Exclusive economic zone

With drilling under way in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone, Kathimerini has seen seven maps outlining Turkey's claims in the Eastern Mediterranean, revealing its intentions in the region.

As ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum began exploratory drilling in Block 10 of Cyprus's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Friday, the US assistant secretary of state responsible for energy expressed Washington's "excitement" over the catalytic role the exploitation of natural energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean will have in the region's development. 

US energy giant ExxonMobil has started exploring for oil and gas in block 10 of Cyprus's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the country's energy minister, Giorgos Lakkotrypis, said on Friday.

Washington supports Cyprus's right to develop its resources in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt said Thursday.

As Turkey insisted again on Wednesday that it will protect what it describes as its interests in the sea area off the coast of Cyprus, a US State Department spokesperson has been quoted as saying that Washington "discourages any actions or rhetoric that increase tensions in the region."

Greece wants to live peacefully with Turkey but will not relinquish any of its territorial rights, President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said on Friday in a speech in Thessaloniki.

Tension between the two countries flared up after former foreign minister Nikos Kotzias said last week the country was planning to extend its western territorial waters soon.

Turkey said on Friday it does not need lessons from Greece on how to delimitate an exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as the spat between the two countries over an announcement last week by Greece's former foreign minister that Athens is ready to extend its western territorial waters to 12 nautical miles continued.

Greece's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will be delimitated taking into consideration international law and not Turkey's views on the issue, the country's foreign ministry said on Thursday.

As Cyprus marked the 58th anniversary of its independence from the United Kingdom on Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued fresh threats against Athens and Nicosia.

"I have to repeat that in Cyprus and the Aegean no move can be made without Turkey," he said, warning that "those that try to ignore us in this region place their existence in jeopardy."

A day after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned Cyprus not to proceed with gas drilling in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), his Cypriot counterpart said Sunday Nicosia would not be cowed by threats.

"Threats, wherever they come from, are a sign of weakness," Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said.