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Southern EU Leaders Urge Turkey to End 'Unilateral' Actions

Associated Press

   PARIS - Leaders of seven southern European countries on Thursday urged
   Turkey to end "unilateral and illegal activities" in the eastern
   Mediterranean and resume dialogue to ease tensions in the region.

   Heads of state and government of France, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Italy,
   Spain and Portugal gathered in Corsica amid fears of open conflict, as
   Turkey seeks to expand its energy resources and influence in the
   region.

   In their final statement, leaders reaffirmed their "full support and
   solidarity with Cyprus and Greece," who they say are facing Turkey's
   "confrontational actions."

   "We regret that Turkey has not responded to the repeated calls by the
   European Union to end its unilateral and illegal activities," they
   said.

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