Cyprus is ready to engage in determining maritime zones over the tensions with Turkey

On Tuesday, Cyprus reported that it was ready to engage with all its neighbors about the defense of maritime boundaries, with the presence of tense confrontation with Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean on the jurisdiction in the energy-rich waters.

Indeed, Greece and Cyprus are living in conflict with Turkey concerning overlapping interests to areas considered rich with natural gas. Two Turkish survey ships are in areas demanded by Greece and Cyprus, while Turkey reported that it has rights over the considered areas.

Otherwise, Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides, not referring directly to Turkey, reported that the island had a maritime agreement with Egypt, Israel, and Lebanon and was ready to discuss with other neighboring states on establishing sea zones.

It’s noted that Turkey is its closest neighbor and the only country that does not have an agreement with it, excluding Syria that destroys by the war. Christodoulides declared, referring to a United Nations treaty: This would be on the basis of international law and the 1982 Law of the Sea.

Furthermore, Turkey does not recognize Cyprus’s Republic, so any acceptance of the offer of Nicosia would not be probable. After discussions with Nikos Dendias, Christodoulides was speaking in Nicosia. Dendias declared that he expected to discuss with EU foreign ministers a list of sanctions against Turkey next week.

Dendias reported: This escalation of Turkish aggression is directed against the European Union, and consequently, there should be an escalation of the European reaction to counter it.

Moreover, Cyprus was divided after a 1974 Turkish invasion because of a brief coup organized by the military then ruling Greece. A breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in north Cyprus is identified only by Ankara.

Turkey interrogates about right Cyprus to explore in the seas around the island as it confirms that the Nicosia administration does not represent the interests of Turkish Cypriots and that an argument refused by Cyprus. In the conflict of Turkey with Greece, the two countries are in disagreement about the delimitation of their continental shelves.