Cyprus–Turkey maritime zones dispute

A Cypriot foreign ministry official says Cyprus will take legal action if a second Turkish vessel starts gas drilling in waters where the east Mediterranean island nation has exclusive economic rights.

Turkey has warned the European Union that any intervention on their part on the issue of Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) would negatively affect relations between Greece and Turkey, as well as any prospects for an end to the occupation of the northern part of Cyprus.

Turkey launched a second drilling ship on Thursday which will conduct natural gas operations off the northeast coast of Cyprus for three months, a move which risks aggravating a conflict with Cyprus over jurisdiction rights for oil and gas exploration.

The European Union will consider taking "appropriate" measures against Turkey over its gas drilling activities in Cyprus' offshore maritime zone, according to a press release by the General Affairs Council (GAC) Tuesday.

"Turkey cannot be allowed to violate the sovereignty of an EU member state," Manfred Weber, leader of the center-right European People's Party (EPP) bloc in the European Parliament, said on Monday.

The reason - there is information that Turkey is doing drilling for natural gas exploration near Cyprus, reported NOVA TV. 

Turkey's activities within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) are tantamount to an attack on the Republic of Cyprus, government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou has said.

Turkey on June 15 rejected an EU summit's declaration on the issues of the Aegean, Eastern Mediterranean, and Cyprus, calling it "against international law."

The leaders of France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain on Friday expressed their unreserved support for the Republic of Cyprus' right to drill for gas in its exclusive economic zone and called on Turkey to respect international law and the principles of good neighborly relations.

The United States has reiterated its call to Turkey not to proceed with offshore drilling operations within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and repeated its support of the Mediterranean island's right to exploit and develop its oil and gas resources.