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NICOSIA, May 4-- Cyprus on Saturday strongly deplored moves by Turkey to start natural gas drilling within the Cypriot exclusive economic zone (EEZ), saying it is bound to raise tensions as UN efforts are under way to resume peace negotiations. Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades branded Turkey's move as unlawful and added that actions are being taken to counter it. He did not go into details, though, saying that the foreign minister who coordinates this action will make a briefing on the issue. Anastasiades noted that Turkey's actions came as UN efforts are under way to resume peace negotiations. "Turkey's actions can't help this dialogue and it is time for everyone to understand that unfortunately there are obstacles that reasonably can't lead to the resumption of dialogue despite our political will," Anastasiades said. Shortly after Anastasiades's statement, Federica Mogherini, high representative of the the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, issued a strongly worded statement deploring Turkish actions as illegal. In the statement, she called on Turkey to refrain from "illegal actions" and added that there would be EU response "in full solidarity with Cyprus." "We express grave concern over Turkey's announced intention to carry out drilling activities within the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus," Mogherini's statement read. According to the statement, in March 2018, the European Council strongly condemned Turkey's continued illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean. | 
