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1471. Greek Prime Minister in Cyprus for an official visit

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis begins today a two-day official visit to Cyprus, his first after he assumed his duties following the elections of July 7th. He is accompanied, inter alia, by Greece`s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias ...

1472. Memes flood internet after bishop’s gay comments

Morphou Neophytos has taken heat after making controversial comments about gay sex, with the internet flooding with funny memes but also criticism against the bishop...

1473. 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. ...

1474. Britain calls for European naval mission to counter Iran's 'piracy'

It is unclear how much influence Britain may have in Europe given it is about to have a new prime minister, widely expected to be Boris Johnson, who takes over a country divided over Brexit, its planned departure from the European Union. ...

1475. Volunteers to enlist as fire lookouts

A volunteer wildfire lookout programme is set to begin in Cyprus, following public criticism and disdain over preventable fires and arson attacks in forested areas...

1476. Pyatt calls for stronger defense cooperation

“The United States has spoken very clearly on the question of the S400 and the F-35. We’ve spoken very clearly on the provocative nature of the drilling activities that Turkey has engaged in in waters off of Cyprus. But none of that changes the fact that we, like you, need to find a way to make this work,” Pyatt added....

1477. US removes Turkey from F-35 program after Russian missile purchase

The United States said on Wednesday that it was removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet programme, a move long threatened and expected after Ankara began accepting delivery of an advanced Russian missile defence system last week. ...

1478. Trump says 'not fair' that U.S. can't sell F-35s to Turkey

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday it is “not fair” to either Turkey or the United States that Washington cannot sell Ankara billions of dollars worth of F-35 fighter jets after it bought a Russian air defense system...

1479. 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’’...

1480. Morning sirens trigger memories of 1974

Emergency sirens sounded all over the island on Monday morning to mark the anniversary of a military coup in 1974...

1481. Britain says Iran attempted to block its oil tanker

Three Iranian vessels tried to block the passage of a British ship through the Strait of Hormuz but withdrew after warnings from a British warship, the British government said on Thursday. ...

1482. 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. ...

1483. Far-right soundly defeated in Greek elections

1484. Turkey issues Navtex for exercises off Kastellorizo on Sunday

Turkey has issued a navigational telex reserving a large area south of the island of Kastellorizo, within Greece's continental shelf, for military exercises on Sunday as Greeks go to general elections...

1485. Two women at the top of EU decision making

Under the deal, Ursula von der Leyen, a close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, will replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm...

1486. New missile scenarios tossed in the mix

Reports in the Turkish Cypriot press point to a number of different scenarios, as authorities on both sides of the divided island try to learn more about the rogue missile that ended up on Cypriot soil...

1487. President intends to meet Spehar ahead of the UNSC consultations on UNFICYP

Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades, intends to have a meeting and discuss with the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative and head of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Elizabeth Spehar, prior to her departure for New York, where she will brief the UN Security Council on July 19, ahead of the adoption of the resolution for the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate on July 30, CNA has learned....

1488. Bloomberg: Turkey stockpiles weapon parts in anticipation of US sanctions

Turkey has been stockpiling parts for F-16 fighter jets and other military hardware in anticipation of American sanctions, Bloomberg has reported, citing two Turkish officials familiar with their country’s defense strategy. ...

1489. Cyprus should not be on the list of countries not getting US arms

In 1987, the US Department of State placed the Republic of Cyprus on a list of countries to which sales and transfers of defense articles and services is prohibited under the International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR). ...

1490. 'No reason to panic' over stray missile

Turkish Cypriot officials confirmed Monday that they believe a part of a Russian-made S200 missile reached Cyprus early morning and caused multiple explosions, while a team of Turkish experts is traveling to the island to conduct tests...

1491. Missile goes astray, hits Cyprus

A former intelligence chief says an object that crashed in the north after midnight is mostly likely an S-200 surface-to-air missile, based on images and ongoing conflict in the region...

1492. 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...

1493. 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...

1494. Amendments to Menendez Rubio bill 'unfortunate'

President Nicos Anastasiades described on Thursday the amendments made to the bipartisan legislation of Robert Menendez and Senator Rubio on an updated United States strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean as ''unfortunate'' ...

1495. Cyprus strongly protests to UN over airspace and sea violations by Turkey

Cyprus has strongly protested to the UN the violations of its national airspace, the infringements of international air traffic regulations in Cyprus’s flight information region and the illegal use of closed ports and airports in Cyprus by Turkey...

1496. US bill calls for end to Russian military vessels refueling in Cyprus

The Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 would allow the U.S. to fully support the trilateral partnership of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus through energy and defense cooperation initiatives...

1497. US Senate Foreign Relations committee advances East Med Act

1498. 'I speak the language of international law', Tsipras tells Erdogan

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras underlined on Tuesday that he speaks the language of international law, the language of rationalism, truth and determination....

1499. Winds of War

1500. Rising tensions in the Aegean