Mustafa Akıncı

A proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci for a committee that would jointly administer natural gas affairs is expected to be rejected by the government and party leaders in Cyprus when they meet on Tuesday.

Turkey will continue drilling for gas in waters off Cyprus if the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government does not accept a cooperation proposal put forward by Turkish Cypriots, Ankara's foreign minister has said.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has proposed to the internationally recognized government of Cyprus that the two sides cooperate in the search for gas off the island of Cyprus, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

Turkey on July 13 welcomed and fully supported Turkish Cypriot president's joint use of hydrocarbon resources with the Greek side.

The United Nations has lauded the news that mobile phone coverage has been extended to both sides of the divide on the east Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus.
That means Turkish Cypriots living in the Turkish-occupied north and Greek Cypriots living in the internationally recognized south can use their mobile devices on either side for the first time.

In a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has emphasized that Turkey's activities in the eastern Mediterranean are undermining any efforts at reviving UN-mediated peace talks to reunited the divided island.

The Turkish Cypriot government has decided to reopen Varosha, once a leading tourism destination for Hollywood stars but which later turned into a ghost town following the split of the island, after a 45-year seclusion.

Both Turkish Cyprus and Turkey will defend their "legitimate rights" following Greek Cyprus' unilateral moves to search for gas off the divided island of Cyprus, said Turkish Cyprus President Mustafa Akıncı.

United Nations envoy Jane Holl Lute on Sunday held further consultations with the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on restarting the stalled peace negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı snubbed a football match on March 19 aimed at fostering dialogue on the divided island, in a row over where the game was played.