Search

2971. Britain begins escorting all UK vessels through Hormuz Strait

Britain has started sending a warship to accompany all British-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a change in policy announced on Thursday after the government previously said it did not have resources to do so. ...

2972. 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. ...

2973. Groups condemn Academy Park fire

Environmental activists are calling for local authorities to take action following a fire earlier this week that destroyed a part of a playground at a popular Nicosia park...

2974. Bloomberg: Turkey has abandoned the West

In an opinion piece Bloomberg's editorial board writes that Turkey is an increasingly erratic ally that is no longer worth the risks. ...

2975. 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. ...

2976. 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....

2977. 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...

2978. 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....

2979. 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...

2980. Which way will SYRIZA go?

It will take a couple of months before we see what kind of style SYRIZA plans to adopt in its reprised role as the country’s main opposition party. For the time being at least, it appears willing to cut some slack to the new government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. ...

2981. Christodoulides: Nicosia completely satisfied with EU measures

Speaking on state radio Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said the the government is completely satisfied with the final proposal on EU measures against Turkey. ...

2982. 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. ...

2983. Mobile phones now work across divided Cyprus

The United Nations has lauded the news that mobile phone coverage has been extended to both sides of the divide on the east Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus. ...

2984. 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...

2985. UNFICYP mandate extended for another six months

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has recommended that the Security Council extends UNFICYP’s mandate until January 31, 2020 in recognition of its continued contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability. ...

2986. No preliminary agreement on EU sanctions on Turkey

According to a diplomatic source that informed the press in Brussels the discussion on EU sanctions against Turkey will continue Thursday afternoon, as today there was no agreement...

2987. Lukewarm reaction to EU sanctions on Turkey

2988. Bloomberg: EU to cut aid to Turkey over Cyprus EEZ violations

Bloomberg's Viktoria Dendrinou and Nikos Chrysoloras report that the European Union is considering suspending most high-level contacts with Turkey and cut the flow of funds in protest of the Turkish drilling activities in the Cyprus EEZ. ...

2989. Eurogroup rules out any talk of primary surplus target reduction for Greece

Discussion on Greece was brief at Monday’s Eurogroup, but the council of eurozone finance minsters sent a clear message to Athens that creditors are ready to cooperate with the new government while warning that the handouts announced in May by the previous administration are putting growth and fiscal targets at risk...

2990. Emergency Room doctors go on strike

Union doctors in the Emergency Rooms of state hospitals went on strike on Tuesday morning, with the government crying foul and saying the move is unwarranted...

2991. EU High Representative warns Turkey over new drilling operation off Cyprus

The EU High Representative Federica Mogherini warned on Monday Turkey over its intended new drilling operation at the northeast of Cyprus, recalling that Turkey`s continued actions have a serious negative impact across the range of EU-Turkey relations and that "as mandated by the European Council, the Commission and the EEAS are about to present options to the Council for appropriate measures." ...

2992. The others were Merkel’s puppets, we were just naive

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras admitted to being naive enough to believe that his European counterparts, whose countries have loaned Greece billions of euros, would go easy on him...

2993. North gears up for mobile link-up with south

Turkish Cypriots are gearing up ahead of a much-awaited linkage of cellular networks between north and south, which could bring down costs considerably for local users...

2994. Nicosia expects UN to maintain position on Varosha based on Security Council decisions

The government said on Friday that it expected from the UN to maintain their long-standing position with regard to the ghost-town of Famagusta, that is consistent with the UN Security Council decisions which are explicit and are now blatantly violated through the announcement made in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus...

2995. Playing with fire

The emerging crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean over Turkey’s drilling activities in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) raise the prospect of an open Greco-Turkish conflict to a level higher than anytime since the Imia crisis...

2996. US Senate votes to lift Cyprus arms embargo

The US Senate on Thursday voted to lift a decades-old arms embargo against Cyprus and to cut Turkey off the American F-35 fighter jet program if it proceeds with the acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system...

2997. When necessity becomes history

2998. 'These will not be soft measures' says Juncker

2999. Nicosia, Athens seek specific measures at EU summit

3000. EU Council conclusions on Cyprus