PHILO PHOTO: A woman watches binoculars as Greek and French ships sail in formation during a joint military exercise in the Mediterranean, in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on August 13, 2020. Greek Ministry of Defense / Handout via REUTERS
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey on Sunday drew another rally from the European Union when it announced that its energy company Yavuz would extend operations in controversial Mediterranean waters of Cyprus until mid-September.
Yavuz will be accompanied by three other Turkish ships according to a maritime statement that added “all ships are strongly advised not to enter the area”.
A distance between Turkey and EU member Greece has intensified in recent weeks over oil and gas rights at sea, and last week involved even a small collision between its frigates.
Turkey’s renewed drilling plan covers a zone pictured by Cyprus and Egypt and picks up tensions, said EU foreign policy minister Josep Borrell, who called for an immediate halt to Turkey’s activities and the start of dialogue.
“This action runs counter to and underlines efforts to resume dialogue and negotiations, and to pursue immediate de-escalation,” he said in a statement.
Cairo and Athens signed a territorial destination treaty earlier this month. While Paris has vowed to criticize what it calls Turkey’s provocations, Ankara says it will not back down from defending its legal rights.
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday “the language of sanctions and threats” will not restrict Turkey.
Report by Jonathan Spicer and Francesco Guarascio; Edited by Daniel Wallis
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