Foreign relations of Cyprus

For Greece, the resolution of the Cyprus issue constitutes "a top national priority," Greece's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday, to mark the 49th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of 20 July 1974.

Despite the fact that for the time being Ankara appears immovable, Nicosia is sensing a willingness on the part of the international community to support new negotiations for the resolution of the Cyprus problem, with the "window of opportunity" that has opened with the perceived turn of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan toward the West. 

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has strongly criticized the recent statement by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which proposed a federal solution to the long-standing Cyprus problem.

The moment of truth for a potential opening of a new chapter in Greek-Turkish relations - with the encouragement of influential allies like the US and Germany - has arrived.

On Wednesday, the Greek prime minister will meet the Turkish president, for the first time in 16 months, at the NATO summit in Vilnius.

Greece is ready to start talks with Turkey to resolve a long-standing dispute over maritime borders that has repeatedly brought the two neighbors to the brink of armed conflict, newly appointed Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has said.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides reiterated his proposal for enhanced involvement of the European Union in the efforts to break the deadlock on the Cyprus problem, and in reunification talks should they resume, during his speech at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reiterated that the only way for the resumption of talks for resolving the decades-old Cyprus problem is the recognition of Turkish Cyprus as an independent entity with international status.

The Turkish government has condemned an agreement between the National Guard of the State of New Jersey and the Defense Ministry of the Greek Cypriot Administration, calling on the U.S. to consider its policies concerning Cyprus.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who is currently in Nicosia for a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, held a meeting with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on Friday. 

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias says he has urged United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to intensify efforts for a Cyprus settlement based on UN resolutions.