Turkey

NICOSIA, Cyprus The two Cypriot communities will draft a plan to reunify the divided island by the end of the year, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said on Sunday (July 5th) in an interview with the Greek Cypriot daily Simerini. Talat, however, predicted international arbitration will be required.

BRUSSELS, Belgium Several EU countries and Turkey will sign an inter-governmental agreement on the construction of the Nabucco pipeline in Ankara on July 13th, the European Commission (EC) announced on Friday (July 3rd). Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to host the ceremony.

NICOSIA, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat held another round of talks aimed at reunifying the divided island Thursday (July 2nd). This one wrapped up the first stage of talks on the Territories chapter of the negotiations. The next session, in a week, will focus …

A key intergovernmental agreement on the European Union’s Nabucco gas pipeline will be signed on July 13 in Ankara, Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Petar Dimitrov told journalists in the city of Varna. The information was confirmed by the European Commission. An invitation for the ceremony in Ankara has …

BRUSSELS, Belgium Turkey and the EU opened negotiations in Brussels on Tuesday (June 30th) on a new chapter — the one on taxation — as part of Ankara’s EU accession process. The taxation chapter is the eleventh opened so far. Turkey’s chief negotiator, Egemen Bagis, told a news conference that …

NICOSIA, Cyprus An oil exploration dispute between Turkey and Cyprus will not undermine ongoing efforts by the two Cypriot communities to reunify the island, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said on Tuesday (June 30th). The dispute is a commercial and legal matter and should have no impact …

ANKARA, Turkey The defence ministry said on Tuesday (June 30th) it has started talks with the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency on a project to clear land mines from the country’s border with Syria. The announcement came amid heated public debate on who should complete the task. The army and …

NICOSIA, Cyprus Washington hopes the two Cypriot communities will make an “historic breakthrough” this year to end the island’s division, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said on Monday (June 29th) during a visit to Nicosia.

ANKARA, Turkey Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay says Turkey plans to re-open the Greek Orthodox Seminary on the island of Heybeliada — Halki in Greek — off Istanbul, nearly four decades after it was shut down. He said on Sunday (June 28th) “The seminary does not currently fit into our university …

NICOSIA, Cyprus Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed Friday (June 26th) to open a new crossing point between the Greek and Turkish-run parts of the divided island. It will be located near the village of Limnitis (Yesilirmak in Turkish).