Search

1021. Turkey says ‘sofagate’ unfair criticism from EU

Turkey has blamed the European Union for seating arrangements that left European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen standing without a chair during formalities at the Presidential Palace in Ankara...

1022. IMF: Withdrawal of support measures should be gradual

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission met virtually with the Cypriot authorities from March 8–29, 2021 to discuss recent economic developments and policy priorities on the island. In an interview with Kathimerini Cyprus, IMF mission chief for Cyprus, Anita Tuladhar, said the longer the recovery period in sectors related to tourism, the greater the chance that permanent scars will remain in the economy of Cyprus. Tuladhar also noted the importance of state-sponsored programs to support the economy....

1023. Top EU officials head to Turkey in bid to improve ties

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Charles Michel are headed to Turkey on Tuesday on an official visit aimed at improving ties between Brussels and Ankara....

1024. Anastasiades sends message to Turkey via Michel

President Nicos Anastasiades called on Friday on the President of the European Council Charles Michel, who is set to visit Ankara next week, to convey to the need for Turkey to show political will that will allow the resumption of substantive talks on Cyprus....

1025. Borrell determined to carry out EUCO mandate on Turkey

President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades said clarifications about the EU’s role at the informal conference of Cyprus set to take place in Geneva in late April may arise after the visit expected to be paid to Turkey by EU officials....

1026. EU presidents to go to Turkey next week

The presidents of the European Council and the European Commission will meet Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey on April 6, an EU spokesman said on Monday, in the latest sign of improving ties....

1027. Officers off the hook in serial killer probe

Senior law enforcement officials and frontline police officers named in a serial killer probe in Cyprus could be subject to disciplinary action but not criminal charges because of broader systemic failures and lack of evidence...

1028. Cyprus, Greece mount pressure for revision of EUCO conclusions

Cyprus and Greece mounted pressure on Wednesday for a revision of the draft European Council conclusions on Turkey, arguing that they should better reflect the stance taken by the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in his recent report....

1029. Nicosia seeks revision on Turkey draft

The Republic of Cyprus has raised concerns over a joint statement to be issued by the EU27 on Turkey, with sources saying Nicosia was calling for a new draft to 'better reflect' statements by officials...

1030. Cyprus rejects EU draft on Turkey which seeks to deepen trade ties

Cyprus has rejected a draft prepared for a summit of EU leaders this week which seeks to deepen trade ties with Turkey, describing it as “totally unacceptable.” ...

1031. Cyprus scrambles to reduce asylum backlog

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris says the government is moving forward with rejections of asylum applications under new, faster procedures to clear a system backlog, with Europe seeking a comprehensive solution and a commissioner calling on Cypriot authorities to investigate illegal pushbacks...

1032. Interior Minister fires Kouklia head councilor

A whistleblower head councilor in Paphos district has been relieved of his duties this week by the interior minister, who has placed the local council of Kouklia under the administration of the district chief officer following pandemonium in the heavily-audited community...

1033. Trained cops but no animal police in Cyprus

A new law in Cyprus will provide for up to ten police officers to be trained on handling animal cases, with critics accusing the government of failing to deliver on its promise to create a proper animal police...

1034. 'I trust AstraZeneca', EU chief says

The European Union’s chief executive criticized Anglo-Swedish vaccine-maker AstraZeneca on Wednesday, accusing the embattled pharmaceutical company of delaying Europe’s coronavirus vaccination campaign and warning that the EU is weighing export bans to ensure supplies....

1035. President warns of tougher measures

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades addressed the nation on Tuesday, two days after hundreds of carnival enthusiasts violated protocols in Limassol, with the commander in chief warning of tougher measures if people did not shape up...

1036. EU Commission gets halloumi PDO ball rolling

The European Commission has launched the process for a vote in the Quality Committee on March 26 on the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) of the Halloumi/Hellim file, an EC spokesperson told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Tuesday....

1037. President seeks consensus to relax measures

Health experts on the government’s pandemic task force met with President Nicos Anastasiades on Tuesday, with reports saying the commander in chief got the nod to proceed with scheduled relaxing of measures but details were still not fully clear...

1038. Florida giant denies Huawei in Cyprus

An American company has put words into action in the middle of global 5G wars, with Phoenix Tower International and Monaco Telecom announcing an agreement that includes acquiring newly constructed wireless towers across Malta and Cyprus...

1039. 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....

1040. Borrell: EU will never accept a two-state Cyprus solution

Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side must stay away from two-state solution rhetoric, because such a form of a settlement will never be accepted by the EU, the bloc’s Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said Friday after meeting with President Nicos Anastasiades in Nicosia....

1041. EU foreign chief pops in for a visit

EU’s foreign affairs chief visited Cyprus on Friday where he is meeting with leaders on both sides of the divided island as well as UNJ officials ahead of the latest attempt to revive peace negotiations...

1042. Sexual harassment and abuse cases piling up

Cyprus police are currently working on 16 sexual harassment and abuse reports, three of which were filed over the past ten days alone...

1043. Borrell: Cyprob solution must come from Cypriots

"The European Union fully supports the resumption of a settlement process under UN auspices, as soon as possible," and stands ready to provide whatever assistance both parties and the UN would find most useful, the EU’s Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell said Thursday....

1044. UNSG extends formal invitations to Cyprob summit

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent out official invites to the informal five-party summit on the Cyprus Problem that is set to take place on April 27-29 in Geneva. ...

1045. 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...

1046. R&I ecosystems of Cyprus and Israel exchange expertise

Stakeholders of the Cyprus Research and Innovation ecosystem had the opportunity to gain a comprehensive view of Israel’s experience and expertise in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship, through a series of digital lectures that took place in January – February....

1047. 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....

1048. 58-year-old driver dies in fatal Paphos rotating crash

1049. Police admit wrongful handling in Yioliti parody account shambles

A tense House human rights committee session took place Monday in the presence of the Justice Minister Emily Yioliti and the chief of police Stelios Papatheodorou, with Yioliti receiving fire from multiple fronts over the Twitter parody account shambles and the unprecedented police brutality that marked an anti-corruption protest on Saturday....

1050. Health commissioner’s Nicosia home staked out

Greek Cypriot news sites on Sunday picked up a story on EU Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, following reports of a media stake out at the health chief’s Nicosia residence amid fierce criticism over vaccine delays...