US State Department

Cypriot government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou has welcomed calls by the US State Department late Monday for Turkey's Yavuz drillship to cease its activities off Cyprus' northeastern coast and its removal from the island's territorial waters.

The US State Department on Tuesday called on Turkish authorities to cease immediately any "unlawful activities" in Cyprus' territorial sea and remove its drillship, Yavuz.
Turkey has already established a presence in the region with its Yavuz and Fatih drillships and the Barbaros research vessel.

Dacic stated that there are good prospects for Bolton's visit to Serbia if there are some positive indications that Pristina might revoke sanctions.

Officials from Greece, Cyprus and Israel met in Washington on Friday to discuss economic engagement as part of an ongoing US-backed regional cooperation initiative dubbed 3+1. 

Officials from Greece, Cyprus and Israel met in Washington on Thursday to discuss economic engagement as part of an ongoing US-backed regional cooperation initiative dubbed 3+1.

Thursday's session comes in the wake of a March 20 summit between the Republic of Cyprus, Greece, and Israel, with the participation of the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

State Secretary Maria Magdalena Grigore stressed on Thursday at the ministerial conference dedicated to the promotion of religious freedom organized by the US State Department, the fact that Romania will always be a supporter and promoter of religious freedom, as well as of the spirit of tolerance, the Foreign Ministry (MAE) informs.

Delivery of parts of the Russian S-400 defense system will continue in coming days, the Turkish Defence Industry Directorate said on Friday.

Turkey's defense ministry had earlier said that the first parts of the S-400 defense system were delivered to Ankara on Friday. 

By George Gilson

Straight on the heels of a US State Department statement of concern, the Greek foreign ministry has condemned Ankara's fresh attempt to drill in the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus, off the Turkish-occupied Karpas Peninsula.

The United States has said that Turkey's most recent dispatch of the drillship Yavuz to conduct drilling operations off the Karpas Peninsula of Cyprus is a "provocative step" and has urged Turkish authorities to halt these operations, Cyprus Mail reported.

Turkey called on the United States on Wednesday to avoid steps harmful to bilateral relations after the US State Department spokeswoman reiterated Ankara would face "real and negative consequences" for acquiring Russian S-400 defense systems.