Nicos Anastasiades

Peace is within reach in Cyprus, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said, a day before the two Cypriot leaders met on Dec. 4 as part of the peace talks. 

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov referred to the great self-restraint that Greeks pilots show towards the violation of Greek airspace by Turkish jets.

Turkey's foreign minister said ongoing talks aimed at findign a solution to Cyprus issue are the "last chance" to reach a peace accord.

Mevlüt Cavu?o?lu said the United Nations, which is brokering negotiations, "also thinks this is the last chance" and that the world body wants the island's leaders to take advantage of it.

Nicos Katsourides, a senior member of the Greek Cypriot Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL), let the cat out of the bag. "What's being achieved at the [intercommunal] talks is nothing further than a reaffirmation of the past convergences; in reality the talks have landed in a deadlock," the veteran politician said during an interview with the Alithia.

Turkish Cypriots were attacked late Nov. 16 by right-wing Greek nationalists of the National Popular Front (ELAM), local security forces said.

Technical preparations will begin in Turkish Cyprus for the transition from the Turkish Lira to the euro in case of a settlement on the divided island, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Ak?nc? has said in a televised interview.

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras’ version of “… first we take Manhattan then we take..” continued on Tuesday with several high-profile meetings on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly, a day after attending an exclusive reception — accompanied by his companion — and a three-minute chat with Barack Obama.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has a busy day on Tuesday, his third in New York. On the sidelines of the 70th UN General Assembly he is scheduled to have a number of meetings:

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras continued his high-profile meetings in the “Big Apple” on Monday, with UN Chief Ban Ki moon and Cyprus President Nikos Anastasiades next up on Tuesday.

Tsipras’ Monday “highlights” included a brief conversation with Raul Castro, Cuba’s “Commandante No. 2″, who invited him to the island nation, as well as with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

Government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili said that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ participation in the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly is an opportunity for a series of meetings within the framework of the government’s multi-dimensional policy.