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2041. Varosha in the spotlight

The government closely follows developments and the Turkish Cypriot side’s actions with regard to the closed off area of Turkish occupied Famagusta, known as Varosha, a government source has told CNA, noting that representations have been made where they ought to be made. ...

2042. UNFICYP mandate renewal sends message of urgency for resumption of Cyprus talks, US diplomat says

US Mission’s to the UN Political Coordinator Rodney Hunter has said that his country believes UNFICYP’s new mandate sends a message that the two leaders, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci "must work with a sense of urgency" to resume reunification talks. He also expressed disappointment with the lack of progress since the Conference on Cyprus in 2017 but expressed the belief that a settlement "remains achievable." ...

2043. Lacroix-Anastasiades discuss UNFICYP’s mandate

Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said on Wednesday that President Anastasiades had the opportunity to raise the matter of Turkey’s provocations within Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as well as his efforts for the resumption of reunification talks during a meeting with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. ...

2044. Foreclosure legislation deemed unconstitutional

Finance Minister Haris Georgiades said on Tuesday that "a legislative framework must be effective, it must not change frequently, in order to create a trustworthy framework that will enable us to manage this last remaining problem of non-performing loans.'' ...

2045. Defence Ministers of Cyprus and Greece to discuss Turkish provocations on Friday

The Ministers of Defence of Cyprus and Greece, Savvas Angelides and Nikos Panagiotopoulos, will discuss about the Turkish provocations in Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and territorial waters during the official talks they will have on Friday in Nicosia. Panagiotopoulos will also represent the Greek government at the events organized on the occasion of the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, that took place on July 20, 1974....

2046. Moscow irked by EU sanctions against Turkey

Moscow “cannot accept” the European Union's decision to slap Turkey with sanctions over its illegal drilling for hydrocarbon deposits in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted by the TASS news agency as saying at a briefing on Wednesday. ...

2047. Cyprus to establish diplomatic relations with North Macedonia

At an Economist conference in Lagonisi it was revealed that Cyprus will establish formal diplomatic relations with North Macedonia ...

2048. 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....

2049. 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...

2050. Turkey rejects EU sanctions, vows to continue drilling

EU Foreign affairs ministers who met in Brussels on Monday endorsed a decision to curb diplomatic contacts and funding for Turkey. In response the Turkish MFA issued a statement signalling that the conclusions adopted by the EU Foreign Affairs Council ‘’will in no way affect Turkey's determination to continue its hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean’’...

2051. The EU28 adopted measures against Turkey's illegal drilling in Cyprus

The EU Foreign Ministers endorsed, without any changes the conclusions prepared by the permanent representatives, concerning Turkey’s illegal drilling in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Cyprus, cutting the EU pre-accession assitance for 2020, suspending EU- Turkey high political dialogues and stopping European Investment Bank’ lending activities in the country....

2052. 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...

2053. Nicosia to reject Turkish natural gas proposal

A proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci for a committee that would jointly administer natural gas affairs is expected to be rejected by the government and party leaders when they meet on Tuesday...

2054. The new government, image and symbolism

The first indications from the new government are sending out all the right signals. Tuesday’s handover ceremonies at the ministries confirmed a return to normalcy, after a decade-long crisis that painfully divided the country. Both sides should be given credit for the civilized political discourse that prevailed during the change of guard. It is hoped that this spirit will continue during the debates that are expected to take place in Parliament, not only in the sense of a more sophisticated rhetoric, but also, hopefully, in the approval of some government bills by the new main opposition....

2055. Nicosia wants tougher measures against Turkey

The sanctions that were discussed on Thursday by national envoys of European Union member-states against Turkey over its illegal drilling activities off Cyprus do not, reportedly, go far enough for Nicosia, which wants tougher measures. ...

2056. 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...

2057. UNFICYP mandate extended for another six months

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has recommended that the Security Council extends UNFICYP’s mandate until January 31, 2020 in recognition of its continued contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability. ...

2058. Cyprus aims to be among the first to regulate blockchain technology

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and more specifically, Blockchain, can offer endless possibilities in many different fields, according to speakers addressing the Cyprus Blockchain Summit, on Wednesday, in Nicosia. Finance Minister Harris Georgiades said that Cyprus aim to be among the first countries to regulate aspects of DLT. The creation of the regulatory framework should be flexible, so that it will promote innovation and provide legal certainty and protection for both consumers and investors, House President Demetris Syllouris noted from his part...

2059. Eurogroup rules out any talk of primary surplus target reduction for Greece

Discussion on Greece was brief at Monday’s Eurogroup, but the council of eurozone finance minsters sent a clear message to Athens that creditors are ready to cooperate with the new government while warning that the handouts announced in May by the previous administration are putting growth and fiscal targets at risk...

2060. EU High Representative warns Turkey over new drilling operation off Cyprus

The EU High Representative Federica Mogherini warned on Monday Turkey over its intended new drilling operation at the northeast of Cyprus, recalling that Turkey`s continued actions have a serious negative impact across the range of EU-Turkey relations and that "as mandated by the European Council, the Commission and the EEAS are about to present options to the Council for appropriate measures." ...

2061. Two women at the top of EU decision making

Under the deal, Ursula von der Leyen, a close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, will replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm...

2062. President intends to meet Spehar ahead of the UNSC consultations on UNFICYP

Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades, intends to have a meeting and discuss with the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative and head of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Elizabeth Spehar, prior to her departure for New York, where she will brief the UN Security Council on July 19, ahead of the adoption of the resolution for the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate on July 30, CNA has learned....

2063. EU considers German, Belgian ministers for posts

European Union leaders are considering a list of top job candidates that would have German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen become president of the executive European Commission and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel the head of the European Council....

2064. Nicosia expects UN to maintain position on Varosha based on Security Council decisions

The government said on Friday that it expected from the UN to maintain their long-standing position with regard to the ghost-town of Famagusta, that is consistent with the UN Security Council decisions which are explicit and are now blatantly violated through the announcement made in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus...

2065. 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...

2066. Galanos on Famagusta: Now the time for government to take action

2067. Cyprus strongly protests to UN over airspace and sea violations by Turkey

Cyprus has strongly protested to the UN the violations of its national airspace, the infringements of international air traffic regulations in Cyprus’s flight information region and the illegal use of closed ports and airports in Cyprus by Turkey...

2068. US Senate Foreign Relations committee advances East Med Act

2069. UK Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt in Cyprus for talks

2070. 'These will not be soft measures' says Juncker