Cyprus

The announcement in Ankara on Tuesday that part of the fenced-off ghost town of Varosha in Turkish-occupied Cyprus will be opened for development by Turkish Cypriots was seen in Greece as seriously undermining the recent efforts between the two countries for dialogue.

The eyes of the whole world are focused there because of the new, dangerous tensions between Athens and Ankara, RTS writes, referring to the Greek media.
Athens is demanding the deployment of American forces.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias told Friday's emergency meeting of the European Union Council of Foreign Affairs that Turkey is the only one to blame for the escalation of tension in the Eastern Mediterranean and must leave the Greek continental shelf immediately.

As part of his initiatives regarding the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya, French President Emanuel Macron said in a tweet on Friday that he contacted his US counterpart Donald Trump, adding that their views about the region are identical and will be imposed.

European Union foreign ministers were holding urgent talks Friday on military tensions between Greece and Turkey as the neighboring countries' navies continued a game of brinkmanship over eastern Mediterranean drilling rights.

Marking 46 years since the second phase of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus, the Greek president said that the perennial national goal is to end the occupation of the island's northern part by Turkish troops.

Katerina Sakellaropoulou said that fresh threats and provocations by Ankara "are not going to distract us from our national priorities."

Turkey has completed discussions with 92 countries for resumption of flights, the country's transportation and infrastructure minister said on Aug. 14.  

Turkey continues to operate scheduled and non-scheduled flights with 48 countries as of Aug. 13, Adil Karaismailoğlu said in a press release.

European Union foreign ministers prepared Friday for urgent talks on military tensions between Greece and Turkey as the neighboring countries' navies continued a game of brinkmanship over eastern Mediterranean drilling rights.

A Greek and a Turkish warship were involved in a mini-collision on Wednesday during a standoff in the eastern Mediterranean, a Greek defense source said, describing it as an "accident."

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he sent a letter to the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell ahead of a special meeting called at Greece's request, wanting to explain Turkey's position on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to the country's state-run news agency Anadolu.