EU leaders condemn Turkey for 'illegal actions' as transgressions continue

European Union leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday unanimously condemned Turkey for its aggression toward Greece and Cyprus and called on Ankara to release two Greek soldiers who have been in Turkish custody for more than three weeks. 

In a draft common statement, the European Council "strongly condemns Turkey's continued illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea" and underlines its "full solidarity with Cyprus and Greece."

The draft noted that "the European Council urgently calls on Turkey to cease these actions and respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus to explore and exploit its natural resources in accordance with EU and International Law."

The draft also expressed "grave concern" about the continued detention of EU citizens in Turkey and called for the "swift and positive resolution of these issues in a dialogue with member-states." ...