Exclusive economic zone

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says that Turkey's "provocation and flouting of International Law" in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are a sign of weakness and calls for EU sanctions against Turkey if it is confirmed that drillship Fatih has drilled for oil and national gas within Cyprus' EEZ.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had a phone conversation with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades Sunday evening, while Greece's defense and foreign policy inner cabinet was meeting.

French President Emmanuel Macron called on Turkey to stop the illegal activities in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus, France 24 reported.

Macron said the EU would not give up its position. Europe has already called on Turkey to withdraw its ships for natural gas drilling in the region.

Cypriot diplomatic sources believe that Nicosia's decision last month to issue arrest warrants in response to the illegal presence of Turkey's Fatih drillship in the Eastern Mediterranean island's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is paying off.

Turkey has sent a drilling vessel inside Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and it is likely considering similar activities in areas close to the Dodecanese island of Kastellorizo - areas that Athens sees as a part of Greece's EEZ. Whereas the Republic of Cyprus is restricted to a diplomatic response, a Greek government would hardly be able to ignore such a move on Ankara's part.

Dear Editor,

We read the editorial published in Kathimerini's Sunday edition on June 9, 2019 by Costas Simitis, titled "The Coastal Zone - EEZ - Continental Shelf - Take Caution Now," with special respect and consideration given the former prime minister's deep knowledge of the topic and the recent, strong US government policy statements on these issues.

Ankara is escalating its sharp rhetoric toward Cyprus and Greece due to the dispute over energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, stirring heightened concerns in Nicosia, Athens, and Washington.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy has once again upped the ante with Cyprus, warning that Ankara will "give the necessary response" if Nicosia "dares" to arrest employees of the Turkish-flagged drillship Fatih that is currently conducting drilling activities off the island's west coast.

With concerns rising about a possible "incident" in the Eastern Mediterranean or Aegean, Ankara appears to be stepping up its efforts to entrench its presence in the region.

The drillship Fatih is already in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and Turkish authorities have indicated that a second vessel, the Yavuz, will also be dispatched to the region in due course.

The United States has reiterated its call to Turkey not to proceed with offshore drilling operations within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and repeated its support of the Mediterranean island's right to exploit and develop its oil and gas resources.