Turkey raised the issue of hydrocarbon exploitation in the Eastern Mediterranean and waters that belong to Cyprus just 24 hours before new peace talks between Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

Ankara issued two NAVTEX (navigational telex) saying it will use two large sea areas south of Cyprus in search of hydrocarbons and a military exercise.

Specifically, with NAVTEX 403/17 and 404/17, Ankara warns that on Wednesday (today) military exercises with real fire will be conducted while at the same time an oceanographic ship will conduct seismic surveys with a special cable from 4 a.m. until 8 a.m.

Turkey is challenging Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Eastern Mediterranean. The eastern boundary of NAVTEX 403/17 reaches south of Limassol and includes not only plot 6, which Ankara claims belongs to the Turkish continental shelf, but at least four more that belong to Cyprus’ EEZ.

Turkey’s research and seismographic vessel Barbaros is set to start seismographic tests in the Famagusta Bay area following Turkey’s declaration of an NAVTEX over the area between Famagusta and Apostolos Andreas on Thursday.

Barbaros, accompanied by the support vessel and Norwegian flagged M/V Bravo will be in the area until June 30.

The area in which the vessel will conduct its tests do not include exploratory plots in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but include some areas which have been included in the next round of seismic tests commissioned by the government.

Barbaros is at present moored in the port of Tasuku in Turkey just west of Cyprus.

The Turkish NAVTEX does not include the M/V Bravo which has been assisting the Barbaros in the Black Sea over the last few years.

The Norwegian vessel was forced to leave the Cyprus EEZ in 2014 after legal measures were threatened against it for conducting illegal activities in the area.

Barbaros’ presence in the area is considered to be more of a political move rather than a technical one as Turkey has intensified its rhetoric against Cyprus concerning hydrocarbon explorations.

Last week, the Turkish Foreign Ministry Mevlut Cavusoglu issued another threatening statement saying Ankara will not allow the Cyprus Republic to go ahead with oil and gas exploration within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“It is unacceptable for the Greek Cypriot administration to act as the owner of the island, ignoring the rights of Turkish Cypriots and sign agreements for hydrocarbon research with companies and consortia,” the statement said.

“We had expressed our objections in regard to research in areas that the Turkish Cypriots also have rights. In addition, much of ‘area 6′ is in the Turkish continental shelf. We will not allow in any way the exploration from foreign companies in our area of responsibility,” it added.

The fresh threats come days only after natural gas exploration within Cyprus’ EEZ got a second lease of life as the government signed new exploration licences with energy giants ExxonMobil, ENI and Total.

Up to 12 drillings are anticipated within the next two years, with hopes that enough gas can be found to start producing and selling the valuable resource.