NICOSIA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus has notified the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) after it accused Turkey of encroaching on its sovereign rights, Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides said on Monday.

Talking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting, Christodoulides said the Cypriot permanent representative at the UN submitted to Guterres the coordinates for the boundaries of the EEZ and the continental shelf, based on the median line from the shores of Cyprus and Turkey.

He added that these coordinates will be published in the government gazette to give them the force of law.

"Cyprus's rights over its continental shelf are ipso facto, that is to say, automatic. There is no question over the rights of the Republic," he added.

Cypriot authorities also began procedures on Monday to have an international arrest warrant issued for the crew of the Turkish drillship and any other third parties offering services to the drillship.

An official from the Presidential Palace said an application for a warrant was submitted to a Nicosia court as a preparation for issuing international arrest warrants by Europol.

Christodoulides said President Nicos Anastasiades will raise the issue of the Turkish activities next week at an EU summit in Romania.

Turkey announced last week that its drillship "Fatih" (conqueror) had reached about 60 kilometers off the western Cypriot shores in preparation for a drilling for natural gas.

Fatih was last reported by Marine Traffic, a vessel tracking website, to be stationary about 60 kilometers west of the city of Paphos.

Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, issued a statement on Saturday, expressing "grave concern over Turkey's announced intention to carry out drilling activities within the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus."

"We urgently call on Turkey to show restraint, respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus in its exclusive economic zone and refrain from any such illegal action to which the European Union will respond appropriately and in full solidarity with Cyprus," it noted.

Turkish Foreign Ministry reacted later on Saturday that "Turkey's hydrocarbon related activities in the Eastern Mediterranean region are based on its legitimate rights stemming from international law."

"Having the longest coastal line in the region, we will protect our own rights and interests within our continental shelf, as well as those of the Turkish Cypriots around the Cyprus Island," said the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The United States is "deeply concerned by Turkey's intentions to begin offshore drilling operations in an area claimed by the Republic of Cyprus as its Exclusive Economic ZOne."

"This step is highly provocative and risks raising tensions in the region. We urge Turkish authorities to halt these operations and encourage all parties to act with restraint," said U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus in a statement on Sunday. Enditem

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