Cyprus is ready for a dialogue with Turkey to settle territorial differences, but does not accept threats, said Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on Wednesday.

Anastasiades said Turkey is continuing its provocations in the eastern Mediterranean.

“Yesterday, unfortunately, the Turkish ship Yavuz continued illegal drilling in disputed waters, while a number of actions were initiated to stop the illegal activities of Ankara and de-escalation,” he said after a meeting with the EU Council.

Ankara decided on Tuesday to extend the operation of its drilling vessel Yavuz in the disputed waters of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Cyprus until October, publishing the Navtex international alert on Tuesday.

In August, Turkey also sent a seismic survey vessel Oruç Reis to the shelf near the Greek island of Crete, for which both countries claim, saying it will operate there until the end of the month. The move sparked Greek outrage and led to military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea conducted by both NATO member states.