The United States supports the right of the Republic of Cyprus to explore for energy, a senior US official said on Monday, after the conclusion of talks held between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in New York.

According to reliable sources, Clinton told her Turkish counterpart during the meeting that the US is against any form of threat or action of war on the matter.

The US official said that Cyprus has the right to proceed with drilling in its Exclusive Economic Zone, stressing that he does not believe that this interferes with the ongoing UN led Cyprus talks, aiming to resolve the Cyprus problem.

As regards the Cyprus talks, the US official reiterated his country`s stance, saying that the US supports a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation which will be reached through negotiations.

During their meeting, Clinton and Davutoglu discussed relations between Turkey and Israel, the Middle East issue, the Cyprus issue and the Turkey – Armenia relations.

Houston – based company ‘Noble Energy’ began Sunday night drilling procedures in block 12 in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), to explore and exploit the country’s sub-sea natural resources.

Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement was signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.

Turkey, which occupies Cyprus’ northern part since it invaded in 1974, has threatened to deploy warships in the Eastern Mediterranean, if drilling takes places prior to a political settlement in Cyprus.