Cyprus

U.N.-backed Cyprus reunification talks have hit a snag with the two leaders of the divided island at loggerheads over a possible summit in Geneva.

"Currently, we have reached a critical juncture in the process, since discussions are underway for the next steps forward," President Nicos Anastasiades said on May 19 at a Council of Europe ministerial committee session in Nicosia.

The relationship between the United States and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) is a temporary, transactional and tactical one, a U.S. State Department official has said amid Turkey's vociferous opposition to the ties.

Recent news reports indicate that Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Kotzias sent a letter on April 7 to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres in which he sharply criticized Espen Barth Eide, the U.N. chief's special adviser on Cyprus, accusing him, inter alia, of acting to promote the interests of the Turkish side.

The Cyprus peace talks appeared to be at a standstill on Thursday after separate meetings held by United Nations special envoy Espen Barthe Eide with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci apparently failed to make any substantial progress.

The differences between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus over energy exploration in the island’s EEC (exclusive economic zone) should be resolved with dialogue and peaceful means, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has said her office has drafted a list of eight locations, among them Cyprus, where it could move aircraft supporting the anti-IS mission if Turkey continues to block German lawmakers from visiting troops at the Incirlik base.

Talks with Turkey are still ongoing, she said.

Germany’s defense minister says her office has drafted a list of eight locations where it could move aircraft supporting the anti-IS mission if Turkey continues to block German lawmakers from visiting troops at the Incirlik base.

The future of peace negotiations between rival ethnic leaders on Cyprus could depend on two separate meetings that Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will have on Thursday with the United Nations special envoy, Espen Barth Eide.

Cyprus's Orthodox Christian Church says it is considering setting up a bank after forswearing any new investments in existing lenders.

The Church leader, Archibshop Chrysostomos II, told state broadcaster RIK Tuesday that the bank could be in the form of a cooperative, but stressed that this is only in the idea phase and that no final decisions have been made.

According to a report by the Greek Military website Defencenews.gr, the Republic of Cyprus is interested in selling its 11 Mil-35PMs due to their relatively low operational availability.