Hay Agoump Committee or texting Taline Babikian on 96577847

Gibrahayer Calendar Events

Thursday 29 September 2011 at 8.00pm at Homenetmen – AYMA – Annual General Meeting of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association’s “Oshagan” Cyprus Chapter. Friday 30 September at 8:30 pm - Dinner celebrations for the 80th Anniversary of the Armenian Club of Larnaca, at the newly renovated Sun Hall Hotel. Buffet dinner and rich programme of live Armenian music and songs, as well as Armenian Folk Dances from Hamazkayin's SIPAN Dance Ensemble. For reservations please call Ani Yenovkian 99536988, Roubina Bohdjelian 99607568, Adelina Boyadjian 99575982, until the 25th of September. Entrance: Adults 25 euros and children 15 euros, including drinks. Thursday 6 October at 8:30 pm - Hay Tad Movie Night at Homenetmen - AYMA. "The Lark Farm". Organised by The Armenian National Committee of Cyprus (Hay Tad) Sunday 23 October 0 1:00 pm - Autumn Fund-Raising Luncheon organised by The Armenian Relief Society (HOM) Sosse Cyprus Chapter at Homenetmen - AYMA. Saturday 19 November at 7:00 pm - Preparation of Madagh Sunday 20th November at 10:00 am - Feast of Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia. Divine Liturgy & Blessing of the Madagh. Sunday 27 November at 4:00 pm - HOM (Armenian Relief Society) Cyprus "Sosse" Chapter’s Christmas Fund Raiser at Cleopatra Hotel for humanitarian projects in Armenia, Artsakh and Cyprus. Sunday 4 December - HOM (Armenian Relief Society) Cyprus Sosse Chapter’s Stassikratous street Bazaar for humanitarian projects in Armenia, Artsakh and Cyprus. Sunday 25 December at 9:00 pm – Homenetmen - AYMA Christmas Ball. Sunday 1 January 2012 – Santa will be visiting Homenetmen -AYMA. Details to follow. Saturday 21 January 2012 - as Kravadz Or. Details to follow.

PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR MP VARTKES MAHDESSIAN

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia, President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on 3rd September 2011 on awarding MP Vartkes Mahdessian the prestigious "Mkhitar Kosh" Medal for notable state, public and political activities. The ceremony took place in Yerevan on Saturday 17th September 2011, which was followed by a reception in participation of high ranking political officials and other guests.

HAY TAD MOVIE NIGHT

JOIN SIPAN DANCE ENSEMBLE

Practice sessions of SIPAN Dance Ensemble of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association under Director / Choreographer Felix Haroutunian begin on Saturday 8 October, 2011 at Homenetmen - AYMA and will continue until the end of 2011 on Friday's, Saturday's and Sunday's. A new schedule with practices during the week, will be announced in 2012. Interested to join SIPAN's Dance Ensemble? Call Shoushig Bakalian on 99667828.

visit our website at www.armenaki.com

New development project overlooking Larnaca Salt Lake, by three young Armenian professionals of our community. Click here

Direct to Yerevan