Cyprus criticizes Turkey after blocking a gas export ship

Cyprus criticizes Turkey after blocking a gas export ship

Cyprus said on Sunday evening that Ankara has violated "international law" after the Turkish navy blocked an Italian ship to explore natural gas in the waters of the Mediterranean island, AFP reports.
The Italian energy giant ENI informed the Cypriot news agency that one of its ships was ordered Friday by Turkish ships to stop because of "military activities" in the sector.

The boat headed for Block 3 of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Cyprus to begin exploring this block east of the island.

The division of Cyprus dates back to 1974 when Turkish troops invaded the north of the island in response to a coup d'etat aimed at annexing the island to Greece.

The gas exploration carried out in the EEZ by the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member who exercises only two-thirds of its authority in the country, has triggered tensions with Ankara wishing to suspend them until a solution is found for dividing the island.

While the various reunification attempts have failed, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, re-elected on February 4 for a new term, has committed himself to end the division of the island.

"We keep calm in order to avoid any crisis and take all the necessary diplomatic measures for the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus to be respected," he said on Sunday.

"We are trying to avoid anything that could worsen the situation without ignoring the fact that Turkey's actions are a violation of international law," added Nicos Anastasiades.

In turn, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has vehemently accused Cyprus of "unilateral" activities, "despite the inalienable rights of Turkish Cypriots, co-owners of the island, on Cyprus' natural resources".

"This unconstructive attitude of Greek Cypriots is also a major obstacle to the Cyprus problem," the ministry said, referring to the division of the island.

Cyprus, which launched seven drilling operations seven years ago, announced on Thursday the discovery of important natural gas deposits in block 6, southwest of block 3, by the Eni group and the French at Total.