Eastern Mediterranean

At the front door of a five-star Ankara hotel, the ambassador of a not-so-big but influential Western country grabbed my arm with one hand and in a clear voice whispered into my ear: "You might be wrong… This time there might be a Cyprus deal. I want to believe so."

At least ten migrants have died after their Europe-bound boats sank off Libya's coast and some 100 people are missing, coastguard officials and aid groups said on June 10.

Eight bodies were found on an inflatable craft that can carry up to 120 passengers, said Colonel Fathi al-Rayani, head of the coastguard in Garabulli, 60 kilometres (40 miles) east of Tripoli.

The UN secretary-general on June 9 announced a Cyprus conference in Geneva on June 28, following a meeting with Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders. 

The conference will host Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement through his spokesman. 

With the Geneva peace conference on Cyprus confirmed for June 28, Turkey's Energy Minister Berat Albayrak upped the ante with Nicosia on Friday, saying that Ankara intends to remain active with its research ships, not just within its own waters "but in those of Northern Cyprus" as well.

The volume of Turkey's steel exports climbed 16.9 percent year on year in May, hitting 1.5 million tons, according to data released by the Turkish Steel Exporters Association on June 6.      

The value of steel exports soared 29.1 percent to $966 million in the month compared to May 2016, the association stated.      

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has said the upcoming conference on Cyprus is the "final opportunity" to reach a lasting and comprehensive solution to the decades-old problem, calling Greek Cyprus to adopt a constructive attitude and sincere will. 

A document outlining a collective vision on security in Cyprus is to be drawn up to help improve chances of a breakthrough in reunifying the east Mediterranean island nation, a government spokesman said Tuesday.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed on June 4 to return to the negotiating table later this month in a new bid to clinch a historic deal on reunifying the island.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the new round of talks following a four-hour dinner meeting with the two leaders at UN headquarters in New York.

Turkey will maintain a ban on visits by German politicians to a key airbase in its south which is used for raids against Islamic State group in Syria, the foreign minister said Monday, AFP reported.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed Sunday to return to the negotiating table later this month in a new bid to clinch a historic deal on reunifying the island.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the new round of talks following a four-hour dinner meeting with the two leaders at UN headquarters in New York.