Eastern Mediterranean

Turkey's foreign minister reiterated on July 10 that Turkey is determined to protect Turkish Cypriots' rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.         

By George Gilson

Straight on the heels of a US State Department statement of concern, the Greek foreign ministry has condemned Ankara's fresh attempt to drill in the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus, off the Turkish-occupied Karpas Peninsula.

European Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday threatened Turkey with sanctions if it does not stop its drilling activities in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Turkey's 11th development plan will be a roadmap to improve the country's position in the international arena and enhance its welfare, the country's vice president said on July 9.

Turkey has the highest number of children in the age group of 0-5 among European countries, with 8 million, according to a recent report published by the European Commission.

A first discussion will take place Wednesday in Brussels regarding a number of EU sanctions on Turkey following a call by Cyprus for EU solidarity after Turkish drilling activities off Cyprus.

The measures will likely be agreed Wednesday at a meeting of EU envoys and aproved by EU foreign ministers when they meet in Brussels next week.

Turkey's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it rejected statements by Greek and European Union officials that Turkish drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus was illegitimate and said the EU could not be an impartial mediator on the Cyprus problem.

Turkey's foreign ministry said on July 10 it rejected statements by Greek and European Union officials that Turkish drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus was illegitimate and said the EU could not be an impartial mediator on the Cyprus problem.

The European Union is considering suspending most high-level contacts with Turkey and cut the flow of funds in protest of the Turkish drilling activities in the Cyprus EEZ, Bloomberg reports.
A range of measures will reportedly be discussed by EU ministers on Wednesday in Brussels.

The US State Department on Tuesday urged Turkish authorities to halt energy drilling operations off the Cypriot coast in the Mediterranean, a day after Cyprus protested a Turkish ship dropping anchor there.