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1831. Johnson again bids for snap poll as Brexit delay bill to become law

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will try for a second time on Monday to call a snap election, but is set to be thwarted once more by opposition lawmakers who want to ensure he cannot take Britain out of the European Union without a divorce agreement. With no majority in parliament, which is determined to prevent what many businesses fear would be a calamitous way to quit the EU, Johnson wants to hold an election to keep his promise of leaving by Oct. 31, with or without an agreement. ...

1832. Brexit no-deal preparedness: Final Commission call to all EU citizens and businesses

With 8 weeks to go until the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union on 31 October 2019, the Commission has today – in its 6th Brexit preparedness Communication – reiterated its call on all stakeholders in the EU27 to prepare for a ‘no-deal' scenario. In light of the continued uncertainty in the United Kingdom regarding the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement – as agreed with the UK government in November 2018 – and the overall domestic political situation, a ‘no-deal' scenario on 1 November 2019, remains a possible, although undesirable, outcome...

1833. Terms of reference document drafted

Senior United Nations official Jane Holl Lute continues her consultations on Tuesday, which are aimed at facilitating agreement on the terms of reference that would constitute a consensus starting point for a possible negotiated conclusion to the Cyprus issue...

1834. Nicosia says terms of reference are within reach

Government Spokesman, Prodromos Prodromou, said on Monday that it seems that there is justified hope and ground for the formulation of the terms of reference that would pave the way for the resumption of the negotiations on the Cyprus problem. ...

1835. Locals stage protest on Lara beach

A protest in favour of local exploitation of Lara beach was held on Sunday in response to activists and state officials who recently reiterated that illegal human activity on turtle nesting sites will not be tolerated...

1836. Common interest for talks but disagreements remain

President Anastasiades said that there is a positive climate and a common basis on which the talks for a Cyprus settlement can take place, noting, at the same time, that disagreements on serious issues remain, but there is an agreement that differences cannot be bridged without dialogue. ...

1837. Interview with Endy Zemenides

Ever since Joe Biden declared that Cyprus was a “strategic partner” of the United States, people have been trying to identify substance behind those words. There has been a similar search of what “best relations ever” between the U.S. and Greece means...

1838. Consultations ahead of Anastasiades-Akinci meeting

President Nicos Anastasiades will be holding meetings and consultations with FM Christodoulides and former FM Kasoulides today and Thursday, ahead of his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, set for Friday at 10:30am local time...

1839. President Anastasiades aims at a creative meeting with Akinci, Spokesman says

The President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades aims at a creative meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, on Friday, in a bid to create the necessary conditions for the resumption of settlement talks, Prodromos Prodromou said on Monday....

1840. Stella Kyriakidou: Climate change and gender equality a priority for the EU

There have been many who have questioned the EU because of the economic crisis that has emerged in recent years. Today we are coming out of this crisis and we realize that the EU still has a lot to offer....

1841. Trump hits China with more tariffs, sharply escalating trade dispute

U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to impose a 10% tariff on $300 billion of Chinese imports from Sept. 1, sharply escalating a bruising trade war between the world’s largest economies and jolting financial markets. ...

1842. All set for Akinci-Anastasiades meeting as President calls for leaders council

In statements in Limassol after President Anastasiades had a meeting with UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus and head of UNFICYP Elizabeth Spehar, Prodromou announced that “Anastasiades has convened a meeting with political party leaders on Monday, August 5, at 1030 hrs to hold discussions in view of his meeting with Akinci.” ...

1843. Guarantees and Rights of Intervention

Both Turkey’s illegal invasion in 1974 and its occupation of Cyprus, were claimed to be based on its own interpretation of the Treaty of Guarantee. These arguments are well known. Today, Turkey still insists on the same interpretation of this Treaty....

1844. Cyprus Tax Webcast, July 2019

1845. 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. ...

1846. 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." ...

1847. 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. ...

1848. 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.'' ...

1849. 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....

1850. 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. ...

1851. 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 ...

1852. 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....

1853. 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...

1854. 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’’...

1855. 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....

1856. 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...

1857. 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...

1858. 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....

1859. 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. ...

1860. 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...