Turkey’s Yavuz leaves Cyprus’ EEZ

Turkish drilling vessel Yavuz has left Block 6 inside Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in a move seen as a step toward a possible de-escalation of tensions.

Yavuz was reportedly near the port of Tasucu in Turkey's Mersin province on Monday morning.

The vessel had been scheduled to leave the sea area southwest of the ethnically-split island on October 12, according to Turkey’s unauthorized navigational telex (Navtex).

Nicosia is meanwhile monitoring the operations of Turkey’s seismic research vessel Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa in Block 3 southeast of Cyprus. The Navtex for Barbaros expires on October 18.