NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus’ president on Tuesday suspended talks on reunifying the ethnically divided island in response to Turkish plans to search for oil and gas in waters where the Cypriot government has already licensed companies to drill.

Cypriot government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said the decision was the result of what he called Turkey’s “provocative” and “aggressive” actions that violate Cyprus’ sovereign rights and international law.