Greek Cypriots

At over 60 meters (200 feet) high, the four black-coned minarets of the nearly completed Hala Sultan mosque tower over the plain of Mesaoria in the northern, Turkish-Cypriot part of ethnically divided Cyprus.

The United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) says that it regrets a decision by Turkish Cypriot authorities to start imposing taxes and fees on humanitarian goods delivered to Greek Cypriots in the breakaway north of the ethnically split island.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has dismissed criticism over his handling of the failed Cyprus reunification talks in Switzerland in July, saying he could not accept the presence of Turkish forces on the island as part of a settlement as that would only perpetuate the problem.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades reiterated Tuesday that the island must again become a normal state and urged Greek and Turkish Cypriots to work toward that goal.

As peace talks between the supposedly most pro-solution leaders of the divided island of Cyprus have collapsed; the answer to "what now" lingers in the air.

When Cyprus intercommunal talks started in 1968, the target of Turkish Cypriots in the process was to negotiate "local autonomy."

After the collapse of the Cyprus intercommunal talks and with the Greek Cypriot side insisting on taking unilateral actions in utilizing the offshore wealth of the island, tension started to build up with the start of drilling by French Total in Cyprus' offshore Block 11 on July 13.

Turkey on Aug. 9 criticized "baseless" allegations from the Greek Foreign Ministry regarding commemoration events in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Aug. 8, marking the 53rd anniversary of the Erenköy Resistance. 

Tensions between Athens and Ankara were reignited Wednesday in the aftermath of celebrations on Tuesday by Turkish Cypriots to commemorate napalm bombs being dropped on the Tylliria region in northwestern Cyprus during intercommunal clashes on the island in 1964.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said on Monday “at the current stage, there is no decision to open Varosha”, adding that in order to do so all legal and political aspects need to be taken into consideration and such an opening should be adapted to the parameters of the United Nations.