Exclusive economic zone

Modern Greek bureaucracy and petty partisan interests appear to have again reared their “ugly head”, with the eight residents of the remote isle of Levitha essentially considered as “non entities” by the municipality Leros, part of a bid to characterize the isle as uninhabited.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on Wednesday welcomed the departure of Turkish seismic vessel Barbaros from the island's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), adding however that it was important that Ankara did not issue a new maritime order, or Navtex.

Greece plans joint military exercises with Israel, Cyprus and Egypt, Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said Wednesday, amid continuing tensions between Cyprus and Turkey over oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey dismissed calls by new Greek PM Alexis Tsipras that it recall a research vessel from Cyprus’ EEZ.  The Greek PM supported Cyprus’ position that the vessel Barbaros must leave Cyprus’ EEZ before negotiations between the two communities on the divided island resume.

A day after reports in the Turkish press indicated that Turkey’s seismic vessel Barbaros will withdraw from Cypriot waters next week, fueling hopes of a possible resumption of Cyprus talks, fresh reports over the weekend suggested that the Barbaros is heading for Greek territorial waters.

Any delimitation of the Mediterranean between Egypt and Greece will not be acceptable if it affects Turkey’s national interests, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said.

Davutoğlu’s remarks were published on Dec. 7 in the Greek newspaper To Vima, in an interview given at the end of the third High-Level Cooperation Council meeting between Greece and Turkey in Athens on Dec. 6.

Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos arrived in Ankara Friday night for two days of talks. Ahead of his visit he sought to make it clear that Greece is prepared to discuss maritime issues with Turkey regardless of its recent agreement with Cyprus and Egypt.

Nicosia has criticized UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for failing to condemn Turkey's violation of Cyprus's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The European Union has called on Turkey to respect Cyprus's sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Speaking at the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee on Tuesday, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn urged Turkey to show restraint and avoid any more statements or actions that could fuel tension in the area.

Greece, Cyprus and Egypt will step up energy cooperation, the leaders of the three countries agreed in Cairo on Saturday in their first ever tripartite talks.