About: Northern Cyprus
Turkey blocks Cyprus from joining UN disarmament talks
Talks aimed at overcoming a years-long deadlock over disarmament at the United Nations began in acrimony on Monday (18 January) with two countries blocking rivals from taking part in widely criticised manoeuvres that sparked concern about the forum’s future.
Erdogan says Cyprus to stay divided, visits ‘ghost town’ in Turkish-held north
Turkey's president said he favours a permanent "two-state" division of Cyprus during a visit Sunday to the breakaway Turkish-held north condemned as a provocation by the internationally recognised Greek-speaking south.
Erdogan plans picnic at reopened Cypriot ghost town
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday (26 October) said he would visit on 15 November a beach resort sealed off for decades in northern Cyprus before it controversially reopened this month.
Turkish Cypriots elect Erdogan’s candidate amid east Med tensions
Turkish Cypriots in breakaway northern Cyprus on Sunday (18 October) narrowly elected right-wing nationalist Ersin Tatar, backed by Ankara, in a run-off poll, at a time of heightened tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkish Cypriots vote for new leader amid east Med tensions
Turkish-held northern Cyprus, a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara, voted Sunday (11 October) for a new leader, amid charges of meddling by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
EU frowns at North Cyprus pre-election stunt
Authorities in breakaway northern Cyprus are to open the coastal section of the long-fenced-off disputed town of Varosha, a Turkish Cypriot leader announced Tuesday (6 October) ahead of elections at the weekend.
Cyprus says committed to reunification talks, but not at gunpoint
Cyprus is committed to reunification talks with estranged Turkish Cypriots but not at gunpoint, its president said on Thursday (24 September) on a dispute which has deepened Greece-Turkey tensions and stymied European Union policy-making on Belarus.
Cyprus blocks EU’s Belarus sanctions plan
Plans by the European Union to slap sanctions on Belarus have fallen into disarray, sources say, a hostage to internal politicking that one EU official described as a threat to the bloc's credibility.
Independent Cyprus turns 60 without much ado
Cyprus marks 60 years since independence from Britain without fanfare on Sunday (16 August), as the small island remains divided and home to foreign bases and a UN peacekeeping force.
Nicosia struggles with migrants crossing from Northern Cyprus
In the thick of the coronavirus lockdown in Cyprus, authorities gave a group of asylum seekers a stark choice: move to an overcrowded camp or go home.
Berlin hosts ‘different’ Cyprus reunification talks
UN chief António Guterres said Monday (25 November) he agreed to work towards setting up a new round of informal talks with rival Cypriot leaders, after the parties acknowledged at a Berlin meeting that any fresh discussions "must be different".
EU takes step closer to Turkey drilling sanctions
The EU on Monday (11 November) moved a step closer to imposing sanctions over Turkey's drilling for oil and gas off Cyprus by formally adopting a legal framework to target those involved.
US warns Turkey over offshore drilling near Cyprus
There are rules in exploring energy resources in the Mediterranean Sea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday (5 October), warning Turkey not to engage in drilling activity that is "illegal" and "unacceptable".
Tensions grow as Cyprus says Turkish drilling ship violates its rights
Tensions between Cyprus and Turkey over offshore drilling intensified on Friday (4 October) when Nicosia said a decision to send a ship to an area it had already licensed was a "severe escalation" of Turkish violations of its sovereign rights.
New MEP asks Commission for Turkish to become official EU language
New leftist Cypriot MEP Akel Niyazi Kizilyurek asked the EU Commission whether Turkish could be the EU's 25th language. According to the MEP, this would be one way to prepare for the future reunification of the island of Cyprus. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
Erdogan says Turkey to press ahead with gas search off Cyprus
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday (22 August) hit out at EU measures to punish Ankara for drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean and vowed to press ahead with gas search in the region.
Turkish Cypriot leader proposes joint energy committee
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı on Saturday (13 July) proposed creating a joint committee across the divided Mediterranean island, to address tensions over offshore energy reserves.
Cyprus flags new migratory route facilitated by Turkey
Cyprus is seeing a major increase in the number of migrants from third countries arriving from Turkey, with the tacit approval of Ankara, Cypriot interior minister, Constantinos Petrides, told a group of Brussels journalists on Thursday (27 June).
EU warns Turkey over ‘illegal’ drilling off Cyprus
The European Union on Tuesday (18 June) hit out at Turkey for its "illegal drilling activities" off Cyprus and warned of possible retaliation over the controversial gas exploration bid.
Erdogan says drilling off Cyprus to continue despite warning
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday (16 June) said Turkey would not back down from gas exploration in Cyprus after southern European leaders urged Ankara to stop.
Cyprus, Turkey spar after warships block gas drilling ship
Cyprus yesterday (11 February) insisted Turkey had breached "international law" after Ankara's warships blocked an Italian drilling ship on course to explore for gas in the island's politically sensitive waters.
Anastasiades re-elected with eyes on new Cyprus reunification push
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on Sunday (4 February) won re-election for a second term, seeing off a leftist challenger with vows to restart talks to unify the island and cement an economic recovery.
Election will signal direction of Cyprus division
How to end Cyprus' decades-long division and the re-ignition of a lifeless UN-backed peace process took centre stage yesterday (22 January) in the country's first and only live TV debate featuring the main presidential candidates.