Nicos Anastasiades

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Friday called on Ankara to review its stance in the eastern Mediterranean and offer "clear signs" that it supports the resumption of stalled peace talks on Cyprus.

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades are due to continue talks in Nicosia on Friday after the New Democracy leader arrived on the Eastern Mediterranean island yesterday to back Cyprus’s right to explore for hydrocarbons in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

On a lightning visit to Athens on Wednesday, the United Nations mediator for the Cyprus problem, Espen Barth Eide, said the presence of a Turkish seismic vessel off the island’s coast was hampering the resumption of stalled peace talks and fueling tensions.

United Nations envoy Espen Barth Eide will visit Athens on Wednesday for a series of meetings with Greek officials ahead of his visit to Cyprus Thursday.

Eide will hold talks with Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos at 4 p.m. after meeting with the ministry's secretary general Anastasios Mitsialis.

Big business needs to repay debt to struggling banks if Cyprus is to enjoy a sustained economic recovery, Central Bank chief Chrystalla Georghadji (photo) said on Tuesday.

As Turkey fuels fears in the eastern Mediterranean by insisting on maintaining the seismic survey vessel Barbaros off the southern coast of Cyprus, Washington has expressed its concern over renewed tensions in the region and has underlined its support for Nicosia’s sovereignty and right to develop resources in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

US Vice President Biden telephones president of Greek Cyprus to express concern over renewed tension with Turkey U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has telephoned the president of Greek Cyprus to express concern over renewed tension with Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Efforts to find a just solution to the age-old Cyprus problem are on hold yet again. This time, the tension emerged in early October as a result of the exploration activities by a Bahamian-registered ship, the SAIPEM 10.000, on the behalf of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC).

Greece will send a frigate and a submarine to the eastern Mediterranean region under its UN and NATO obligations, Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos has said.

Venizelos, who is also deputy prime minister, made the statement on Wednesday after a meeting with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades in Nicosia.

A reference in Friday’s European Council conclusions calling on Turkey to respect Cyprus’s sovereign rights left Athens and Nicosia content with the outcome of the European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels.