Armenia along with four countries has joined the sanctions mechanism against Turkey for illegal exploration work on the Cyprus shelf in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Cyprus, the EU council said in a released statement.

"The countries that are candidates for accession to the EU, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania, as well as Iceland, a member of the European Economic Area, as well as Armenia have joined this decision", the statement said. The document notes that now the mentioned countries will have to coordinate their policies with Council Decision concerning restrictive measures in view of Turkey's unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it,” the statement said.

The mechanism, approved by the European Union in November last year, allows sanctions to be imposed on individuals and companies responsible for drilling activities related to the exploration of carbon resources, which are not authorized by Cyprus, in its territorial waters, the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf. In addition, individuals and companies that provide financial support for these activities of Turkey may be sanctioned.