Greek Cypriot administration

Turkish Cypriots were attacked late Nov. 16 by right-wing Greek nationalists of the National Popular Front (ELAM), local security forces said.

In the protracted negotiations to bring together the Turkish and Greek communities of Cyprus, few would imagine that a rubbery cheese would make its mark.

But on July 17, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced the sides had reached a ?common understanding? on registering halloumi cheese as a ?protected designation of origin? (PDO) product under EU law.

The two administrations on the divided island of Cyprus decided May 15 to remove visa requirements as a goodwill gesture amid ongoing negotiations over the island's future.

Visa applications will be lifted effective as of May 16 for people living on the island, said a statement issued on May 15 by the Interior Ministry of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Newly elected Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Ak?nc? made his first official visit to Ankara on May 6, a little more than a week after engaging in a war of words with President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an over the status of the relationship between Turkey and Turkish Cyprus.

Negotiations between the Turkish Cypriot government and the Greek Cypriot administration to find a solution to the ongoing dispute over the divided island are to resume, the recently elected Turkish Cypriot president has announced.

Turkey's energy minister has deemed that delivering natural gas from Greek Cyprus via Egypt was not feasible.

Leaders from Egypt, Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration gathered on April 29 to discuss the possibility of delivering Greek Cyprus's natural gas via Egypt.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe has expressed concern over the Greek Cypriot administration's latest move to criminalize the denial of Armenian allegations over the killings in 1915.

The recent actions and statements of the Greek defense minister are ?unacceptable and are raising the tensions in the Aegean,? Turkey has said amid escalating tension between neighbors.

Greek Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has said reunification talks can restart if Turkey respects the ethnically divided island’s “sovereign right to exploit” its offshore gas reserves.

Anastasiades said Dec. 31, 2014 that Turkey must stop trying to impose its will on its tiny neighbor, as reported by The Associated Press Jan. 1.

Expectations for a quick fix to the crisis in the Cyprus talks process appear to have come to a dead end. Turkey is reiterating that under no condition will it agree to abandon support for the equal partnership rights of the Turkish Cypriot people on - as well as off - the island, with the Greek Cypriots.