Search

841. Greece and the US: Commitments and credibility

The signals coming from the two centers of power in the United States, the president and Congress, are often conflicting, which makes it hard for Athens to carve out an effectual foreign policy. This conundrum is set to continue throughout the Trump administration...

842. Students swim to Kyrenia for peace

Swimmers on a university team from Ankara managed to swim from Turkey to Cyprus, reaching Kyrenia on Monday with a message of peace...

843. Macron sends stern warning to Ankara

In a show of solidarity with Cyprus, French President Emmanuel Macron sent a stern message to Turkey on Thursday that Paris and the European Union will not tolerate violations in the Eastern Mediterranean...

844. Common interest for talks but disagreements remain

President Anastasiades said that there is a positive climate and a common basis on which the talks for a Cyprus settlement can take place, noting, at the same time, that disagreements on serious issues remain, but there is an agreement that differences cannot be bridged without dialogue. ...

845. Interview with Endy Zemenides

Ever since Joe Biden declared that Cyprus was a “strategic partner” of the United States, people have been trying to identify substance behind those words. There has been a similar search of what “best relations ever” between the U.S. and Greece means...

846. Kastellorizo ignored by Turkey in EEZ map

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu presented a map Monday of Turkey’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) stretching south of the southeastern Aegean island of Rhodes to a few miles west of Paphos on Cyprus’ western coast. ...

847. Tangible rewards for alliance-building

Greece's military spending has shrunk dramatically as a result of the crisis, widening the defense gap with Turkey. Successive Greek governments have spent billions on armaments over the past few decades, yet there is very little to show for it in terms of a defense industry. After an ambitious start, state-owned firms such as the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAV) and others were gradually choked by mismanagement from political parties and unionism...

848. Akar says effort to scrap guarantees on Cyprus 'futile'

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has reportedly reiterated Ankara’s rejection of calls by Cyprus and Greece for a scrapping of the system of guarantees that were established when the island gained independence from Britain in 1960. ...

849. The first visits to Washington and Jerusalem

It’s only three weeks since Nikos Dendias took over the foreign affairs portfolio, but he has already sent a pretty clear signal regarding the new government’s foreign policy priorities...

850. Nicosia grants approval to ENI, Total to drill in Block 7

Nicosia has granted approval to the energy companies ENI and Total to explore block seven of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and approved nine other drilling operations within the EEZ over the next two years...

851. Pyatt calls for stronger defense cooperation

“The United States has spoken very clearly on the question of the S400 and the F-35. We’ve spoken very clearly on the provocative nature of the drilling activities that Turkey has engaged in in waters off of Cyprus. But none of that changes the fact that we, like you, need to find a way to make this work,” Pyatt added....

852. Bloomberg: Turkey has abandoned the West

In an opinion piece Bloomberg's editorial board writes that Turkey is an increasingly erratic ally that is no longer worth the risks. ...

853. US removes Turkey from F-35 program after Russian missile purchase

The United States said on Wednesday that it was removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet programme, a move long threatened and expected after Ankara began accepting delivery of an advanced Russian missile defence system last week. ...

854. No time for mixed signals

We are entering a very thorny patch in Greek-Turkish relations. Turkey’s activities within Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), combined with the standoff with the United States over Ankara’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system are increasing the tension further in Greece’s wider region. ...

855. US to participate in East Med energy summit

At an Economist conference in Greece it was announced that United States Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Frances Fannon will participate in the East Med energy summit in Athens which will be held on the 29th of July along with the the Ministers of Energy from Cyprus Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, Greece's Kostis Hatzidakis and Israel's Dr. Yuval Steinitz....

856. State Department expresses ‘deep concerns’ over Turkish drilling off Cyprus

Washington expressed “deep concerns” over Turkey’s insistence on conducting drilling operations in Cyprus’ offshore maritime zone ...

857. Trump says 'not fair' that U.S. can't sell F-35s to Turkey

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday it is “not fair” to either Turkey or the United States that Washington cannot sell Ankara billions of dollars worth of F-35 fighter jets after it bought a Russian air defense system...

858. President's response to Akinci's proposal being drafted

Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades` response to the proposal of Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci on the co-management of the natural resources is already being drafted, a government source has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA). Anastasiades` response will be sent to Akinci as well as to the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres and the EU officials to which Akinci`s proposal was also delivered....

859. National Council dismisses Turkish natural gas proposal

The national council unanimously rejected a proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci to co-manage the islands’ natural gas resources...

860. David Harris: US closer to Greece, Cyprus, Israel

Washington recognizes Greece’s strategic value and reliability as an ally, attributes that only grow stronger as doubts deepen over Turkey’s stance, American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris tells Kathimerini in an interview...

861. Turkey will drill for gas until Cyprus accepts plan

Turkey will continue drilling for gas in waters off Cyprus if the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government does not accept a cooperation proposal put forward by Turkish Cypriots, Ankara’s foreign minister said on Sunday. ...

862. First parts of Russian S-400 system delivered to Turkey

Turkey’s purchase of the Russian defense systems, which Washington says are not compatible with NATO’s defense network, is one of a series of issues which have put the allies at odds. ...

863. EU signals sanctions on Turkey over Cyprus drilling

The European Union will put on hold high-level talks with Ankara and negotiations on an air transport agreement, as well as freeze funding for Turkey next year, over “illegal” drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters...

864. Syrians trapped at Ercan head to Turkey

Turkish Cypriot officials say Ankara has decided to host 50 Syrians who have been trapped in Ercan airport due to visa issues...

865. Mitsotakis sworn in as PM amid east Med tensions

Conservative politician Kyriakos Mitsotakis was sworn in as Greece’s new prime minister on Monday after storming to victory on a pledge to create jobs and lure investment to the economically stricken nation...

866. Turkey issues Navtex for exercises off Kastellorizo on Sunday

Turkey has issued a navigational telex reserving a large area south of the island of Kastellorizo, within Greece's continental shelf, for military exercises on Sunday as Greeks go to general elections...

867. Erdogan tells Macron not to speak about Cyprus

868. Playing with fire

The emerging crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean over Turkey’s drilling activities in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) raise the prospect of an open Greco-Turkish conflict to a level higher than anytime since the Imia crisis...

869. US Senate Foreign Relations committee advances East Med Act

870. The last supper