Cypriot government spokesman Kyriacos Kousios denounced continued Turkish provocations in the seas, including drilling for energy in Cypriot sovereign waters, the tension persisting despite the world trying to fight the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

“This policy is not only continuing but it is also intensifying at a time when the whole world is facing the coronavirus pandemic and all states are making efforts to protect the health and safety of their citizens,” Kousios told the Cyprus News Agency, said the Sydney-based Greek City Times.

That was in reference to Turkey drilling in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ,) parts of which Turkey doesn’t recognize, and where the legitimate government of the island where Turkey has occupied the northern third since an unlawful 1974 invasion. “Turkey is pursuing the policy of gunboats, behaving like pirates of the Eastern Mediterranean, violating the principles of international law and interfering in the sovereign rights of third countries, including Cyprus,” he said.

“We are all witnessing a policy that is straining the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, and this policy is not only continuing but intensifying at a time when the whole world is facing the coronavirus pandemic,” he also added.