Turkish Cypriot president says Greek Cypriot leader trying to salvage shattered reputation in offshore drilling move

NEW YORK (A.A) - September 22, 2011 - Turkish Cypriot President Dervis Eroglu said Wednesday that Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias was politically motivated in his push for offshore drilling southeast of the island to fix his political reputation.
"Christofias is trying to salvage his shaken image and act like a hero who bully Turkey. He is not acting wisely," Eroglu told reporters in New York where he signed an agreement with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier today to mark borders of the continental shelf between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
The agreement follows a Greek Cypriot move to start offshore drilling for natural gas and oil in the southeast of the Eastern Mediterranean island.       
Eroglu said the Wednesday's deal provided a framework for future agreements in exploring and exploiting hydrocarbon reserves around Cyprus.
"We will see research ships in the Eastern Mediterranean from now on. But I do not believe at the moment that all of this could lead to a war," Eroglu said.