Cyprus peace process

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Feb. 5 warned against deepening distrust between Turkey and the European Union and said ties are passing through a very critical period.

The minister called on the EU to open a new page in accession talks which has been stalled for the past few years.

The presidency is an important position for overcoming the "frozen uncertainty" in Cyprus and "the deadlocked problem can be solved with more creative and new ideas," according to a top Turkish Cypriot politician.

The presidency is an important position for overcoming the "frozen uncertainty" in Cyprus and "the deadlocked problem can be solved with more creative and new ideas," according to a top Turkish Cypriot politician.

Turkish Cypriot leader on Jan. 21 said diplomatic methods should be used extensively in a bid to counter growing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Mustafa Akıncı's remarks came at the International Science Diplomacy Forum held in the capital Lefkoşa where he commented on the discovery of natural gas in the region and diplomatic ties with neighbors.

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.

The Turkish Cyprus Foreign Ministry has described the EastMed Pipeline Project agreement signed by the Greek Cyprus, Israel and Greece as the latest hostile and provocative attempt to exclude the Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey from the energy equation in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo postponed a planned trip to Central Asia and Cyprus to deal with the ongoing developments out of Baghdad, the State Department announced on Jan. 1.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is planning a visit to Cyprus in early January as he returns from a trip to Asia, according to Turkish Cypriot media.

Pompeo will meet with Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı.

Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar has said that Turkish Cypriots have repeatedly reached out to explore energy resources together with Greek Cypriots, but that the Greek Cypriot side has never accepted these proposals.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades expressed disappointment on Monday after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara will not negotiate a peace settlement for the island unless the issue of political equality between Greek and Turkish Cypriots is first clarified.