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61. Washington bows out of East Med gas pipeline

Washington implicitly clarified in a statement on Monday that it did not support an ambitious East Med gas pipeline project, following a Twitter storm sparked by Greek media reports on a non-paper expressing American reservations about the plan...

62. State Department affirms commitment to 3+1 mechanism of EastMed natural gas project

Following reports of US reservations over the financial and environmental sustainability of the EastMed natural gas pipeline project, a State Department spokesman has affirmed Washington’s commitment to the 3+1 regional alliance scheme (Cyprus, Greece, Israel plus the US), while emphasizing that Europe’s energy independence is a key national security issue....

63. Nautical Geo sails again, this time south

Nautical Geo, a research vessel that Turkey expelled two weeks ago from an area west of Cyprus, was scheduled to resume activities off the coast of the island but this time staying out of zones claimed by Turkey...

64. Athens protests Turkey's fishing in Greek territorial waters

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias has instructed the Greek Embassy in Ankara to issue a protest demarche over illegal fishing by Turkish fishing boats inside Greece’s territorial waters, the ministry said Monday....

65. Nicosia’s senator friend pays visit

US Senator Bob Menendez, a well-known ally of Greeks and Greek Cypriots, is on a private visit to Nicosia on Monday where he will receive the island’s highest honor...

66. Biden taps close advisor as energy plots thicken

US State Secretary Antony Blinken has appointed a businessman and former lobbyist as energy security envoy, signaling a new strategic focus in Washington in the aftermath of thorny geopolitics over Nord Stream 2 and unresolved issues relating to the eastern Mediterranean...

67. Open season for players searching for gas

The Republic of Cyprus along with Greece and Israel have leased a research vessel to conduct seismic surveys in waters east and west of the island, at a time when chatter over gas exploration rounds in the region are coming back to the surface...

68. EastMed faces another challenge next week

European Union countries will seek to prolong EU support for cross-border natural gas projects, a stance at odds with the European Commission’s plan to end such funding, according to a draft document...

69. We are committed to seeing EastMed through

Israel's cooperation with Egypt and the strengthening of relations with other Gulf states contribute to peace, while enabling Israel and Cyprus to work together with other friendly nations, Sammy Revel says in an interview with Kathimerini...

70. EastMed pipeline could be ready in five years

The EastMed pipeline could be in place in five years, Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources, Yuval Steinitz, has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), describing it as an extremely important project....

71. Anastasiades, Greek PM discuss Cyprus issue

The Cyprus issue was the focus of a telephone conversation between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday morning....

72. Cyprus energy designs unaffected by Turkey's provations, President says

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said Tuesday that that the Republic, as a sovereign and independent state and despite Turkey’s provocations, threats and illegal activities, is determined to go ahead with the implementation of its energy policy....

73. Cyprus calls on Turkey to engage in maritime zone delimitation talks

In an interview with the UAE television channel Alarabiya, defence minister Charalambos Petrides called on Turkey to accept the Republic of Cyprus’ invitation to engage in talks in view of reaching an agreement over the delimitation of the contested maritime zones between the two countries, or alternatively refer the issue to the International Court of Justice....

74. Mitsotakis hails Cyprus, Greece, Egypt cooperation

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the importance of the trilateral cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt for ensuring peace and stability in the region....

75. Energy Turkey's 'no.1 priority' in Cyprus and EastMed

Since noon on Friday, Turkey has been sending its own messages concerning the future of the Cyprus Problem and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. First, the Vice President of Turkey, Fuat Oktay, who took part in the ceremony marking the change in the Turkish Cypriot leadership and entered the fenced-off town of Famagusta, and then the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who welcomed Ersin Tatar to the Turkish capital on Monday, both clarified the basic tenets of Turkey’s strategy for Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean....

76. 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....

77. 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...

78. Greece, US affirm commitment to boosting ties after high-level review

Greece and the US on Monday issued a joint statement following a high-level review of the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue that took place in Thessaloniki amid a visit to the northern port by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias....

79. Michel proposes EastMed conference to diffuse tensions

The President of the European Council Charles Michel said Friday that unilateral actions and violations of international law in the Eastern Mediterranean “must absolutely stop”, tabling a proposal for a multilateral conference on the Eastern Mediterranean, in cooperation with the United Nations. ...

80. EP adopts resolution condemning Turkey's EastMed activities

With 601 votes in favour, 57 against and 36 abstentions, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution condemning Turkey’s activities in the EEZ of Greece and Cyprus, ahead of next week’s extraordinary European Council summit that will focus on the heightened tensions in the eastern Mediterranean....

81. Sanctions unfeasible and ineffective

Nathalie Tocci was a close adviser to former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, during the years when the Cyprus Problem came – according to many - closer than ever to a solution. Today, she is a close advisor to Josep Borrell and, having monitored the Cyprus Problem for many years and having played a central role in the effort to formulate a European strategy for foreign policy, she has a strong view not only on Cyprus but also on the Greek-Turkish conflict. At the same time, she takes a critical approach to the efforts exerted by Athens and Nicosia to link sanctions against Turkey with those against Belarus. ...

82. Greece and Turkey 'agree' to tone it down

NATO allies Greece and Turkey have agreed to talks to avoid accidental clashes in the Eastern Mediterranean, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday...

83. Greece starts more training exercises amid Turkey tension

Greece and the United Arab Emirates have begun joint air force training exercises in the eastern Mediterranean, in the latest build-up of military forces in the region where Greece and Turkey are at odds over seabed mineral rights....

84. International EastMed tension-diffusing efforts battling on

International moves to de-escalate tension in the eastern Mediterranean continued on Tuesday, with the German Chancellor holding a tete-a-tete with the NATO Secretary General and the kickstarting of the informal meetings of EU ministers in Berlin, where regional tensions were at the top of the agenda....

85. EastMed diplomatic marathon in full swing

European Council President Charles Michel on Thursday held a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to the former’s spokesman Barend Leyts....

86. Regional tensions flare up anew as Turkey issues new Navtex

87. Borrell, Cavusoglu agree on need to de-escalate EastMed tension

EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell held a telephone conversation on Thursday with the Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu, with the two agreeing on the need to de-escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. ...

88. Israel approves pipeline deal to sell gas to Europe

The Israeli government on Sunday approved an agreement with European countries for the construction of a subsea pipeline that would supply Europe with natural gas from the eastern Mediterranean....

89. Cyprus Parliament ratifies EastMed pipeline agreement

Cyprus’ House of Representatives ratified on Friday the EastMed natural gas pipeline....

90. Anastasiades lauds France as a pillar of stability in EastMed region

In a period of immense challenges and illegal actions, the presence of the French naval force in the broader geographical region tangibly proves the readiness and determination of France to act as a pillar of stability in the region, while it sends a clear message to those who aim at escalating tensions by acting in an unacceptable way, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said Monday....