The Southern European countries released a statement during a meeting Friday condemning Turkish actions in the Eastern Mediterranean. The statement called on the European Union to “consider appropriate action” against Turkey if it doesn’t stop an “illegal” hydrocarbon drilling bid in waters where the Republic of Cyprus has exclusive economic rights, the leaders of France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Malta said in a joint declaration issued at the end of the sixth Med7 summit in the Maltese capital La Valletta on Friday.

 In their Declaration the MED7 express their “deep regret that Turkey has not responded to the European Union’s repeated calls condemning Turkey’s illegal continued actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea and express serious concern over actual or potential drilling activities within Cyprus’ EEZ.”

 “We ask the European Union to remain seized on the matter and, in case Turkey does not cease its illegal activities, to consider appropriate measures in full solidarity with Cyprus,” they note.

 In a statement during a joint press conference by the seven southern EU member states leaders, Malta’s Prime Minister and host Joseph Muscat said that “we have made it very clear that we give our total support to our Cypriot friends on recurrent issues and that this support is unwavering.”



“Turkey must stop its illegal activities in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus,” said French President Emmanuel Macron. “The European Union will not show any weakness on this subject.”

 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said: “It’s important to signal that the EU should take specific measures if Turkey does not stop its infringing behavior. Whoever doesn’t respect international law must suffer the consequences.”

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte also conveyed “our support and full help to the Cyprus government.” “Cyprus is completely entitled to economic measures to protect its resources in its EEZ,” he said speaking through an interpreter.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also noted solidarity and support to the government of Cyprus regarding oil protection as regards Turkey.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday condemned a joint statement released by the MED7 nations targeting Turkey at a summit of southern European Union states, saying Ankara rejects biased remarks disconnected from reality and against international law.

 “These expressions reflect the Greek Cypriot/Greek duo’s national positions that are not compatible with the U.N.’s principles regarding a solution to the Cyprus question and international law. They do not hold any value, provision or influence for us,” the ministry statement said, describing the Med7 statement as a new and saddening example of how Greek Cyprus and Greece abuse their EU membership and how some EU countries serve as an instrument to this. </s> NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Turkish warships continue to impede a rig from reaching a location off Cyprus where Italian energy company Eni is scheduled to drill for gas, the Cypriot government said Monday.

Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides told state broadcaster RIK that the rig remains anchored about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from the drilling target off the island’s southeastern coast.

He said Cyprus and Eni are focused on ensuring that drilling goes ahead as planned.

Christodoulides said Turkish warships prevented other merchant vessels from approaching the area, citing military maneuvers. He said a Turkish notice binding the area for such maneuvers expires Feb. 22. Cyprus says the notice violates international law and is legally invalid.

Cyprus was divided into a Greek Cypriot south, where the internationally recognized government is seated, and a Turkish Cypriot north in 1974, when Turkey invaded in the wake of a coup mounted by supporters of union with Greece. A Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence is only recognized by Turkey which maintains mover 35,000 troops in the north.

Turkey opposes what it says is a “unilateral” search for resources by the Cypriot government because it disregards the rights of breakaway Turkish Cypriots to the island’s natural resources.

The Cypriot government says it is its sovereign right to drill for gas and that any income from the hydrocarbons will be shared equitably after the island is reunified.

Greece’s foreign ministry condemned what it said was Turkey’s disregard for international law and the “blatant violation” of Cyprus’ sovereign rights. In a statement Monday, the ministry called on Turkey to stop any further unlawful actions and to comply with its international legal obligations.

It also said that Turkey’s “provocative” behavior isn’t in line with that of a candidate for European Union membership.

The EU cautioned Turkey to respect the territory of its member states and to avoid ratcheting up tensions.

“Turkey needs to commit unequivocally to good neighborly relations and avoid any kind of source of friction, threat or action directed against a member state” European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said. “Moreover, the EU also stresses the need to respect the sovereignty of member states over their territorial sea and air space.”

Turkey has in the past routinely issued notices binding areas south of Cyprus for naval drills in response to the island nation’s hydrocarbons search. But it’s the first time that it has taken such a step to prevent drilling.

Last week, Cyprus said that Eni had discovered a potentially sizeable gas deposit at another target southwest of the island.

Lorne Cooke in Brussels contributed to this report. </s> BRUSSELS – With Turkish warships blocking Cypriot waters from foreign energy companies licensed to drill for oil and gas, European Union leaders meeting in the bloc’s capital called for it to stop and for recognition of the island by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey has unlawfully occupied the northern third since a 1974 invasion and Erdogan, in the wake of collapsed reunification talks last year, sent warships into Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), part of which Turkey also claims.

Turkey – which wants to join the EU to which Cyprus belongs – refuses to recognize the legitimate government, bars Cypriot ships and planes, and has demanded a share in any potentially lucrative finds of energy while insisting Turkish-Cypriots also share in

“The European Council strongly condemns Turkey`s continued illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea and underlines its full solidarity with Cyprus and Greece,” said the final text of the European Council’s statement, the Cyprus Mail said.

Without an army, the EU takes to issuing press releases of various concerns, grave, deep, etc. as it otherwise has little leverage even though it could further stymie Turkey’s entry hopes that were dashed when Germany and France said accession talks should halt.

“Recalling its conclusions of October 2014 and the declaration of 21 September 2005, the European Council urgently calls on Turkey to cease these actions and respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus to explore and exploit its natural resources in accordance with EU and international law,” the EU statement said.

“In this context, it recalls Turkey’s obligation to respect international law and good neighborly relations, and normalize relations with all EU member states including the Republic of Cyprus,” it added.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry responded with a blast back. “The statement that was issued contained unacceptable comments against our country that serve the interests of Greece and the Greek Cypriots,” spokesman Hami Aksoy was quoted by Agence France-Presse as telling reporters.

Earlier in the day and ahead of the summit, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades met the President of the European Council Donald Tusk to discuss Turkey’s belligerence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

 The EU tries to walk a fine line with Turkey, speaking out during tense moments but backing off later as it needs that country’s cooperation in not letting refugees and migrants who went there after fleeing war and strife in the Middle East to get to Greek islands and try to reach more prosperous European countries before the borders were shut to them. </s> NICOSIA – Stepping up aggression and hinting at military action, Turkey sent warships to block an Italian company drillship from reaching waters off Cyprus licensed for an energy hunt, sending the Cypriot and Italian governments to plan a response.

The legitimate Cypriot government, which Turkey refuses to recognize as it continues to occupy the northern third almost 44 years after an unlawful invasion, said it was in quick contact with Italy after the Saipem 12000 drillship of energy giant ENI was reportedly forced to halt its course to Block 3 of the island’s Exclusive Economic zone (EEZ) by Turkish warships.

Turkey, which doesn’t recognize laws of the seas, has it owns a large of Cyprus’ EEZ and has sent its own energy research vessels into Cypriot waters with no action from the United Nations or the European Union it wants to join, and of which Cyprus is a member.

Turkey has repeatedly warned Cyprus not to license international companies to drill in the waters where recent reports indicate there could be lucrative discoveries Turkey also said it wants a share of even though the sources would be in waters outside Turkey’s jurisdiction.

Speaking to state broadcaster CYC, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said the Turkish vessels forced the captain to maneuver out of their way, while other reports said the Turkish ships ordered the drillship to change course.

“The foreign ministries of Italy and Cyprus are in constant contact,” Kasoulides said.

 The ship stopped its course to its intended destination on Friday when it was at a distance of 15 nautical miles – 70 kilometers off southeast coast of Cyprus.

Later, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said any conflict that results, with no reports Italy would send its own warships to protect the ENI vessel or that the Cypriot Navy or Coast Guard would take action, would be the fault of “the Greek Cypriot administration continuing its unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

“Despite all our warnings, the Greek Cypriot administration continues its unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. It does so in disregard of the inalienable rights on natural resources of the Turkish Cypriot people, who are the co-owners of the island,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The sole responsibility for any situation that could arise as a consequence falls on the Greek Cypriot side, which, instead of expending efforts towards a just and lasting comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, persists in acting as though it were the sole owner of the island and in continuing its unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities,” the statement added.

The dispute over the waters clouded the collapsed unity negotiations that fell apart at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana in July, 2016 where Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades walked away after Turkey said it would never remove an army it keeps in the occupied territory only it recognizes and that it wanted the right to militarily intervene.

“This attitude of the Greek Cypriot side, which does not shy away from irresponsibly jeopardizing the security and stability of the Eastern Mediterranean region, is actually the fundamental reason behind the failure of the Cyprus settlement negotiations to produce an outcome for the past half-century,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

“As long as the Greek Cypriot administration continues its unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities, it will remain evident just how far removed the Greek Cypriot side is from perceiving the Turkish Cypriots as their equal partners,” it said. </s> EU Affairs Minister Ömer Çelik on Friday criticized statements from EU leaders that Turkey is illegally blocking the exploration of a potential natural gas field off the island of Cyprus.

"The statement released by EU leaders is not acceptable for Turkey," Çelik said. He added that it was the EU that accused Greek Cyprus and Greece because of the failed Crans-Montana negotiations to resolve the problem of the ethnically split island last year. He also cited the constructive and benign approach Turkey will adopt during Turkey-EU summit scheduled to take place on March 26.

EU leaders released a statement on Thursday that said Turkey is continuing illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea.

The EU "urgently calls on Turkey to cease these actions and respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus to explore and exploit its natural resources," the statement said.

EU leaders in Brussels discussed relations with Turkey in light of the upcoming summit, with Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras speaking on recent concerns.

Greek Cyprus has been trying to exclude Turkish Cyprus and Turkey, which has been conducting seismic surveys in the area and exercising its legal rights in accordance with international maritime law. The government in the south of the island last month commissioned Italian energy company ENI, which declared the discovery of a potentially sizable gas field off the southwestern coast close to Egypt's Zohr deposit, which is the largest-ever discovered in the Mediterranean. However, Turkey immediately deployed warships to the region and prevented the Italian energy firm from continuing its operations in the region. As a result, ENI's drilling vessel left the area. The disregard for Turkish Cyprus's rights in the region did not stop with the ENI vessel. Following the Turkish Navy's blockade of ENI, early in March, vessels from U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil and state-owned Qatar Petroleum consortium were reported to have arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean to conduct offshore drilling activities.

The issue has reignited old tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 into a predominantly Greek south, which is an EU member, and a Turkish north whose sovereignty is only recognized by Ankara. </s> Turkey's foreign ministry criticized the Greek Cypriot Administration again Sunday for a "unilateral" offshore hydrocarbons search after Turkish warships prevented an Italian rig from reaching an area off the east Mediterranean island nation where it was to start exploratory drilling for gas.

Turkish warships on Friday stopped the Saipem 12000 rig belonging to the Italian energy firm ENI as it headed toward an area southeast of Cyprus.

Turkey, in a statement Sunday, said Greek Cypriots were disregarding the "inalienable rights on natural resources" of Turkish Cypriots and jeopardizing the region's stability.

"Within this context, we have most recently observed that there is an intention to commence activities in block number three in the Greek Cypriot Administration's so-called exclusive economic zone."

Turkey shares the justified concerns of the Turkish Cypriot people on this issue and supports the statement made on Saturday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, it said.

"As we have repeatedly emphasized in the past, not only will we continue to protect our own rights and interests in our continental shelf, but we are also determined to take the necessary steps together with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus within the framework of our support to the Turkish Cypriot side."

The ministry said the sole responsibility for any situation that could arise as a consequence falls on the Greek Cypriot side, which, instead of expending efforts towards a just and lasting comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, persists in acting as though it were the sole owner of the island and in continuing its unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities.

"This attitude of the Greek Cypriot side, which does not shy away from irresponsibly jeopardizing the security and stability of the Eastern Mediterranean region, is actually the fundamental reason behind the failure of the Cyprus settlement negotiations to produce an outcome for the past half-century," the ministry said.

The ministry recalled that during the Conference on Cyprus convened last year, the Greek Cypriots demonstrated once again their unwillingness to accept a partnership with the Turkish Cypriots on the basis of political equality, and that because of this, the conference closed without a settlement.

According to the statement, as long as the Greek Cypriot Administration continues its unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities, it will remain evident just how far removed the Greek Cypriot side is from perceiving the Turkish Cypriots as their equal partners.

"We also make use of this opportunity to strongly emphasize our expectation that companies centered in third countries refrain from supporting, through cooperation with the Greek Cypriot Administration in the area of hydrocarbons, this unconstructive Greek Cypriot attitude which also constitutes a major obstacle to the settlement of the Cyprus issue," the statement added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks, and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power. It has seen an on-and-off peace process in recent years, including the latest initiative in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Turkey, Greece and the U.K. collapsing in 2017.

Only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), whereas Greek Cypriot Administration has international recognition as the Republic of Cyprus.

Turkey blames Greek Cypriot intransigence for the talks' failure, also faulting the European Union for admitting Cyprus as a divided island into the union in 2004 after Greek Cypriot voters rejected a peace deal.

An ENI spokesman told The Associated Press that the Turkish warships told the rig not to continue because there would be military activities at its destination. The spokesman said the rig would remain where it stopped until the situation is resolved.

Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said Sunday that Cypriot authorities are taking actions that will neither lead to an escalation of tensions nor overlook the fact that Turkey was violating international law.

The Greek Cypriot government says a gas search is its sovereign right and that any potential hydrocarbon wealth generated will be equitably shared among all Cypriots after the island is reunified.

Italy's ENI, France's TOTAL and ExxonMobil of the U.S. are among the companies licensed to search for hydrocarbons off Cyprus' southern coast.

Last week, Greek Cyprus announced that ENI and partner TOTAL had discovered a potentially sizeable gas field off its southwestern coast that's close to Egypt's Zohr deposit, which is the largest ever discovered in the Mediterranean.

In earlier drilling, Texas-based Noble Energy discovered a field off Cyprus estimated to hold more than 4 trillion cubic feet of gas.

The incident is the latest twist in decades-old feuds and overlapping claims in the eastern Mediterranean, brought into sharper focus by the discovery of some of the world's largest gas finds in the past decade lurking in the watery deep.

In addition to Greek Cypriot Administration, TRNC and Turkey, Israel and Lebanon are also at odds over offshore gas exploration and marine boundaries.

The Saipem 12000 had previously been commissioned to drill the Calypso, which lies less than 100 km away from the mammoth Zohr field off Egypt. It had been heading to a maritime block, known as Block 3, where it was to start work on another prospect, dubbed Cuttlefish.

Block 3, which lies far below Cyprus's Karpasia peninsula, the pointed 'panhandle' of the island, lies closer to Syria or Lebanon than Turkey. </s> Cyprus on Sunday insisted Turkey had breached "international law" after Ankara's warships blocked an Italian drilling ship on course to explore for gas in the island's politically sensitive waters.

Italy's energy giant ENI told the Cyprus News Agency its vessel was ordered to stop by Turkish ships Friday over "military activities in the destination area" as it sailed to begin explorations in block 3 of Cyprus's exclusive economic zone.

Turkey and the Greek Cypriot-majority republic have sparred over resources in the eastern Mediterranean, with Ankara pushing the claim of the unrecognised statelet it backs on the north of the divided island.

"We are keeping calm in order to avoid any crisis and taking all diplomatic steps necessary so that finally the Republic of Cyprus' sovereign rights can be respected," President Nicos Anastasiades told reporters Sunday.

"We are handling the situation by trying to avoid anything that could worsen the situation without ignoring the fact that Turkey's actions are in breach of international law," he added.

However, Turkey's foreign ministry lashed out at Cyprus over the "unilateral hydrocarbon-related activities" by the European Union's most easterly member.

"It does so in disregard of the inalienable rights on natural resources of the Turkish Cypriot people, who are the co-owners of the Island," a statement said.

"This unconstructive Greek Cypriot attitude also constitutes a major obstacle to the settlement of the Cyprus issue."

The island has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third in response to a coup sponsored by the military junta then ruling Greece.

Cyprus announced on Thursday that exploratory drilling by Italy's ENI and France's Total had found extensive gas reserves elsewhere off the island in a major breakthrough in its hunt for resources.

Cyprus has signed deals with a range of firms for exploratory drilling, with US giant ExxonMobil also planning two drills in the second half of 2018.

The dispute over resources in the Mediterranean is another complicating factor in efforts to reunify the island after negotiations on the 44-year feud collapsed in acrimony last year.

Turkey and Cyprus are not the only countries at odds over resources in the eastern Mediterranean, with Israel and Lebanon also feuding over competing claims. </s> NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) - The European Union should "consider appropriate action" against Turkey if it doesn't stop an "illegal" gas drilling bid in waters where Cyprus has exclusive economic rights, the leaders of southern EU states said Friday.

In a joint declaration issued at the end of their meeting in the Maltese capital, the leaders of France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Malta expressed their full support for Cyprus' sovereign rights to exploit its national resources and repeated their condemnation of Turkey's actions.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades expressed his "deepest gratitude" for the leaders' expression of solidarity with his country against Turkey's "provocations."

A Turkish drill ship has been anchored 41 miles off Cyprus' western coast for several weeks, but it is unclear if it has started drilling. Turkey says it is defending its rights and those of breakaway Turkish Cypriots to the area's energy reserves.

Cyprus' government says Turkey is acting in blatant disregard of international law.

Although it hasn't said so publicly, the Cypriot government has issued international arrest warrants for the ship's crew and officials from foreign companies assisting in the drilling. A Cypriot government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said the arrest warrants number in the "double digits" and target officials "in decision-making positions."

Turkey warned this week that it would give the "necessary response" to Cyprus over the arrest warrants.

Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said the Cypriot government won't be drawn into a "publicity-oriented confrontation" with Turkey.

But he repeated on private TV station Sigma on Thursday that some drilling support companies had stopped collaboration with Turkey following actions that he said have been taken by the Cypriot government and "by companies which are lawfully authorized to operate within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone."

ExxonMobil, France's Total and Italy's Eni are among the companies licensed to search for gas inside Cyprus' exclusive economic zone. </s> Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday that Turkey has taken all measures in the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea to avoid provocations and a fait accompli.

Akar said that Turkey wants to solve the existing problems in the Aegean Sea within the framework of international law and good neighborly relations, and that all efforts are being exerted with a good will. Akar added: "That being said, a fait accompli will not be allowed in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. All necessary measures are being taken in a decisive manner."

Fragile ties between Turkey and Greece have fallen to new lows following the Greek courts' repeated refusal to extradite eight alleged putschist ex-Turkish soldiers in the wake of the 2016 defeated coup and Turkey's detentio

n last month of two Greek soldiers.

The first quarter of 2018 has been particularly tense. Apart from the soldiers issue, the Greek Cypriots' unilateral hydrocarbon search activities is a matter of grave concern to Turkey. Greek Cyprus has been trying to exclude Turkish Cyprus and Turkey, which has been conducting seismic surveys in the area and exercising its legal rights in accordance with international maritime law.

The issue has reignited old tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. In February, the Cypriot administration commissioned Italian energy company ENI, which declared the discovery of a potentially sizable gas field off the southwestern coast close to Egypt's Zohr deposit, which is the largest-ever discovered in the Mediterranean. However, Turkey immediately deployed warships to the region and prevented the Italian energy firm from continuing its operations in the region. As a result, ENI's drilling vessel left the area. The disregard for Turkish Cyprus's rights in the region did not stop with the ENI vessel. Following the Turkish Navy's blockade of ENI, early in March, vessels from U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil and state-owned Qatar Petroleum consortium were reported to have arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean to conduct offshore drilling activities.

The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 into a predominantly Greek south, wh

ich is an EU member, and a Turkish north whose sovereignty is only recognized by Ankara.
Turkey calls a statement of European Union support for Greek Cypriots in a dispute over offshore resources "unacceptable". Turkey has been using its Navy to prevent exploration by Cypriot vessels.