Cyprus peace process

Cyprus' president says more offshore drilling in search for gas deposits will carry on as planned despite Turkey's "threats and unlawful actions" inside waters where the east Mediterranean island nation has exclusive economic rights.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has not ruled out a meeting with Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in October under the auspices of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which could pave the way for an informal five-party meeting including Greece and Turkey.

A day after Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted that Turkish troops will remain on Cyprus, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is on Wednesday scheduled to meet with Turkey's President in New York.
It will be Mitsotakis' first meeting with Erdogan as Greek prime minister. The meeting is set to take place at 9.45 a.m. local time.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday Greek- and Turkish-Cypriots need to quickly reach an agreement on the terms of reference, based on the work that was done in Crans Montana, in order to start settlement talks.

Cyprus' president says fears among Greek Cypriots that Turkey still wants to call the shots under a deal reunifying the ethnically split island nation is hampering peace efforts.

Greece's prime minister said Tuesday that Turkey "continues to provoke" in its approach towards ethnically divided island nation of Cyprus and that Ankara was becoming isolated internationally.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis made the comments during a meeting with visiting Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, the first foreign head of state to visit Athens since Mitsotakis won July elections.

Turkey's foreign minister on Sept. 9 said a hydrocarbon cooperation proposal which was rejected by the Greek Cypriot side is still on the table.

Turkey's foreign minister says Greek Cypriots must accept that Turkish Cypriots will have decision-making parity in governing a reunified Cyprus before any peace talks can resume.

Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades has made an unofficial offer to Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı to give a share of the natural resources in the east Mediterranean, Greek media has reported.

The United Nations special envoy on the Cyprus dispute is to remain in Nicosia for further talks following Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci's failure to make progress in exploratory talks ahead of a new peace push on the divided island amid rising tensions in the region.