9 May 2019

EU supports Cyprus in dispute with Turkey over offshore drilling ops

On 9 May, European Council President Donald Tusk said that the European Union stood behind Cyprus in a dispute with Turkey over offshore drilling operations. “The EU stands united behind Cyprus and expects Turkey to respect the sovereign rights of EU member states,” he stated after the Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades, addressed fellow EU leaders during talks in Sibiu, Romania. When a Turkish ship had started drilling in areas for which northern Cyprus authorities had issued a permit, the government of Cyprus issued a statement condemning Turkey’s activities within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus. HR/VP Mogherini expressed her concern over Turkey’s plans calling the country “to show restraint, respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus […] and refrain from any such illegal action.” Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Mogherini’s statement claiming Turkey’s legitimate rights, stemming from international law, to carry out activities in the Eastern Mediterranean region. It accused instead the Greek Cypriot Administration of “irresponsibly jeopardizing the security and stability of the region by disregarding the inalienable rights of the Turkish Cypriots […] refusing every proposal of cooperation and insisting on its unilateral activities in the region despite all warnings.”

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