Cyprus peace process

Greek Cypriot party leaders on July 16 rejected an offer from the Turkish Cypriot president to create a cooperation mechanism for joint exploration and profit-sharing of hydrocarbon resources around the island of Cyprus, according to local media.     

Greek Cypriot leaders on ethnically split Cyprus have turned down a renewed proposal by breakaway Turkish Cypriots to form a joint committee on managing natural gas discovered offshore the east Mediterranean island nation.

A proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci for a committee that would jointly administer natural gas affairs is expected to be rejected by the government and party leaders in Cyprus when they meet on Tuesday.

Today, The EU Council of Foreign Affairs will examine on the European Commission's proposals for measures in response to the Turkish gas studies which are conducted near Cyprus. This was announced by a spokesman for the European Commission.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has proposed to the internationally recognized government of Cyprus that the two sides cooperate in the search for gas off the island of Cyprus, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

Turkey on July 13 welcomed and fully supported Turkish Cypriot president's joint use of hydrocarbon resources with the Greek side.

The United Nations has lauded the news that mobile phone coverage has been extended to both sides of the divide on the east Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus.
That means Turkish Cypriots living in the Turkish-occupied north and Greek Cypriots living in the internationally recognized south can use their mobile devices on either side for the first time.

In a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has emphasized that Turkey's activities in the eastern Mediterranean are undermining any efforts at reviving UN-mediated peace talks to reunited the divided island.

Both Turkish Cyprus and Turkey will defend their "legitimate rights" following Greek Cyprus' unilateral moves to search for gas off the divided island of Cyprus, said Turkish Cyprus President Mustafa Akıncı.

Turkey on June 7 stressed its commitment to protecting the rights of Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean after the Greek Cypriot administration said it had signed contracts with major energy industry players.