Athens, Nicosia on standby for developments in East Med

Defense officials and diplomats in Athens and Nicosia are on standby for potential developments in the Eastern Mediterrenanean in the coming period while international observers await a fresh peace push aimed at reunifying Cyprus. 

September is expected to be a critical month for Cyprus, as Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have already had United Nations-mediated talks. Meanwhile there are concerns that Turkey will make a fresh move in the Eastern Mediterranean where it has been disputing Nicosia's right to search for hydrocarbons in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

The Turkish research vessel Barbaros recently completed its mission south of Cyprus and moved northward to the Turkish port of Mersin. There are fears now that the departure of the Barbaros will lead Turkey to dispatch a drillship to Cyprus' EEZ. The Fatih is...

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