BRUSSELS – With Turkish warships blocking Cypriot waters from foreign energy companies licensed to drill for oil and gas, European Union leaders meeting in the bloc’s capital called for it to stop and for recognition of the island by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The draft reads that “recalling its conclusions of October 2014 and the Declaration of September 21, 2005, the European Council urgently calls on Turkey to cease these actions and respect the sovereign right of Cyprus to explore and exploit its natural resources in accordance with EU and International Law.”

It further calls on Turkey to respect international law and good neighbourly relations, “and normalize relations with all EU Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus.”

Citing sources, state broadcaster CyBC said the Cypriot delegation in Brussels were satisfied with the draft text. Turkey argues the self-proclaimed Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus should also be allowed to exploit the region, although others claim that areas designated for drilling fall under Ankara’s maritime jurisdiction or that of the Turkish Cypriots. EU leaders were on Thursday set to condemn Turkey’s provocative actions in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean and express “full solidarity with Cyprus and Greece” at the meeting of the European Council in Brussels.
Turkey announces it is to send a drilling boat to disputed waters claimed by both Cyprus and Northern Cyprus.