AP quoted Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who hosted the meeting with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Cairo, as saying unilateral practices by Turkey risk destabilising the whole eastern Mediterranean and “damage the interests” of its countries while Anastasiades said Cyprus would resort to “all available diplomatic means to halt Turkey’s aggression.” Their statements follow Turkey’s announcement that it sent a drilling ship to the area where Nicosia has licensed foreign companies, including US major ExxonMobil, to drill for oil and gas in the Cyprus’s EEZ.
Asked if these statements deter Turkey from further exploration given that it is also busy with the operation in Syria, Cyprus Natural Hydrocarbons Company CEO Charles Ellinas told New Europe on 10 October Cyprus is receiving strong political and diplomatic support, with the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom asking Turkey to cease activities in Cyprus EEZ. “Unfortunately, these are not having any impact on Turkey. It has responded by making it clear that it will not back down and it will carry on drilling. Right now, there is no deterrence,” Ellinas said.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/at-cairo-summit-turkey-slammed-for-drilling-in-cyprus-eez/