Eastern Mediterranean

Turkey, or rather the breakaway "Turkish Republic of North Cyprus" (TRNC) recognized only by Turkey, has informed the United Nations it will begin drilling for oil and natural gas within Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis lavished praise on Cyprus over the performance of its economy under the stewardship of its conservative President Nicos Anastasiades during the second day of his visit to the eastern Mediterranean island on Friday.

Turkey and the United States should put their political and diplomatic differences behind them and focus on the economy and mutual business interests, said Mehmet Ali Yalçındağ, chair of the Turkey-U.S. Business Council, during a conference in Washington April 15.

As Turkey leaves behind elections for a period of stability, that presents it with an opportunity, said a European Union spokesman on April 13.

Cyprus' Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said Friday that the UN envoy for peace negotiations, Jane Holl Lute, has proposed a set of new ideas to help kickstart the talks.

The "Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act" submitted to the US Congress by Senators Robert Menendez and Marco Rubio that essentially upgrades the geopolitical roles of Greece and Cyprus is seen in Athens as a reflection of Washington's renewed interest and growing involvement in the region. 

Greece's Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis on Wednesday hailed the introduction in the US Senate of bipartisan legislation to reshape the country's strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean, describing it as "a step in the right direction."

The President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, said that Europe is divided over Libya, reported BTA.
    France and Italy are divided on the issue with Libya despite the official position of the European Union, said European Parliament President Antonio Tajani.

Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis, the former Chairman of Greece's Joint Chiefs of Staff, has welcomed the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 as a move that confirms and upgrades Greece's strategic role in the broader region.

A bi-partisan bill - Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 - tabled in the US Senate by Bob Menendez (Dem. - New Jersey) and Mark Rubio (Rep. - Florida) provides for the lifting of the arms embargo on Cyprus, military aid to Greece, and support for the trilateral Greece-Cyprus-Israel energy and defence cooperation.