EU: Turkey's Drilling off Cyprus Coast of "Grave Concern"

The European Union on Monday said Turkey's plan to drill for oil and gas off Cyprus was of grave concern and an unacceptable escalation of tensions surrounding the Mediterranean island.

"Turkey's declared intention to illegally conduct a new drilling operation northeast of Cyprus is of grave concern," the EU foreign policy branch said in a statement.

"This second planned drilling operation, two months after the start of the ongoing drilling operations west of Cyprus, is a further unacceptable escalation which violates the sovereignty of Cyprus." 

(Reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel)