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1351. France, Germany give Turkey a week to clarify positions

France and Germany accused Turkey on Thursday of continuing to provoke the European Union with its actions in the Eastern Mediterranean, and gave it a week to clarify its positions....

1352. Athens bracing for four East Med scenarios

Having drawn useful conclusions from the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean over the summer, Athens is prepared to deal with any move Ankara makes south of the island of Kastellorizo and is examining four possible scenarios, Kathimerini understands. ...

1353. Carrot-and-stick approach to Turkey failing, EU envoys say

The European Union's latest strategy to defuse tensions with Turkey is unravelling, two weeks after it was sealed, raising the risk of conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean, diplomats, officials and experts said....

1354. Germany slams Turkey for sending survey ship to eastMed

German foreign minister Heiko Maas criticized Turkey for sending a survey vessel back into controversial waters of the eastern Mediterranean, calling the unilateral move a blow to efforts to start negotiations in the conflict....

1355. Largest ever deployment of Royal Navy ships to Cyprus

In a “demonstration of the breadth of the UK-Cyprus defence relationship,” HMS Albion, the Royal Navy’s flagship, will participate in an extensive programme of exercises and training with Cypriot forces throughout October and November. ...

1356. Turkey points finger at Greece

Ankara fired back at US and EU criticism over actions of its decision to send Oruc Reis survey vessel near the Greek island of Kastellorizo, while also accusing Athens of escalating tensions and refusing honest dialogue over maritime disputes...

1357. Turkish seismic vessels make waves again

Turkey is once again sending research vessel Oruc Reis to explore for gas south of Greek island Kastellorizo, days after Ankara announced a new NAVTEX for its Barbaros ship in waters off Cyprus...

1358. Turkey fires back at Akinci claims

Turkish diplomats in north Nicosia have denied allegations made by incumbent Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, who recently said he had received threats and insults while on the campaign trail...

1359. UN tells Turkey to back off from Varosha

The Security Council has called on Turkey to reverse course of action regarding Varosha in accordance to UN resolutions, with Ankara denying any violations and saying the statement 'does not reflect the reality'...

1360. Maas to visit Athens, Nicosia, Ankara in bid to de-escalate tensions

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas will tour Athens, Nicosia and Ankara next week as part of the continuous effort to rekindle the dialogue between the three countries ahead of the European Council Summit....

1361. Nicosia in wait-and-see over Barbaros

Government officials in the Republic of Cyprus on Friday declined to comment on reports that Turkish seismic vessel Barbaros had moved away from contested waters off Cyprus, suggesting Nicosia was in a wait-and-see mode amid reports of ongoing diplomatic efforts at the European level between Greece and Turkey...

1362. Greek, Turkish foreign ministers meet as tensions ease

The foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey have met on the sidelines of a conference in Slovakia and agreed to set a date for the start of a new round of exploratory talks between the two, officials said Wednesday....

1363. October heats breaking Cyprus records

The steep temperatures being recorded in Cyprus have broken October heat records, head of the meteorology service Kleanthis Nicolaides told Kathimerini Cyprus on Thursday. ...

1364. Cyprus the focus of a Biden administration, Carpenter says

A Biden administration would hopefully put Cyprus at the forefront of its efforts for peacebuilding in the eastern Mediterranean region, Michael Carpenter, managing director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, has said on The Greek Current podcast of The Hellenic American Leadership Council....

1365. EY Cyprus Platinum Sponsor at first Cyprus Forum

1366. Erdogan-Tatar: Varosha to open to the public on Thursday

Developments regarding Varosha were moving full speed ahead on Tuesday after rumours regarding the reopening of the fenced-off town were confirmed. In statements, Tayyip Erdogan and Ersin Tatar said that on Thursday, the public will be able to visit the areas that will open....

1367. It is up to Turkey to ‘open path’ to solution, says Greek PM

Greece welcomes a “first step” from Turkey towards the de-escalation of tension, “but whether it is a sincere move or a temporary maneuver remains to be seen,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday, following talks in Athens with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg....

1368. Pompeo’s visit prompted by Turkey’s S-400s

The indications that Turkey activated the radars of its Russian-made S-400 anti-aircraft systems in order to detect US-made Greek F-16 fighter jets on their return from the Eunomia exercise on August 27 off Cyprus apparently sounded the alarm in Washington about the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and reportedly prompted the visits by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Cyprus on September 12 and Greece on September 27-29. ...

1369. East Mediterranean dialogue prospects ‘at sea’

Cypriot government spokesman Kyriacos Koushos said Turkey’s pulling out of Yavuz drillship from waters off Cyprus was a positive step but cautioned it was not known whether the withdrawal would be short-lived...

1370. Anastasiades: disagreement among EU27 centered around tactics

The President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades on Friday expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the European Council summit in Brussels that drew to a close after marathon talks on Thursday night and early Friday morning,...

1371. Nicosia okay with EU27's third draft

European leaders in Brussels were able to break a deadlock on Belarus sanctions in the wee hours at the Special Council Meeting, after Nicosia accepted a third draft warning Turkey to remain positive to avoid sanctions...

1372. Michel’s first draft falls through

Little or no progress was made at the Special European Council by Thursday early evening, with reports saying Greece and Cyprus did not agree with a draft statement on EU relations with Turkey...

1373. Spanish FM stresses solidarity with Cyprus, importance of dialogue

Spain’s Foreign Affairs Minister Arancha González Laya expressed her country’s solidarity and support for Cyprus in the face of tensions with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean....

1374. Pompeo sees window of opportunity for dialogue, in Kathimerini interview

In an interview with Kathimerini, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo deplores the use of threats and unilateral actions as a way of resolving bilateral disputes, sending a clear signal to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan....

1375. Pompeo: No to unilateral actions

Following a visit to the US naval base at Souda Bay on Crete with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday reiterated his opposition to unilateral actions amid disputes between countries and, in an interview with Kathimerini, indicated that the US is prepared to “play any role that’s appropriate and useful and constructive.” ...

1376. Cyprus on the menu as EU27 break bread

European Council President Charles Michel has set aside an entire EU27 dinner to tackle the eastern Mediterranean and EU relations with Turkey, while President Erdogan has sent a letter outlying Ankara's position and a suggested way forward...

1377. Spanish foreign minister drops by Cyprus

Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya, who avoided commenting on Cyprus’ veto to sanctions against Belarus, is visiting Nicosia on Wednesday just one day ahead of a crucial Special European council in Brussels...

1378. Greek FM in Cyprus ahead of Brussels summit

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is visiting Nicosia on Wednesday for talks with his Cypriot counterpart ahead of a crucial Special European Council meeting later this week...

1379. Pompeo: US ‘strongly’ supports dialogue between Greece and Turkey

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday said Washington “strongly” supports dialogue between Greece and Turkey amid tensions between the two countries in the Eastern Mediterranean....

1380. Judge Ankara by its actions not its words

Michael Rubin, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, favors a less sympathetic approach on Turkey, arguing ad hoc partnerships can put pressure on Ankara to come around...