![Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu attend a ground-breaking ceremony near Famagusta Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz (C) and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu (2nd R) attend a ground-breaking ceremony near Famagusta April 26, 2012. Turkey on Thursday began drilling for oil and gas in breakaway northern Cyprus, threatening to inflame tensions with Greek Cypriots and undermine UN-backed efforts to reunite the divided island, key to Ankara's aspirations to join the European Union. At a ceremony in northeast Cyprus, the state-run Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) launched onshore dr](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2013/04/RTR3191G.jpg/RTR3191G.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=UGeJmpn-)
The 'Great Game' in Levant
Subscribe for less than $9/month to access this story and all Al-Monitor reporting.
Or continue reading this article for free - Access 1 free article per month when you sign up.
By entering your email, you agree to receive ALM's daily newsletter and occasional marketing messages.