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1921. 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....

1922. Health minister stresses there's still a long way to go

The health minister Constantinos Ioannou, accompanied by members of the government’s coronavirus task force, gave a press conference on Wednesday noon to outline the development of the coronavirus pandemic, since its outbreak in the Republic of Cyprus some seven months ago....

1923. Thousands of drivers fined since higher penalties enforced

Police have filed reports for over 2,360 traffic violations since October 1, when steeper penalties came into force as Cyprus scrambles to reduce its high rates of road deaths and accidents that are often the result of widespread reckless driving....

1924. 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. ...

1925. Expert warns of potential lockdown in Achna village

Member of the government’s coronavirus task force Petros Karayiannis warned of a potential local lockdown at the village of Achna in the Famagusta district if residents fail to adhere to the health ministry’s instructions to get tested for coronavirus and declare the full list of their close contacts....

1926. 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....

1927. 30 new cases announced as football clusters grow

30 new coronavirus cases were detected on Tuesday, many of which formed part of growing clusters developed among local football teams....

1928. Cyprus weighs in on Armenia-Azerbaijan

Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides has spoken with his Armenian counterpart, calling on all sides involved in Nagorno-Karabakh to resolve the conflict diplomatically while also accusing Azerbaijan of violating a fragile truce...

1929. The EU did not act in united fashion, Cyprus President tells Le Figaro

In an interview with the French daily Le Figaro published Thursday, President Nicos Anastasiades said that in responding Turkey’s actions in the eastern Mediterranean, the EU did not act in a decisive and united fashion, while refuting that Cyprus vetoed sanctions against Belarus....

1930. Commission presents new migration plan for EU

The European Union's executive proposed on Wednesday overhauling the bloc's broken migration and asylum rules, seeking to end years of feuds and bitterness over the many people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa....

1931. Officials nervous ahead of flu season

A recent climb in confirmed coronavirus cases, especially in Larnaca district, has prompted health officials to contemplate new tougher measures possibly across the island...

1932. EU fails to unblock sanctions due to lack on unanimity

European Union foreign ministers failed to overcome a diplomatic standoff over Belarus on Monday despite an appeal by the country's main opposition leader to approve sanctions on officials accused of rigging the election last month....

1933. Biker dies in crash after family outing

A local biker was killed in an accident in Limassol over the weekend, with police saying human factors played a primary role in the road victim’s fatal fall into a ditch...

1934. Expert furious over violators out and about

A local expert on the government covid task force says the behaviour of some people, who have been instructed to isolate due to suspected coronavirus infection, is 'outrageous and criminal' when they don't answer calls from health officials...

1935. Commission signs vaccine contract with Sanofi-GSK

A contract between the European Commission and pharmaceutical company Sanofi-GSK came into force on Friday, allowing for EU member states to purchase up to 300 million doses of the vaccine being developed....

1936. 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....

1937. Cyprus-Israel military exercise wraps up successfully

A joint Cyprus-Isreal military exercise dubbed ‘Iason 2020’ was successfully completed late on Wednesday night, an announcement by the Cyprus defence ministry said....

1938. EU solidarity to go beyond words, Michel tells Anastasiades

In a meeting with the European Council President Charles Michel on Wednesday, the President of the Republic of Cyprus expressed hope that EU member states will show a united front during next week’s extraordinary European Council summit on Turkey....

1939. Turkey accuses Greece of treaty violations

Turkey has issued a navigational telex to mariners accusing Greece of violating the Lausanne Treaty by militarizing the Greek island of Chios just 10 miles from a Turkish port...

1940. 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. ...

1941. Greek PM expected to unveil French defense deal on Saturday

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is due to unveil the details of a defense deal with Paris that was the subject of talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of a European-Mediterranean leaders’ meeting in Corsica on Thursday....

1942. Police request for 'golden passports' documents from Parliament unconstitutional, lawyers say

Lawyers from whom Parliament requested advice after law enforcement officials said they would crack down on the Cyprus Papers whistleblower(s) said Parliament’s non-compliance with police requests for documents relating to the investment scheme is reasonable, as such a request is “not constitutionally legitimate”....

1943. Republic finds one new case as north re-imposes restrictions

A single new coronavirus case was detected in the Republic of Cyprus on Tuesday after 2,797 tests, but in the north authorities moved to reinstate several restriction measures after a renewed flare-up of the virus as a result of high numbers of cases imported from Turkey....

1944. Cyprus defends blocking migrant boats

A police task force from the Republic of Cyprus is hoping to hash out a plan with Lebanese authorities to deter “economic migrants” from traveling to the island, as government and state officials rush to respond to criticism over a decision to send back undocumented migrants to the neighbouring country...

1945. Passports under the watchful eye of the Commission

1946. Joint Cyprus-UK SAR exercise conducted off Limassol

The first Cyprus-UK joint search and rescue exercise in 2020 was successfully conducted off the coast of Limassol on Monday, a press release by the British High Commission said....

1947. Chief Justice scolds bench in Alexoui case

A dissenting opinion written by the Supreme Court president pointed to “errors of principle” on Thursday, after a new appeal to get Alexoui and Rudolf out of remanded custody based on new facts was struck down again...

1948. UN closely monitoring Varosha developments, UNSG tells President

The UN is closely monitoring developments with fence-off city of Varosha in the north and is committed to help all parties resume negotiations with the aim of reuniting Cyprus, a letter sent by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades said....

1949. EU ‘very clear’ on expectations from Turkey for de-escalation

The message, the expectations, the timeline and the consequences of not acting towards a de-escalation of tension in the Eastern Mediterranean were “made clear” to Turkey, both via the informal Foreign Affairs Council last week in Berlin and in the telephone call on Monday between EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, according to EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano....

1950. Old rivalries continue in eastern Mediterranean

Greece has issued a competing navigational telex after Turkey extended seismic surveys in the eastern Mediterranean, with no signs between the two NATO allies of burying the hatchet over old rivalries that continue to this day...