For 46 years Turkey has been illegally occupying a part of the territory of a European Union member. On 20. July 1974, Turkish troops invaded Cyprus and have been staying there, ever since, with Ankara to not show any intention to withdraw the troops. Without withdrawal from Cyprus, Turkey does …
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PM Mitsotakis: Turkey’s behavior on Hagia Sophia issue is directed against Europe
“Turkey’s behavior on the issue of Hagia Sophia is directed against Europe,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday adding that this behavior was “outside the frame and international law. During joint statements with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades in Athens, Mitsotakis said that “Turkey’s provocations, which are many, are …
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Greece among top 5 EU countries with cleanest bathing waters
Greece is among the top five European countries with the cleanest bathing waters, a study by the EU’s European Environment Agency has found. Cyprus is champion with 99.1% of its beaches having excellent water quality. According to the study by the EU’s environmental service, the European Environment Agency, the quality …
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Cyprus President: “If Turkey continues aggression, end its EU candidacy”
“If Turkey doesn’t tone down its aggression in the Eastern Mediterranean, it should lose it status as a candidate for EU accession,” Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades said on Saturday. In a video interview with Politico magazine, Anastasiades spoke about the Cyprus problem, natural gas, and aggression from Turkey in the …
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Aegean resumes flights to 6 foreign destinations from Thessaloniki on June 15
Aegean Airlines announced to resume direct flights from the city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, to six destinations abroad as of June 15. Following a partial lifting on flight restrictions from Thessaloniki’s ‘Makedonia’ airport depending on the epidemiological profile of the destination countries, Aegean announced the resumption of direct flights to …
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Greece to welcome Germans, Cypriots, Israelis in first wave of visitors
Greece will allow travellers from around two dozen countries including Germany, Cyprus and Israel to visit from mid-June without having to be quarantined, government officials told international news agency reuters on Wednesday. “There will be some 20-25 countries whose nationals will be allowed to come,” a government source said, adding …
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Siemens to build electricity link between Greece and Cyprus
Industrial giant Siemens AG has been chosen as the preferred bidder to build the Cyprus-Greece electricity connection, with regulators discussing issues of interoperability to ensure linking their national grids goes ahead smoothly. The transmission system operator of Cyprus (TSOC) and Greece (ADMIE), as well as officials from EuroAsia Interconnector and …
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EU FMs condemn Turkey’s illegal activities in Greece and Cyprus
The EU Foreign Affairs Council expressed strong condemnation of the violations of Greek airspace and territorial waters of Greece, as well as Turkey’s illegal oil drilling activity in the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus during a teleconference on Friday. “We have sent a strong message to Turkey today in …
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Greece has “good chances” of opening to tourism soon, says TUI
Greece, as well as Cyprus, Bulgaria and Portugal, have “good chances” of opening up to tourism soon, said Fritz Joussen, executive chairman of German tourism group TUI. These countries sought talks with TUI and are preparing “very intensively for the return of tourists,” Joussen told Der Spiegel magazine, in an …
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Greece slams Turkey over new drilling in Cyprus EEZ
Greece has slammed Turkey for deploying the drilling ship Yavuz again to Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for one more time. Ankara issued a new navigation warning NAVTEX, reserving the area between Blocks 6 and 7 of Cyprus’ EEZ from Monday, April 20, until July 18. The Yavuz is accompanied …
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Cyprus deploys security forces to Greece’s border amid ongoing clashes
A C-130 of the Greek Air Force left Cyprus for northern Greece early Sunday evening. On board of the aircraft 22 members of the Cypriot security forces deployed to the Evros region to assist the Greek security forces at the border with Turkey. #HellenicAirForce C-130H from Republic of #Cyprus towards …
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JINSA proposes “US military forces transfer from Turkey to Greece”
US military resources should be transferred from Turkey to Greece and possibly also to Cyprus and boost support to both countries, a US-based think tank proposes to the US leadership. Given the situation in the eastern Mediterranean region, with Turkey’s ever increasing provocations, there is a great need for US …
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EU to sanction two Turkish nationals over drilling in Cyprus EEZ
European Union diplomats have agreed to impose sanctions against two Turkish nationals in response to Ankara’s controversial search for hydrocarbons within Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone. Citing two officials who did not want to be named, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that the two Turkish nationals will face travel bans and a …
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Turkey may have stolen data for gas drilling in Block 8 off Cyprus
Turkey may have stolen technical data that enabled it to send drill ship Yavuz at a specific location south of Cyprus that energy companies Eni and Total had pre-selected to carry out their own exploratory drilling, Cypriot officials said Wednesday. The Cyprus government essentially confirmed a media report suggesting Turkey …
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Turkey ‘s Navy force Israeli research vessel out of Cyprus territorial waters
Turkish navy ships intercepted an Israeli research ship in Cyprus territorial waters and forced it out of the area. Turkey has been trying to create a fait accompli in the East Mediterranean Sea, unilaterally creating its own Exclusive Economic Zone off Cyprus and Greece. The incident with the Israeli research …
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Turkey: EU has no jurisdiction over maritime boundaries, is “mouthpiece of Greece”
Turkey has lashed out at the European Union claiming it has no any “jurisdiction over the maritime boundaries” and its accord with Libya. In a statement issued on Friday, the Foreign Ministry in Ankara called the EU “a mouthpiece of Greek and Cypriot claims.” On Thursday, the European Council said …
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Germany calls on Turkey to “respect the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus”
Germany has jointed the position of solidarity toward Greece and Cyprus adopted by the European External Action Service, German foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Adebahr said on Wednesday. Berlin calls on Turkey and Libya to “respect the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of all EU member-states and to follow the delineation …
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Turkey drilling: Cyprus appeals to the International Court of Justice at The Hague
The Government of Cyprus will appeal to the Hague Tribunal for the defense of its own sovereign rights, President Nikos Anastasiades confirmed on Thursday. Cyprus has petitioned the International Court of Justice at The Hague to safeguard its offshore mineral rights, its president said on Thursday, as neighbor Turkey disputes …
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UN Head Guterres seeks solution to Cyprus issue
Head of United Nations, António Guterres,described the informal talks he had in Berlin with Greek Cypriot leader, Nicos Anastasiades, and the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Mustafa Akıncı as “focused and frank.” In a statement, Guterres said among others that “both leaders welcomed my engagement and reaffirmed to me their …
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Erdogan: “Turkey could release ISIS militants, send them to Europe”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Europeans that “Turkey could release all the ISIS prisoners and send them to Europe, together with millions of refugees and migrants.” Erdogan’s threats are Turkey’s response to the EU sanctions over Cyprus. Speaking to reporters before his visit to the United States, Erdogan also said …
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