The Turkish actions in the Eastern Mediterranean following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil exploration in its Exclusive Economic Zone, do not contribute to stability in the region, Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinides stressed during a meeting he held with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.

The two Ministers met Friday in New York on the sidelines of the 66th session of UN General Assembly. According to diplomatic sources they discussed bilateral relations, the Cyprus issue, the Palestinian issue and generally the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Diplomatic sources said the Greek Foreign Minister stressed during the meeting the need to reduce tension in the Mediterranean after Ankara has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf.

The Turkish Foreign Minister claimed that Turkey responded to a unilateral action by the Greek Cypriots and didn’t seek further tension.

The two Ministers also discussed issues of bilateral cooperation and preparations made from both countries to carry out the next Cooperation Council between Greece and Turkey.