Greek Cypriots

Ankara on Feb. 11 criticized the Greek foreign minister's "unfounded accusations and slander" against Turkey at a meeting of the "Friendship Forum" in Greece's capital Athens. 

Ersin Tatar, president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), received the U.N. envoy to the island on Jan. 11. 

After talks with Jane Hall Lute at the Presidential Palace in the capital Lefkoşa, Tatar expressed satisfaction with the meeting and looked to define any future negotiations over the divided island's future.

A defense agreement signed between France and Greek Cyprus is against the 1960 treaties that provide equilibrium between Turkish and Greek Cypriots on the island and poses a risk for the already fragile stability and security, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement over the weekend.

A joint declaration by the Greek Cypriot administration and non-regional countries will not have any impact on Turkish Cypriots' determination to protect their rights and interests, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on May 12.   

Turkey late on April 21 slammed a statement by the Greek Foreign Ministry concerning the country's maritime jurisdiction areas and drilling activities.
"Greece, with today's statement, once again exhibits its unrealistic perceptions and rights-refusing attitudes regarding the problems in our region," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy said in a statement.

Turkey has reacted to Greece's condemnation Tuesday of the country's newly declared illegal drilling within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf of the Republic of Cyprus.

Over 150 members of the Cypriot community in the UK have lost their lives after contracting coronavirus.

A newspaper published by the Cyprus expat community in the UK said that 95 Greek Cypriots, 55 Turkish Cypriots, and one Maronite Cypriot living in the UK have succumbed to the virus over the past few weeks.

Turkey on March 26 slammed a statement by the Greek Foreign Ministry over Turkish maritime jurisdiction areas in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Hami Aksoy, a spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, dubbed the Greek statement "unfortunate and misleading."

Turkish and northern Cypriot officials met on Saturday in an abandoned town wrecked by war to discuss potentially re-opening the area after 46 years, a move that Ankara said was a "historic" opportunity to bring tourism and economic benefits.

Cyprus is under harsh criticism from at least three foreign embassies that accuse the government and local municipalities of not doing enough to shut down a fake marriage industry.
According to the Cyprus News Agency, the Cypriot government is aware of complaints against local authorities in connection with sham marriages conducted in a number of municipalities.