NICOSIA, Cyprus -- France and Cyprus are conducting naval manoeuvrs off Cyprus as the east Mediterranean island nation is embroiled in a tense dispute with Turkey over offshore gas drilling.
Two French frigates heading to Syria plan to take part in "routine" exercises in Cypriot waters this weekend, a French military spokesman, Col. Frederic Barbry, said Saturday.
One ship arrived Thursday and the other is due to arrive Sunday. France, part of the U.S.-led military coalition, maintains a naval presence off the coast of Syria for monitoring and co-ordination purposes, Barbry said.
The manoeuvrs come as a Turkish drill ship, which is escorted by warships, is poised to start drilling inside waters where Cyprus has licensed French energy company Total and Italian partner Eni to explore for gas.
Another warship-escorted Turkish drill ship began drilling in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone in June. The European Union and other countries have condemned Turkey's gas search inside Cypriot waters as illegal.
French Defence Minister Florence Parly tweeted Saturday that the joint exercises would enable Cyprus to "assume its responsibilities in its sovereign waters."
Turkey, which doesn't recognize the statehood of Cyprus, has insisted it's acting to protect its economic interests and those of breakaway Turkish Cypriots in the north of the ethnically divided island.
It claims that 44% of Cyprus' exclusive economic zone falls within Turkey's continental shelf.
Cyprus Defence Minister Savvas Angelides said the manoeuvrs send a message about his country "exercising its rights within its exclusive economic zone" as the government strives to counter Turkey's actions through legal, political and diplomatic means.
Eni and Total together are licensed to carry out exploratory drilling in seven of Cyprus' 13 blocks that make up its exclusive economic zone. Eni said it expects the work to begin in the first half of next year.
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Angela Charlton contributed.
