Washington urges Turkey to halt drilling operations off Cyprus: US Embassy Spokesperson

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Washington expresses concern about Turkey’s plans to drill in the waters off Cyprus and urges Turkish authorities to halt operations “in an area that Cyprus claims as its exclusive economic zone”, a US Embassy Spokesperson told Cyprus News Agency, and a State Department told Hellas Journal.

Invited to comment on the presence of Turkish drill ship “Yavuz” in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus and the announced attempt to drill another well in blocks licensed to European companies, a Spokesperson of the US Embassy in Cyprus said the US continue to call on all parties to avoid steps that raise tensions in the region.

“The United States is aware of reports the Turkish drillship Yavuz arrived April 20 in an area that Cyprus claims as its exclusive economic zone. We urge Turkish authorities to halt these operations and continue to call on all parties to avoid steps that raise tensions in the region” the Spokesperson said in a statement.

“The United States is deeply concerned by recent reports of Turkey’s plans to drill in the waters off Cyprus. This provocative step raises tensions in the region. Resource development in the Eastern Mediterranean should promote cooperation and provide a foundation for durable energy security and economic prosperity throughout the region” it was added.

We continue to believe ​Cyprus’s oil and gas resources, like all of its resources, should be equitably shared between both communities, the statement concluded.

Source: CNA

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