The European Union Foreign Ministers adopted on Monday a framework for sanctions on persons and entities involved in Turkey‘s illegal drilling off Cyprus. The sanctions include travel ban to the EU as well as assets freeze for both natural persons and entities. In addition, EU persons and entities will be …
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Greece, Egypt, Cyprus condemn Turkey, hold joint military exercise “Medusa 9”
Τhe ministers of defense of Greece, Cyrpus and Egypt met in Athens to discuss the latest development sin the East Mediterranean region, cooperation on defense and security as well as regional security challenges. General Mohamed Zaki, the Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Minister of Defense and Military Production, Minister …
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Turkey’s letter to UN accuses Cyprus of Turkish-Cypriots “ethnic cleansing”
Turkey has sent a letter to United Nations General Assembly is which it accused Cyprus of “ethnic cleansing against Turkish Cypriots between 1963 and 1975.” The letter submitted by the Turkey’s permanent representative to UN, is dated October 9, the day Turkey started its military operation against Syria. The letter …
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EU Council slams Turkey for illegal drilling in Cyprus, Syria operation
With two conclusions the European Council condemned Turkey on Monday for both the military operation in Syria and the illegal drilling in Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone. For the latter it also announced sanctions, even though it did not specify when these could go into effect. The EU condemns #Turkey’s military …
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French frigate heading for Block 7 in Cyprus EEZ, Greek MoD says
Greek Defense Minister, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, said that a French frigate would arrive shortly in block 7 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where French energy giant Total holds a concession with Italy’s Eni. Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said on Thursday his company would not drill off Cyprus if it meant …
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Greece, Cyprus, Egypt affirm energy Cooperation, call on Turkey to end “provocative actions”
During the tripartite summit in Cairo, Cyprus, Greece and Egypt affirmed their cooperation in engergy sector. At the same time, they called on Turkey on Tuesday to “end its provocative actions” in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, including exploring for oil in Cyprus’ territorial waters, which they called “a breach of …
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Pompeo in Athens: Turkey’s illegal drilling is “unacceptable”
“There are limits, we cannot let anyone, Turkey, make illegal drilling,” US Secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said during a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, on Saturday. The Turkish provocation against Greece and Turkey were high on the agenda Athens put on the table during meetings …
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Turkey furious as Greece,Cyprus and Egypt “condemn its unlawful actions”
Turkey fumes over a joint Statement issued by Greece, Cyprus and Egypt. In an angry statement the Turkish Foreign Ministry described as “baseless claims” the trilateral statement that among others it condemned “Turkey’s unlawful actions in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, in particular the escalating, provocative and illegal …
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Mitsotakis meets Erdogan at UN, talk Migration, Cyprus, bilateral issues
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held a 45-minute meeting at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday morning (local time.) The Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue, migration flows and the EU-Turkey agreement and other bilateral issues were on the agenda. It was the …
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Greece, Cyprus confirm “common handling” against Turkey’s illegal actions
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiadesissued a joint communique issued after their meeting in Athens on Tuesday. The two leaders confirmed “common handling” in response to turkey’s illegal actions. Anastasiades briefed the Greek premier on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue as well as his …
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Basis for Cyprus talks but disagreements on serious issues remain, says….
There is common basis for talks, but disagreements on serious issues remain, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades said on Friday after a 3-hour informal meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, the first after long time. The meeting of took place at the residence UN Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar in the …
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End of Turkish occupation is Cyprus’s top priority, says PM Mitsotakis
The end of Turkish occupation of Cyprus is top priority for the island, Greek Prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said on Monday while on a two-day visit in Nicosia. “A future resolution of the issue should abolish the outdated institution of guarantees,” he added during a joint press conference with Cypriot …
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Turkish president Erdogan threatens with 2. invasion of Cyprus
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened with a second invasion in Cyprus and thus on the 45th anniversary of the Cyprus invasion and occupation in 1974. “Those who dream of changing the fact that Turkish Cypriots are an integral part of the Turkish nation will realize it is in …
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Turkey ignores EU measures, sends 4th drilling vessel to Cyprus
Turkey has ignored the punitive measures released by the European Union late on Monday and announced that it is sending a fourth drilling vessel to Cyprus. This was announced on Tuesday morning by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu currently on a visit to North Macedonia. Commenting on the EU measures, …
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EU releases measures against Turkey for its “illegal drilling off Cyprus”
The European Union released punitive measures against Turkey for its illegal drilling off Cyprus and its strongly concerned such activities. The EU suspends high-level talks with Turkey, cuts in pre-accession funding, freezes aviation agreement talks, asks the European Investment Bank to review lending to Turkey. Turkish drilling activities in the …
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EU envoys approve sanctions against Turkey over illegal drilling off Cyprus
European Union member states have approved sanctions against Turkey over its illegal drilling off Cyprus. The draft statement approved by envoys of EU member states foresees: Suspension of negotiations of Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement Temporary suspension of high-level dialogue Reduction of per-accession assistance for Turkey in 2020 European Investment Bank …
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Cyprus serial killer Nikos Metaxas handed seven times life imprisonment
A criminal court in Cyprus sentenced serial killer Nikos Metaxas to seven times life imprisonment on Monday. The 35-year-old army captain at the National Guard had pleaded guilty to the premeditated murder and kidnapping of five foreign women and two underage girls. The three-judge panel said that Nicholas Metaxas appeared …
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Turkey sends non paper to EU, warning to stay away from Cyprus EEZ
Turkey has sent a “warning” to the member states of the European Union that the Greek-Turkish relations and the prospects for resolving the Cyprus problem will deteriorate if Brussels is involved in the issue of the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone. The warning dated June 19 was sent in a form …
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Turkey sends second drilling vessel, the Yavuz, to Cyprus waters
In a kitsch ceremony resembling the historic mission of a soldier deployed to war, Turkey waved “Goodbye” to drilling vessel “Yavuz” that left the port of Dilovasi by Istanbul at 2 pm Thursday for the Cyprus waters in the East Mediterranean Sea. It is the second drilling vessel after the …
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EU threatens Turkey with sanctions over “illegal actions” in Cyprus, Greece
The 28 European leaders have threatened Turkey with sanctions if it continues its illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and [interesting to note] in the Aegean Sea. In the Conclusions statement following the European Council Summit in Brussels, the European leaders “strongly condemn” and express “serious concerns” about Turkey’s illegal …
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