Cyprus

The United Nations' envoy for divided Cyprus said on Friday he was ending a shuttle diplomacy bid to continue peace talks in Geneva because rival sides had failed to agree on conditions.

Defense Minister Panos Kammenos visited Cyprus on Friday to attend a formal ceremony marking the handover of the remains of 17 Greek soldiers killed in 1974, when Turkey invaded the Mediterranean island.

The presidential elections in Greek Cyprus are ever more interesting for various reasons. Three camps have already formed.

A United Nations envoy has said the rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus are still "far apart" on holding a final peace summit next month that would aim for an overall deal reunifying the island as a federation.

The United Nations envoy to Cyprus says he's working to get the rival leaders of the ethnically divided island nation to agree by the end of the week on holding a final summit that'll aim to conclude an overall reunification deal.

While some people still dream of success in the long-dead Cyprus intercommunal talks, Greek Cypriots are buried deep in the "Who will be candidates for the February presidential poll?" question.

Turkish foreign minister believes that a negotiated solution to the Cyprus issue is possible based on the compromise of both sides, saying the Turkish Cypriots showed their willingness for reconciliation, "now the ball is in the Greek Cypriot side's court."      
 

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.

U.N.-backed Cyprus reunification talks have hit a snag with the two leaders of the divided island at loggerheads over a possible summit in Geneva.

"Currently, we have reached a critical juncture in the process, since discussions are underway for the next steps forward," President Nicos Anastasiades said on May 19 at a Council of Europe ministerial committee session in Nicosia.