Lavrov offers to help ease Turkey Greece tensions

Russia's foreign minister said on Tuesday during an official visit to Cyprus that his country was ready to help ease rising tensions over a Turkish search for energy reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.

Sergey Lavrov was speaking after a meeting with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

Lavrov said Moscow was monitoring the situation in the region and would help start a "genuine dialogue" with all parties that would generate "mutually acceptable solutions."

Greece and Turkey have been locked in a tense standoff in recent weeks as Turkish survey vessels and drill ships continue to prospect of gas in waters were Greece and Cyprus claim exclusive economic rights.

Greek and Turkish armed forces have been conducting military exercises in the area in a show of muscle-flexing to underscore each side's resolve.

European Union members Greece and Cyprus accuse Turkey of violating international law and of "gunboat diplomacy," while Turkey insists it's defending its rights to its rightful share of the area's potential gas deposits.