NICOSIA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- A report on Turkey issued by the European Commission (EC) on Wednesday was perhaps "the most critical" ever and a good, positive step in efforts to face Turkish actions inside the Cypriot exclusive economic zone, Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides said on Thursday.

Christodoulides told state television that he hoped more concrete results on the issue would be announced during the June regular meeting of the European Council which will examine the Commission's report.

Christodoulides added that the report had been most effective in facing Turkey's effort to create a picture of an existing dispute over the sovereign rights of Cyprus in a region of its exclusive economic zone.

Tensions have flared up in the eastern Mediterranean between Cyprus and Turkey since early this month, after Turkey had sent a drill ship to explore for natural gas in an offshore area close to the Cypriot coast, which Cyprus considers part of its exclusive economic zone. Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had said that his country's actions are taking place within the Turkish continental shelf.

Christodoulides said that references in the Commission's report effectively dismiss the Turkish claims as it constitutes a strong condemnation of Turkey's presence within the Cypriot exclusive economic zone and warns that EU will react to illegal actions in an appropriate manner and in full solidarity with Cyprus.

A written statement by the Foreign Ministry said that the report by the EC on Turkey's progress in its bid to access the European Union points out that Turkey had failed to meet its Cyprus-related obligations, a fact that "leads Turkey further away from the EU and makes the opening of new negotiating chapters impossible."

The statement also said the report pointed out that given the present circumstances, it is not foreseen that work to upgrade a Customs Union between EU and Turkey will continue.

It further noted that the report "stresses again Turkey's obligation to actively contribute in the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem under the aegis of the United Nations."

The United Nations is currently engaged in an effort to obtain an agreement by the parties involved in the Cyprus problem on the terms of reference for the continuation of the negotiations for the reunification of the eastern Mediterranean island.

Turkey dismissed the EC report, saying that it is not possible to accept what it called unfair criticism. Turkey's deputy foreign minister Faruk Kaymakci said the report does not accurately evaluate the current situation in the country. Enditem

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