European Union leaders urge Turkey to end "illegal activities" in Mediterranean Sea

Seven European nations have come toger over ir shared concerns for heightened tensions in Meditteranean and urged Turkey to end its “unilateral and illegal activities” in region. As Turkey seeks to expand its energy resources in Mediterranean, France, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Italy, Spain, and Portugal tried to gared in Corsica for de-escalation talks on Thursday, September 10.

Read: Erdogan Chides Greece, EU Over Mediterranean Spat

EU countries urge Turkey to begin dialogue

In ir statement, leaders also re-affirmed ir support for Greece and Cyprus, who y claim have been facing Turkey's ’hostile actions’. statement furr added that if Turkey continues with its aggressive activities in Meditteranean and rejects attempts to open dialogue, n EU is prepared to develop a comprehensive list of restrictive measures to be slapped on Erdogan government.

Amid heightened tensions, Turkish vessels reportedly continue to survey eastern Medittarean where Greece and Cyprus have claimed exclusive ecomic rights. France is also reported to have begun conducting military patrols in region in an effort to show its support for Greece and Cyprus.

In event of dialogues between Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus, leaders at summit have called on Germany to act as mediators while is also reported to have Russia offered to mediate in conflict.

Read: Turkey Begins Annual Military Drill In Cyprus As Tension Escalates In Mediterranean

As per reports, French President Emmanuel Macron has termed Turkey’s action in region as “unacceptable” and “inadmissible behaviour” and furr added that country was longer behaving like a partner in region. In response, Turkish Foreign Ministry retorted Macron’s comments as "arrogant" and originating from an old colonial mindset.

While Greece appealed to or European nations for assistance, Greek European Affairs Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis has said that heightened tensions over energy resources are a cause for great concern as it threatens Europe’s ‘security architecture’. While citing Turkey’s actions in Libya and Syria, he termed country as a ‘major destabilising factor‘.

(Im/Input Credit AP)

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