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1771. Akar: Turkey determined to defend rights across ‘Blue Homeland’

Turkey is determined to defend its rights across the “Blue Homeland,” the country’s defense minister, Hulusi Akar, said Friday, invoking an expansionist doctrine that envisages Turkish control over the waters of the eastern Aegean and the northern Mediterranean....

1772. UN pick Greek Holy Week for sitdown

An informal 'five plus one' meeting on Cyprus will take place in Geneva during Greek Orthodox Holy Week, after a UN spokesperson confirmed location and dates for yet another historic sitdown...

1773. Turkey says Greek fighter jets ‘harassed’ research vessel; Greece rejects claim

Greek fighter jets “harassed” Turkey’s research vessel Cesme while it was sailing in international waters in the Northern Aegean, National Defense Ministry sources were cited as saying on Tuesday by Turkey’s state-run news agency Anadolu....

1774. Guterres reassures Cyprus’ UN ambassador

Secretary General Antonio Guterres has told the new Cypriot UN Ambassador that the international organization and himself personally are “committed” to Cyprus and its people, reiterating his intention to convene an informal 5+1 sitdown soon...

1775. Erdogan wishes to improve testy relations with US

Turkey’s president says mutual interests with the United States outweigh their differences and has called for more cooperation with President Joe Biden’s new US administration....

1776. Russia says backdoor Cyprob plan by UK 'unacceptable'

Imposing a blueprint for a Cyprus settlement from the outside is unacceptable, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova said Thursday, commenting on reports suggesting a backdoor ‘British plan’ for settling the Cyprus Problem....

1777. Cyprus to push for help from Brussels on migration issue

The Republic of Cyprus will make its case to Brussels and other international fora, both at the political and technocratic level, over migratory pressure and the need for assistance. ...

1778. Guterres to announce 5+1 sitdown ‘very soon’

UN officials have reiterated the Secretary General’s intent to move forward with the 5+1 informal meeting 'very soon,' following rumours in the media that not everyone was on board for the sit-down...

1779. Athens protests new Turkish Navtex

Greece’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday lodged a demarche with Turkey’s Foreign Ministry through its embassy in Ankara in protest at the announced plans for an upcoming Turkish hydrographic survey between the Greek islands of Limnos, Skyros and Alonnisos from Thursday to March 2. ...

1780. Anastasiades holds call with Charles Michel

President Nicos Anastasiades held a phone call with the European Council President Charles Michel on Thursday to touch base on the upcoming European Council meetings scheduled this month and next....

1781. Turkey faced with Greece’s EU membership and diaspora

Last week, the Turkish minister of defense once again denounced what he perceived as Greek attempts to reframe Greco-Turkish disputes as wider disputes between Turkey and third parties, powerful countries or regional entities....

1782. Cyprus, Greece, Egypt FMs call for federal Cyprob solution

The Foreign Ministers of Greece, Egypt and Cyprus signed a joint statement in support for a Cyprus solution on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation, in accordance with international law, the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and in line with the European acquis....

1783. Christodoulides, Dendias hold talks in Athens

Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides met with his Greek counterpart in Athens on Friday on the sidelines of the Friendship Forum held Thursday in what was seen as an effort by Greece to expand its network of allies from the Mediterranean to the Gulf....

1784. Friendship Forum highlights cooperation to meet regional challenges

Foreign ministers and senior officials from several EU and Persian Gulf countries met in Athens on Thursday, as Greece seeks to expand alliances to counter tension with regional rival Turkey....

1785. Turkey's expansionist policies unacceptable, Cyprus govt says

Turkey must realize that we do not accept its expansionist policies, government spokesman Kyriakos said Thursday in response to statements issued by Turkish officials. ...

1786. Oktay: Forget any bargaining over Varosha

1787. UK states it is a 'strong supporter' of federal Cyprob solution

The UK remains a “strong supporter” of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus issue based on the internationally accepted model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, a government source in London has said. ...

1788. Erdogan says only solution on Cyprus is two states

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the only way to resolve decades of dispute over Cyprus was to establish two states on the island, and a federation favored by Athens would not be on the agenda of upcoming talks....

1789. US against two-state deal on Cyprus, Heather A. Conley tells Kathimerini

Heather A. Conley is no stranger to Greece as she has made a point of visiting the country every year and also participated in the 2019 Delphi Forum – the last that actually took place in Delphi. A Washington veteran, she is senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic and director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)....

1790. Turkey reportedly purchases fourth drillship

Turkish media on Tuesday were reporting the purchase of a fourth drillship by the government in Ankara....

1791. Cyprus, Greece coordinate Cyprob tactics

Both Greece and the Republic of Cyprus are remaining firm in their support of a bizonal bicommunal federation as the solution being sought for the Cyprus Problem, the leaders of the two nations said Monday after a meeting held in Nicosia....

1792. From Bismarck to Merkel

'Turks and Germans loved each other for a long time,' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a visit to Berlin in 2018. He was citing the historic words of Germany’s first chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, which still seem to determine Berlin’s policy on Ankara. We should recognize this reality as we enter a new geopolitical era, without succumbing to sentimentalism and spasmodic reactions....

1793. Cyprus supporter to lead US foreign committee

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades says he looks forward to working with US Senator Bob Menendez, after the NJ Democrat was named officially chairman of the foreign relations committee in the new Congress...

1794. US says Turkish coup claims 'wholly false'

The US State Department said on Thursday assertions by Turkish officials that the United States was involved in a failed 2016 coup in Turkey were 'wholly false'...

1795. Turkish minister says US behind 2016 failed coup attempt

Turkey's interior minister accused the United States on Thursday of being behind a 2016 failed coup that Ankara has blamed on a US-based Muslim preacher, the Hurriyet daily reported, at a time when Turkey is seeking improved ties with its NATO ally....

1796. Raab calls for flexibility and compromise in Cyprob talks

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called for flexibility ahead of a fresh bid by the United Nations to resume efforts towards resolving the Cyprus Problem....

1797. Turkey eyeing Cyprus’ natural resources

Ahead of the informal five-party conference on the Cyprus issue early next month, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed Tuesday that the most important issue is the way in which the island’s natural resources are shared, unveiling Ankara’s ultimate goals in the region....

1798. Cyprob mobility ramps up as UK, Greek officials to visit Cyprus

With the UK Foreign Secretary expected in Cyprus on Thursday, the visit of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was also confirmed on Wednesday for February 8. Mitsotakis is expected to discuss recent developments on the Cyprus issue with the country’s president, Nicos Anastasiades....

1799. Nikos Kotzias in Kathimerini: Foreign policy and exploratory talks

Greece’s exploratory talks with Turkey are not a dialogue for the sake of dialogue. They are a structured debate in which both sides invest for a series of achievements. Greece’s target, as far as exploratory talks are concerned, has always been:...

1800. UNSG says willing to hear suggestions of all parties

The UN Security Council’s mandate refers explicitly to a bizonal, bicommunal solution in Cyprus, but this is not an impediment for the parties to present their positions, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told a press conference on Thursday....