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High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell addressed the reporters after a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels, Belgium yesterday (January 20).
Borrell has announced that the EU has been preparing a list of names from Turkey to be sanctioned over the country's exploration and drilling for natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean.
As reported by Euronews news website, Borrell told the reporters that Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus (Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus) Nikos Christodoulides informed the participants of the meeting about the drilling activities.
"We are waiting for the working groups closely involving with the issue to complete the list of names to be imposed the necessary sanctions. We know that some names are included in the list", Borrell indicated. He shared no further information as to the exact date when the sanctions list will be ready.
What happened?
The EU defined Turkey's exploration and drilling activities for natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean as "illegal" as these activities violated the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus. Accordingly, the union agreed to sanction Turkey over its activities on July 15, 2019.
As for Turkey, it indicated that it was a guarantor state in Cyprus and its rights over natural resources are disregarded and its activities are legal as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is officially recognized by other countries. (TP/SD)
