Cyprus–Greece relations

Turkey has reacted to Greece's condemnation Tuesday of the country's newly declared illegal drilling within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf of the Republic of Cyprus.

Over 150 members of the Cypriot community in the UK have lost their lives after contracting coronavirus.

A newspaper published by the Cyprus expat community in the UK said that 95 Greek Cypriots, 55 Turkish Cypriots, and one Maronite Cypriot living in the UK have succumbed to the virus over the past few weeks.

Turkey on March 26 slammed a statement by the Greek Foreign Ministry over Turkish maritime jurisdiction areas in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Hami Aksoy, a spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, dubbed the Greek statement "unfortunate and misleading."

Turkish and northern Cypriot officials met on Saturday in an abandoned town wrecked by war to discuss potentially re-opening the area after 46 years, a move that Ankara said was a "historic" opportunity to bring tourism and economic benefits.

Cyprus is under harsh criticism from at least three foreign embassies that accuse the government and local municipalities of not doing enough to shut down a fake marriage industry.
According to the Cyprus News Agency, the Cypriot government is aware of complaints against local authorities in connection with sham marriages conducted in a number of municipalities.

It took more than 45 years, but 219 paintings thought lost or stolen - artwork that includes some of the most significant works produced by Greek Cypriot artists - have gone on display.

One work by artist George P. Georghiou has been hailed as one of Cyprus' "most iconic paintings."

Greek Cyprus is not ready to share power and wealth, but a move that will change the current conditions could be made, including halting the isolation of Turkish Cypriots, North Cyprus' Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay has said at a conference at Cambridge University.

Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said on Jan. 21 that some EU countries are attempting to mediate in Cyprus over natural resources.

"Today, EU countries and prominent countries in the past six months are attempting to assume a mediating role between the sides over the natural resources," Özersay said, speaking at the assembly in Turkish Cyprus.

The United Nations envoy to Cyprus warned on Jan. 20 of "growing skepticism" among the island's population that recent diplomatic efforts between the rival communities will herald a comprehensive peace deal.

A large reserve of natural gas off the southern coast of the island of Crete bearing similar features to Egypt's Zohr gas field and Israel's Leviathan in the Eastern Mediterranean has been identified by Hellenic Hydrocarbon Resources Management (EDEY) after an analysis of seismic data from a sea area that also included the Ionian Sea.