Tsipras urges Ankara to dialogue, as EU expresses support for Cyprus

Top European officials on Thursday expressed their support for Cyprus in a dispute with Turkey, which has threatened to start drilling in the island's exclusive economic zone, as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appealed to Ankara for dialogue on the issue for the first time.

Speaking at an EU leaders' summit in the Romanian city of Sibiu, European Council President Donald Tusk said the European Union "stands united" behind Cyprus, adding that the bloc "expects Turkey to respect the sovereign rights" of its member nation.

Asked by a reporter about his stance on the same issue, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker remarked, "today I am a Cypriot."

Briefing EU leaders, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades spoke of an "unprecedented escalation of illegal action" in the Eastern Mediterranean, saying that Turkey's bid to drill in Cyprus' EEZ was...