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Borrell tells Turkey to remove drillship from Cyprus waters

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EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told Turkey to immediately end drilling activities in Cyprus waters and engage in a broad dialogue with Brussels to reduce regional tensions.

He said Sunday’s announcement by Turkey of renewed drilling activities by its Yavuz vessel in a maritime zone which has been delineated by Cyprus and Egypt “regrettably fuels further tensions and insecurity in the Eastern Mediterranean”.

“This action runs counter and undermines efforts to resume dialogue and negotiations, and to pursue immediate de-escalation, which is the only path towards stability and lasting solutions, as reiterated by EU Foreign Ministers last Friday,” Borrell added.

“I call on the Turkish authorities to end these activities immediately and to engage fully and in good faith in a broad dialogue with the European Union.”

The US seeks tighter cooperation on developing gas finds in the “strategically significant” eastern Mediterranean and supports Cyprus’ right to exploit natural gas, a senior US State Department official said Sunday.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale said hydrocarbon development would aim to “provide durable energy security and economic prosperity throughout the Mediterranean”.

A US embassy statement was issued after Hale met Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides to discuss the eastern Mediterranean’s “growing strategic significance”.

Hale’s brief visit to the island nation came amid growing military tensions over Turkey’s gas prospecting in waters where European Union members Greece and Cyprus say they have exclusive economic rights.

On Friday, EU foreign ministers expressed “full solidarity” with Greece and Cyprus and urged an “immediate de-escalation” by Turkey as Greek and Turkish navy ships shadowed each other.

Turkey had earlier dispatched a pair of warship-escorted research vessels to explore the southeastern sides of both Crete and Cyprus.

It then announced that another drillship, the Yavuz, would be conducting a month-long hydrocarbons search off Cyprus.

The US Embassy statement said Hale “reaffirmed American support for the right of the Republic of Cyprus to exploit its natural resources, including the hydrocarbons found in its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone.”

Nicosia has bemoaned what it called the EU’s “appeasement” of Turkey, which has so far failed to rein in the country.

It also argues that US “disengagement” from the eastern Mediterranean has emboldened the Turkish government to exert further control over the region.

Christodoulides said Hale assured him that the US remains committed to the eastern Mediterranean region.

Cyprus has licensed ExxonMobil and partner Qatar Petroleum, as well as Texas-based Noble Energy — bought out last month by Chevron — to drill for gas in its exclusive economic zone.