Turkey has condemned a statement by leaders of the European Union that criticised Ankara for "continued illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea", increasing tensions between Ankara and Brussels just days before a key summit.

The European Council on Thursday called on Turkey to respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus to explore and exploit its natural resources in accordance with the EU and international law.

Turkey has vowed to prevent the Greek Cypriot government from exploring for oil or gas around the divided island, claiming that some areas of Cyprus' offshore exclusive economic zone fall under its jurisdiction or that of Turkish Cypriots.

Turkey's navy has been blocking private drill ships hired by Greek Cypriots from entering some of the zones off the Cyprus coast, which the European Council called illegal.

"Such wordings solely based on the Greek Cypriot and Greek claims are unacceptable and create an opportunity for some other countries to hide behind them as well," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday, adding the EU cannot be an objective actor on the Cyprus dispute.

Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik said on Twitter on European Council conclusions: "When solidarity takes over legality and equity, then no one can talk about legitimacy. Solidarity is meaningful only when it is legitimate."

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The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which has its own parliament and state institutions, is recognised only by Turkey since it unilaterally declared independence in 1983, breaking away from the Republic of Cyprus.

Cyprus had been practically divided since 1974, when Turkey's militarily intervened on the island in response to a brief Greece-inspired coup. Ankara said it acted in line with a treaty of guarantee signed in 1960 when the Republic of Cyprus was founded.

'Grave concern'

The Council's conclusions also expressed "grave concern" over the continued detention of EU citizens in Turkey, including two Greek soldiers, and calls for the swift and positive resolution of these issues in a dialogue with member states.

The soldiers were arrested on espionage charges on March 2 after entering northwestern Turkey and they have been waiting for their case to be heard.

The soldiers say they accidentally passed into Turkish land. Turkish state media reported that military sketches were found on the soldiers.

The trade of barbs come between Brussels and Ankara comes only days before a summit between EU President Donald Tusk, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker EU and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on March 26 in Varna, Bulgaria.

The meeting will discuss how to move the relationship between the two sides forward, on the basis of mutual respect and common interests.

"[The EU and Turkey] will assess matters of mutual interest and recent developments in Turkey, including in the area of rule of law and fundamental freedoms," a statement by the European Council, the primary legislative institution of the EU said.</s>Istanbul/Paris:Turkey forcefully rejected on Wednesday Western calls to suspend its offensive in northwest Syria, saying the United States misunderstood the extent of a UN ceasefire resolution and accusing France of giving “false information” on the issue.

Ankara has said the United Nations resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire across Syria does not apply to its five-week-old military operation in Afrin against the Kurdish YPG militia, which Turkey says is a terrorist group.

In strongly worded statements to two NATO allies, Turkey’s foreign ministry spokesman said a US State Department appeal that Turkey “go back and read” the ceasefire resolution was unfounded, and he also denied that Paris had told Ankara that the truce also applied to its Afrin campaign.

On Monday French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said he had told Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan that the UN demand “applied to all of Syria, including Afrin, and should be implemented everywhere and by all without any delay”.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy challenged that account, saying Macron did not specifically mention Afrin in their telephone conversation about the ceasefire resolution.

“Our reaction regarding the error of giving false information to the public was conveyed to French authorities,” Aksoy said.

The UN Security Council resolution demands all parties “cease hostilities without delay ... for a durable humanitarian pause for at least 30 consecutive days throughout Syria”.

It does not apply to military operations against Islamic State, al Qaeda and groups associated with them or other groups designated as terrorist organisations by the Security Council.

Turkey says the YPG militia which controls Afrin is an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party, which is deemed a terrorist group by the United States and European Union. The YPG is not designated as a terrorist group by the Security Council.

US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters on Tuesday that Turkey should read the ceasefire resolution, to “see what the world... is saying about this”.

Aksoy said the resolution did not specifically mention Afrin, and Turkey’s operation there was “a fight that is carried out against the terrorist organisations that target Turkey’s national security and Syria’s unity”.

Nauert’s statement “is unfounded and it shows that they are not able to understand the focus of the resolution, or they want to distort it”, Aksoy said.

US support for the YPG militia in north Syria has pushed relations between Turkey and the United States to crisis point. Ankara says that after Afrin it will target the Syrian town of Manbij, where YPG and US forces are deployed together. Reuters.</s>Ankara’s Foreign Ministry on Friday said that Thursday’s condemnation by European Union leaders of “Turkey’s continued illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea” was “unacceptable.”

“The statement that was issued contained unacceptable comments against our country that serve the interests of Greece and the Greek Cypriots,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy was quoted by Agence France-Presse as telling reporters.

His comments came a day after a draft statement by the European Council called 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 EU has lost its objectivity on the Cyprus issue,” Aksoy claimed, accusing the EU of backing Athens and Nicosia simply because they are members, “without considering whether they are right.”

Aksoy’s comments also came ahead of a key meeting on Monday in Varna, Bulgaria, between EU President Donald Tusk, Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.</s>Turkey on Friday condemned a statement by European Union leaders bitterly critical of Ankara's policies towards bloc members Cyprus and Greece, raising tensions just days ahead of a key summit.

"The statement that was issued contained unacceptable comments against our country that serve the interests of Greece and the Greek Cypriots," foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy told reporters in response to Thursday's EU statement.

EU President Donald Tusk and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker are due on Monday to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Bulgarian city of Varna.

Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik later said Ankara "cannot accept" the statement just before the summit in the Black Sea city.

"We consider the Turkey-EU summit of March 26 in Varna to be an important opportunity to move relations forward. We expect the same positive and constructive approach from the EU," Celik said on Twitter.

The statement by the 28 EU member states meeting in Brussels called out Turkey for "illegal actions" towards Greece and Cyprus, after Ankara's arrest of two Greek soldiers and its promise to prevent the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot government from exploring for oil and gas.

Aksoy complained that the EU had backed Athens and Nicosia simply because they are members, "without considering whether they are right".

"The EU has lost its objectivity on the Cyprus issue," he said.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the northern third of the island in response to a Greek military junta-sponsored coup.

While the Greek-majority Republic of Cyprus is internationally recognised, the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognised only by Ankara.

Erdogan has warned foreign energy companies not to "overstep the mark" after Turkey's warships blocked an Italian drilling vessel of energy giant ENI off Cyprus in February.

The Greek soldiers were arrested on March 2 for entering a military zone in the northern Turkish province of Edirne and have now been remanded in custody ahead of trial.

"The legal process continues. We expect the EU council to avoid statements which represent interference in the judiciary," Aksoy said.

In a discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron Friday evening, Erdogan asserted the need to "defend the legitimate rights of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus towards hydrocarbon sources in the eastern Mediterranean", according to Turkish presidential sources.

Erdogan also stressed "the importance of reviving the process of accession" to the EU for Turkey.

The summit between Erdogan and the EU chiefs is seen as crucial in setting up the future framework of Turkey's relationship with the bloc.

Turkey had sought to join the EU for over half a century but membership talks hit the buffers over Ankara's crackdown imposed in the wake of the 2016 failed coup.

Some EU leaders have suggested membership is no longer realistic and a pragmatic partnership should be forged instead.

"Of course this summit is important for us. We are expecting relations with the EU to be energised," said Aksoy.</s>See moderation in EU and Turkey's rhetoric to one another...

Baris Oran, chief financial officer at H.Ö. Sabanci Holding, speaks about Turkey's relationship with the European Union.</s>Brussels (AFP) - European leaders are on Thursday set to strongly condemn Turkey's "illegal actions" toward Greece and Cyprus in a blistering denunciation that could upend an EU-Turkish summit in Bulgaria next week.

The statement by the 28 European Union member states meeting in Brussels comes after Turkey's arrest of two Greek soldiers, and its promise to prevent the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot government from exploring for oil and gas.

"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 conclusions said.

The draft "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 statement shows firm support for Greece and Cyprus -- which have so far been among the EU countries most reluctant to endorse a separate EU summit condemnation of a nerve agent attack on a former Russian agent on English soil.

The draft urged Turkey to normalise relations with Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the northern third of the island in response to a Greek military junta-sponsored coup.

A standoff over exploiting energy resources in the region risks further complicating stalled efforts to reunify Cyprus after UN-backed talks collapsed last year.

In recent weeks Turkish warships blocked an Italian drillship from exploring for gas in the east Mediterranean island's waters.

The leaders also expressed "grave concern over the continued detention of EU citizens in Turkey" and called for these issues to be resolved through dialogue with the EU member states.

Two Greek soldiers were arrested on March 2 for entering a military zone in the northern Turkish province of Edirne and are waiting for their case to be heard.

Ties between Athens and Ankara are strained by the Greek failure to extradite eight Turkish troops who escaped Turkey by helicopter on the night of the July 2016 attempted overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish tensions with Greece and Cyprus are part of a wider plunge in relations since Brussels denounced Ankara over its post-coup crackdown.

Turkey has expressed increasing anger over its long-stalled bid to join the EU, mainly over human rights concerns.

It was not clear whether the summit denunciation could derail an EU-Turkey summit in the Bulgarian resort of Varna on Monday aimed at improving strained ties.

An EU diplomat appeared to suggest Wednesday that the summit would go ahead although it will be "difficult and sensitive" because of the many disputes.

The diplomat said on condition of anonymity that the goal would be to keep "pragmatic strategic cooperation."

The EU sees Turkey as a strategic partner in the fight against Islamic extremism and its efforts to stop Syrian and other asylum seekers from flooding into Europe and destabilising the bloc under a 2016 aid-for-cooperation deal.</s>The EU-Turkey leaders’ meeting will take place on 26 March at the Evksinograd residence in Varna, Bulgaria.

It will bring together Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria (pictured), and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey.

This working dinner will be an occasion to assess matters of mutual interest and recent developments in Turkey, including the country’s illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea and its involvement in Syria.

At their last EU summit on 22-23 March, EU leaders called on Turkey to respect Cyprus’ sovereign rights to explore and exploit its natural resources, in line with EU and international law.

They also recalled Turkey‘s obligation to respect international law and good neighbourly relations, and normalize relations with all EU member states including the Republic of Cyprus.

Furthermore, the European Union expressed its grave concern over the continued detention of EU citizens in Turkey. It called for the swift and positive resolution of these issues.</s>Turkey must release the two Greek soldiers it has had in custody since the start of the month as a “gesture of goodwill,” opposition chief Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in Brussels on Thursday.

Speaking to the media ahead of a meeting of the European People’s Party on the sidelines of Thursday’s European Union summit, the conservative leader said that he will be seeking an official statement on the issue from both forums.

“It is essential that Turkey gives us tangible signs of productive and essential cooperation that is not limited to the refugee crisis alone,” Mitsotakis said.

Ankara’s stance in the Aegean, on offshore drilling in Cyprus and in regards to the two imprisoned Greek soldiers should not be tolerated, Mitsotakis said.

In regards to ongoing name talks with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Mitsotakis accused Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of “never trying to form a common national front” on the issue.

“He could barely convince his own government partner,” Mitsotakis said, referring to an apparent rift over the name talks in the coalition government.

“We stipulated that [any deal is conditional] on changes to the constitution and the abolition of any irredentist ambitions,” the conservative leader said. “If these issues are not addressed, then there is no point in continuing with this discussion.”</s>ANKARA - A Turkish court on Monday rejected a request for the release of two Greek soldiers arrested last week for illegally entering the country, local media reported.

The pair were arrested on Friday for entering a prohibited military zone in the northern province of Edirne. Turkish media initially reported that the two men were arrested for “attempted military espionage”, but Greek authorities denied it.

The soldiers told prosecutors last week that they had erroneously entered through a border crossing after “following footprints in the snow in an attempt to stop migrant smuggling”, local media said.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Monday that prosecutors wanted the two soldiers detained for attempted military espionage and entering a forbidden military zone, but the judge ordered their arrest only on the second charge. The Greek army said the lieutenant and sergeant lost their way in poor weather while patrolling around the Evros river that divides the two nations.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, speaking before the court’s decision, urged its NATO ally Turkey “to apply the provisions of international law and not turn a routine procedure into a major legal and political problem”.

Relations between Ankara and Athens are tense over a number of issues including the Greek failure to extradite eight Turkish troops who escaped Turkey by helicopter on the night of the July 2016 attempted overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

But Bozdag told reporters in Ankara “there was no question of an exchange” for the Turkish military personnel, echoing comments made at the weekend by Athens.

“We are not at war with Turkey to conduct an exchange of prisoners,” junior foreign minister Yiorgos Katrougalos said Saturday.

Turkish and Greek vessels have also in the last weeks twice collided off Aegean islets that have been a historic flashpoint in a long-running demarcation dispute.

Tensions are also high over Cyprus as Turkey promises to prevent attempts by the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government to exploit oil reserves off the Mediterranean island.

The northern part of the island is still occupied by Turkish troops following the 1974 invasion in response to an Athens-inspired coup aimed at uniting it with Greece.
Turkey calls a statement of European Union support for Greek Cypriots in a dispute over offshore resources "unacceptable". Turkey has been using its Navy to prevent exploration by Cypriot vessels.