Cyprus problem

This coming July marks 50 years since the partition of Cyprus by an invading army, also 50 years since a brutal Greek dictatorship meekly handed over power to civilian politicians.

Chances of restarting formal talks to mend Cyprus' decades-long ethnic division appeared dimmer Wednesday as the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots told a UN envoy that he saw no common ground with Greek Cypriots for a return to negotiations.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus characterized the meeting as very important, not only for Greek-Turkish relations but also for the Cyprus issue

The UN secretary-general's special envoy for Cyprus, Angela Holguin Cuellar, is expected to visit the island on Tuesday for a new round of contacts.

This will be her third mission to Cyprus since she assumed office; the UN has announced she will stay until the 14th of May.

Greek diplomatic sources have reacted to remarks made by the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding Cyprus.

In a speech he delivered to Turkish military personnel at a dinner Monday, Erdogan not only defended the Turkish invasion of Cyprus but went even further by arguing that if Turkish forces had moved further south in 1974, then Cyprus might be all Turkish today.

Greece's main opposition party on Tuesday condemned recent comments by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan concerning Cyprus and called for an official response from Athens.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a speech he delivered to Turkish military personnel at a dinner Monday, not only defended the Turkish invasion of Cyprus but went even further by arguing that if Turkish forces had moved further south in 1974, then Cyprus might be all Turkish today

More specifically, Erdogan said:

On April 4, the event for the Greek Revolution of 21 at the White House will take place - Government sources note, however, that the exact date has not been officially announced between the two sides

Northern Cyprus will not sit at any negotiating table unless their sovereignty and equal status is recognized, Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar has told AFP.

Greek-Turkish relations are going through a positive period, but it remains to be seen how long this can last, according to a high-ranking Turkish diplomat who spoke to Kathimerini at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Saturday.