Greek Defense Minister Panos Beglitis said Ankara was acting unilaterally in its response to Greek Cypriot natural gas exploration efforts in the Mediterranean Sea, according to Tipos tis Kiryakis.

“Essential matters regarding defense cooperation [with Greek Cyprus] concern us,” said Beglitis, adding that the defense of Cyprus is within the core framework of Greece’s national strategy.

“We will try to continue our cooperation in defense and security between the two countries [Greece and Cyprus] and create conditions required for continuous improvement in this regard,” he said.

Turkey has responded strongly to plans by Cyprus to start exploratory drilling for offshore gas deposits, saying it disregards Turkish Cypriots' rights and would damage long-running talks aimed at reunification.

Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Markulli said Turkey should take big powers who are involved in this issue into account, referring to their gas exploration efforts.

Markulli said the search for natural gas in the Mediterranean was not only a subject concerning Greeks, but one that also involved the United States and its energy policies, Europe, Israel and other countries, as well as companies that are interested in the project. Markulli also said the Greeks were committed to their search for natural gas and would not give it up.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Cyprus had no right to go ahead with efforts to search for gas before a settlement to reunify the divided island will be reached.

"No one has the right to do anything over the island's natural resources ... before the Cyprus issue isn't resolved," Davutoglu told reporters. There must be an administration representing both parts of the island, he insisted.

"Turkey would show the necessary response if further steps are considered," he said, without specifying what that response would be.

Solon Kassinis, Director of the Greek Cypriot government's Energy Service, was quoted by the Cyprus Mail as suggested that drilling by Noble Energy could begin in October.

Cyprus has signed a production-sharing contract with Noble, which has a concession to explore or hydrocarbons in Block 12 which is located in Cyprus's Exclusive Economic Zone, near Israel's Leviathan discovery.