Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinides has stressed that Turkish actions in the Eastern Mediterranean undermine the stability in the region and cause grave concern.

“Recent Turkish statements and actions in response to Cyprus’ sovereign right to exploit its natural resources are in conflict with international law and order and undermine stability in the region, causing grave concern”, the Greek FM stressed. Lambrinides added that Turkey makes an attempt to “militarise” the issue of Cyprus` exploratory drilling in its Exclusive Economic Zone, since Ankara “lacks arguments”.

Recalling statements mainly by the US, Russia and the EU on the issue, he said that “they stressed that Turkish threats and actions during recent weeks must end and pointed out that the Republic of Cyprus is the only legal representative of the island and excerises, based on international law, its sovereign rights to exploit its natural resources and conclude international agreements”.

In this framework, he added, the illegal ‘agreement’ signed between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf, is invalid, noting that the whole international community shares this view.