Middle Eastern countries

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will visit Greece for two days beginning Dec. 3 amid tensions over energy deposits in the eastern Mediterranean.

The two-day talks between Turkey and Greece are part of confidence-building measures launched in 2010 to improve relations between the Aegean neighbors.

Ankara must respect Cyprus's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) if it wants UN-brokered reunification talks to resume, Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said ahead of a weekend visit to Turkey.

Miscalculating the capabilities, resources or probable course of action of their opponents can pose serious difficulties for a political leader. While trying to make the best use of an opportunity, a political leader may become cornered by their mistakes or failed undertakings.

The leaders of Greece and the Greek Cypriots came together on Nov. 8 in Cairo with Egypt’s strong man Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for a tripartite summit, to discuss ways of deepening trilateral cooperation in making the best use of the Mediterranean’s natural wealth.

Turkey’s naval forces get a new set of rules of engagement to deal with increasing tensions over energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean The Turkish Navy has been authorized by the government for the full implementation of recently amended rules of engagement in the eastern Mediterranean in the face of growing tension between littoral countries, including Turkey, Greek Cyprus, Egypt

In an interview with Cyprus's Sigma television and Simerini newspaper, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras indicated that an increase in tensions in the eastern Mediterranean would be "a very negative development," referring to the continuing presence of a Turkish seismic vessel off the southern coast of Cyprus.

The governments of Egypt, Greece and Cyprus urged Turkey on Wednesday to stop trying to chart gas deposits in areas of the east Mediterranean claimed by Cyprus, saying the work was illegal.

Cyprus, a member of the European Union, is anxious to develop the gas reserves in its so-called exclusive economic zone -- an offshore region lying south of the island.

The Turkish ceramic sector’s exports to the Middle East and North Africa decreased by around 30 percent in the first nine months of the year from the same period of 2013, mainly due to rising instability in its key markets of Syria, Iraq and Libya.

A reference in Friday’s European Council conclusions calling on Turkey to respect Cyprus’s sovereign rights left Athens and Nicosia content with the outcome of the European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a quick resumption of Cyprus peace talks that were suspended during a dispute over rights to offshore oil and gas.

Ban made the appeal after meeting with U.N. envoy Espen Barth Eide who is brokering talks between Cypriot Greek and Turkish leaders on the divided island.