EU ministers discuss Greece Turkey stand off

European Union foreign ministers tackled one of bloc's most urgent and complex challenges Thursday as y try to persuade ir partner Greece and its neighbour Turkey to pull back from brink of conflict in Mediterranean Sea.

At informal talks in Berlin, ministers are set to debate a range of sanctions and or policy options that might convince Turkey, still a candidate for membership in 27-nation EU, to temper its insistence on drilling for energy reserves in disputed parts of eastern Mediterranean.

two-day meeting comes as Greece and Turkey, both members of NATO military alliance, rattle sabers with war games in area and ir leaders swap barbs over who is in right, and just how far y would be willing to go to defend ir interests.

EU Ministers will also discuss sanctions for people in Belarus following protests and unrest regarding presidential elections earlier this month.