Again.. EU Calls Upon Turkey to Refrain from Mediterranean Provocations

This morning, European Union High Representative Josep Borrell said that the bloc’s relationship with Turkey is going through a defining moment, calling on Ankara to back down from the eastern Mediterranean conflict and respect human rights.

Borrell added to the European Parliament: "The latest move by Ankara to discontinue seismic exploration in the continental shelf of Greece is a step in the right direction and gives us some hope that it will lead to further steps towards dialogue."

He called upon Ankara to refrain from taking unilateral actions. "This is a basic element to allow the dialogue to advance -well, better, to start."

Earlier, the member states of the European Union bordering the Mediterranean said that the bloc would prepare a list of new sanctions against Turkey at the end of September, if Ankara does not return to the negotiating table to resolve a regional dispute with Greece and Cyprus.

Tensions escalated between the European Union and Turkey, a member of NATO, after sending a Turkish seismic ship to explore for oil and gas in areas in the eastern Mediterranean whose sovereignty over is claimed by Greece and Cyprus.