Turkey sends new oil and gas rig to Mediterranean

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Istanbul — Turkey sent a new hydrocarbon drillship to the Mediterranean on Tuesday, but President Tayyip Erdogan 55 kilometers (34.18 miles) Said to operate. Off the coast of Turkey, an area outside the waters claimed by Cyprus.

At the launch ceremony in southern Mersin, Prime Minister Erdogan said the operation area was within Turkey's sovereign territory and "nobody's permission was needed" to drill there. (Report by Ali Kucukgocmen, edited by Louise Heavens)