Turkey disputes the European Union’s position that the waters where Turkey hopes to drill for hydrocarbon belong to Greece and Cyprus.
By Al-Monitor
The European Union’s top diplomat criticized Turkey yesterday for what the EU views as an infringement upon Greek and Cypriot territory in the Mediterranean Sea, according to Greek media outlets.
The EU’s high representative for foreign affairs said Turkey should stop energy exploration in that part of the eastern Mediterranean, although Turkey disputes that the area belongs to Greece and Cyprus.
“We are calling on Turkey to stop drilling in the areas where there is the EEZ (exclusive economic zone) or territorial waters of Cyprus and Greece,” said Josep Borrell, as reported by the Greek news outlet Kathimerini.
Turkey began exploring off the coast of Libya in January for hydrocarbons. The area is west of Cyprus and southeast of the Greek island of Crete. Turkey has an agreement to operate there with Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord, which Ankara backs militarily.
Greece and Cyprus consider the project to be in their territorial waters.
