The French government said it’s looking for a deal with Cyprus that will let the energy giant Total to go ahead with more seismic surveys in a key block off the island, near where Turkey is conducting unlawful research.

French Ambassador to Cyprus Jean-Luc Florent was asked on Feb. 27 to comment on the ongoing negotiations following Total`s decision last month to abandon its offshore exploration activities, the Cyprus News Agency said.

Speaking during an informal briefing at EU House in Nicosia, Florent said the French government had been disappointed, as were Total and the Cyprus government over the company`s conclusion that there was no real potential to justify drilling in blocks 10 and 11.

But he said that the French government was not involved in the ongoing negotiations between the company and the energy ministry aiming to draft an agreement that would allow for more time to conduct seismic surveys in block 11.

The situation would be assessed anew in a year’s time, he said.