Turkish research vessel Barbaros and two support vessels entered the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) at 6.30 p.m on Monday and are located near the area where Italian company, ENI, is conducting underwater drills. Cypriot political and financial sources state that Turkey had believed that the economic crisis facing Greece and Cyprus would work in its favor, however had not counted on the negative climate against it that has isolated the country.

The Barbaros’ entered Block 3 inside Nicosia’s EEZ. According to a so-called Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) note issued by Ankara in early October that caused Nicosia to suspend UN-brokered peace negotiations. The vessel is expected to start laying out cables for its research on Tuesday, clearly in violation of Cypriot sovereign rights.

The vessel’s course –

Cypriot government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said that “political, diplomatic and legal” countermeasures would be announced on Tuesday following a meeting with Cypriot political leaders.

Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said: “Unfortunately, Turkey did not listen to the voice of the international community, did not listen to the voice of the UN and the European Union, did not listen to the voice of international legality.”

The Barbaros encroachment of Cypriot territorial rights comes at a difficult time for Turkey. An agreement between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt concerning the exploitation of the three countries’ sea energy, the demarcation of the EEZ of Cyprus with Israel and Lebanon and the Syrian leadership has created a stranglehold around Turkey. Added to these problems is the prospect of the creation of a Kurdish state, with the blessings of the United States.