Cyprus talks

Greek media claims about an alleged plan to cut Turkish troop numbers in Cyprus by 80 percent have been dismissed as "not true" by Ankara. 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hüseyin Müftüoğlu rejected stories claiming that Turkey had presented a four-step plan to reduce its military presence on the divided island on June 29.

The president of Greek Cyprus rebuked a United Nations envoy on May 30 for speaking of a possible crisis over the divided island's search for offshore oil and gas, calling the remark "unacceptable" and a "threat" amid faltering reunification talks.

With talks on reuniting the island apparently faltering, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will present his plan for a settlement to party leaders on Monday, according to Cypriot Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides.

Talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus are at risk of collapsing due to a possible "international crisis" centered on the eastern Mediterranean island, according to a United Nations envoy facilitating the negotiations.

Talks aimed at reunifying ethnically divided Cyprus are at risk of collapse because of a possible "international crisis," a United Nations envoy said Thursday, amid tensions over oil and gas exploration off the east Mediterranean island.

The leaders of Cyprus's estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities met on Thursday against the backdrop of Ankara's plans to start seismic research on Friday in the bay of Famagusta, fueling concern it could expand its activities within the island's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The two Cypriot leaders on April 11 rebooted stalled U.N.-backed reunification talks for the island and agreed to pick up lost momentum after a two-month suspension.

Ahead of the resumption of peace talks on Tuesday to reunite ethnically divided Cyprus, its President Nicos Anastasiades said on Friday that he will not put a peace deal before the people for a vote if it doesn't meet the expectations of the island's two communities.

Cyprus talks will resume on April 11 between the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot leaders, following consultations with both sides, the UN’s Special Adviser of on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, announced on Tuesday.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci say that more work is needed to lay the groundwork for the resumption of stalled reunification talks.

In a joint statement on Sunday, the two men said that United Nations Envoy Espen Barth Eide would continue contacts with them both in order to get negotiations back on track.