NICOSIA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus on Monday expressed satisfaction over an European Union (EU) foreign ministers' agreement to take "restrictive measures" against individuals involved in drilling by Turkey off the coasts of the eastern Mediterranean island.
"I express my satisfaction over the outcome that strengthens our efforts to prevent and put an end to Turkey's illegal activities," Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides said in a statement after the EU foreign ministers' decisions were announced in Luxembourg.
The decisions are a continuation of the political, diplomatic and economic measures taken by EU foreign ministers in July in light of Turkey's non-compliance with EU decisions, the statement said.
Two Turkish drillships have been active for the past three months in areas which were demarcated by Cyprus as its exclusive economic zone in agreement with Egypt, Israel and Lebanon and in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Turkey says that its ships are active in what it calls its continental shelf.
Turkey has always claimed its rights to exploring hydrocarbon resources off Cyprus in Eastern Mediterranean despite its disputes with Cyprus.
The EU foreign ministers councils said in its decision that the delimitation of exclusive economic zones and continental shelf "should be addressed through dialogue and negotiation in good faith, in full respect of international law and in accordance with the principle of good neighborly relations."
The foreign ministers also said that "a framework regime of restrictive measures targeting natural and legal persons responsible for or involved in the illegal drilling activity of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean is put in place."
No details of the measures were announced.
