Exclusive economic zone

Cypriot authorities have submitted to the United Nations the coordinates delineating the boundaries of Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf in the wake of Turkey's decision to start drilling within Cyprus' EEZ.

The Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Sammy Revel has expressed its support for Nicosia following Turkey's decision to begin drilling operations within Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

"Israel is following with serious concern recent steps taken by Turkey in Cyprus EEZ, off its western coast," Revel wrote on Twitter.

The European Union has expressed its "grave concern" and pledged to "respond appropriately and in full solidarity" with Cyprus in response to Turkey's plans to conduct drilling operations within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In response to Turkey's plans to conduct drilling operations within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off its western coast, the European Union has expressed its "grave concern" pledging to "respond appropriately and and in full solidarity" with the East Mediterranean nation.

Beyond the antagonistic statements of Turkish government official on issues of sovereignty, former military officers and former officials are now claiming that five Greek islands belong to Turkey.

The claims are directly related to the delineation of the Exclusive Economic Zones of countries in the wider region.

Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis, the former Chairman of Greece's Joint Chiefs of Staff, has welcomed the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 as a move that confirms and upgrades Greece's strategic role in the broader region.

Greece is at the center of regional efforts to secure alternative energy routes to supply Europe, according to US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt.

Greek Foreign Minister Yorgos Katrougalos in an interview with the state-run Anadolu Press Agency on the eve of his visit to Turkey declared that Ankara cannot be excluded from energy-related issues in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In what is seen as a response to the trilateral summit next Wednesday in Jerusalem between Greece, Israel and Cyprus, with the participation of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Turkey has announced that it will start a naval exercise on the same day off the Mediterranean island's southern coast and within part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Cyprus has protested to the United Nations Turkey's ongoing hydrocarbon explorations in the Mediterranean island's continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).