Italy is concerned for the illegal operations carried out by the Turkish vessel Yavutz in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus south of the island. We reiterate our request to respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus and to refrain from illegal actions in the area.
In July, the Foreign Affairs Council decided political measures to respond to the Turkish initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean, in full solidarity with Cyprus. It also decided to remain seized of the matter. With our partners, we chose a firm yet gradual and reversible approach to create the conditions for a de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. We sincerely hope that this outcome is still possible, and we call Turkey to revert to a more constructive posture.
