The European Union on Friday condemned Turkey's actions off the coast of Cyprus in the context of a conflict over the exploration of gas fields, accusing Ankara of "aggravating" the tensions.
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The 27 have repeatedly urged Turkey to end its oil and gas exploration drilling off the island as it encroaches on the economic zone of Cyprus, a member of the Union. Earlier this year, the EU froze assets and denied entry to two Turkish citizens involved in the operations, but Ankara stood firm.
“We regret that Turkey has not responded to the numerous calls from the European Union to stop such activities and we reiterate our call for Turkey to show restraint, to renounce this kind of "actions and that it respects the sovereignty and sovereign rights of Cyprus", insisted the 27 Union foreign ministers in a joint statement.
Ministers praised Cypriot efforts to negotiate the dispute while saying that "the recent escalation of Turkish actions is unfortunately going in the wrong direction".
The Turkish vessel Yavuz has been drilling off the coast of Cyprus since the end of last month. Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Thursday that the works would not stop.
"Turkey continues its drilling and seismic activities (...) in the eastern Mediterranean without any interruption," Donmez told the Turkish state news agency Anadolu on Thursday.
Significant gas deposits have been discovered in the seabed of the waters claimed by both Cyprus and Turkey.
Ankara claims that its oil drilling activities are in accordance with international law and has declared that its ally, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, not recognized by the international community, should receive part of the profits.
