Turkey warned Saturday, November 3 it would shun international companies involved in oil and gas drilling off the shores of the divided island of Cyprus, Focus reported citing AFP.

"As it was repeated several times ... the companies which will cooperate with the Greek Cypriot Administration will be excluded from new energy projects in Turkey in the future," the foreign ministry said in a written statement.

Turkey's warning came after Cyprus approved licenses for drilling to exploit offshore oil and gas deposits and said it would negotiate the terms of a partnership with ENI, South Korea's Kogas, France's Total and Russia's Novatek for energy exploration off the island.

The Turkish foreign minister called on the countries and oil companies in question "to act with common sense," warning them not to operate in disputed waters off Cyprus and to withdraw from the tender.