“If the EU wants to be a part of the process that aims peace, prosperity and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, it must be objective and honest,” said Hami Aksoy, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.

Turkey on Thursday called on the EU to urge Greece and Greek Cypriot administration to stop escalating tension in the Eastern Mediterranean.

According to Anadolu News Agency,  Hami Aksoy calls for restraint should be directed to Greece and Greek Cypriot administration,  which harm EU’s interests.

“Greece and Greek Cypriot administration escalate tension by exploiting the EU membership solidarity, rather than Turkey on the side of dialogue and cooperation,” Hami Aksoy, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said in a written statement.

His remarks came as a response to a statement by the EU following a videoconference on Wednesday.

“EU is held hostage to the manipulation and blackmail of the two member states,” he noted.

Aksoy stressed that Turkey continues to support the solution of dispute through negotiations and tend to preserve good relations with neighbours and act in line with international law.

It should be noted that there have been disputes over the determination of the exclusive economic zone between Turkey and Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish government said that Greece’s maritime claims violate the sovereign rights of Turkey in Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey has consistently opposed Greece's efforts to declare an exclusive economic zone based on small islands near Turkish shores, violating Turkey’s legitimate interests.

On 6 August, the governments of Egypt and Greece signed the controversial agreement on the establishment of the exclusive economic zone in the Eastern Mediterranean, which Turkey opposed, resuming the energy exploration in the areas of the sea within the country's continental shelf.