Cyprus peace process

Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos gave a Christmas sermon stating that the aim of Turkey is to occupy the whole of Cyprus. His message for all Christian churches of Cyprus described Turkey’s goal to govern all of Cyprus.

The Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders of the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus have taken to the airwaves together to send out holiday wishes in both Greek and Turkish for the first time.

Cypriot leaders on Dec. 20 wrapped up their U.N.-brokered peace negotiations for 2015 with the hope that next year will bring an elusive reunification deal for the divided island.

Expectations are again building for a probable conclusion within a month or so of the talks aimed at creating a "bi-zonal and bi-communal federation" on the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has said there were "strong signals" that Greek Cyprus would remove its veto on five negotiation chapters Ankara has demanded the opening of in a bid to accelerate Turkey's EU accession process. 

Today the European Commission approved the new financial assistance programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, worth €32 million from the EU budget.

This is the continuation of the successful Aid Programme promoting the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community, improving contacts between the two communities and bringing the Turkish Cypriots closer to the EU.

The U.N. Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, met with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu behind closed doors in Ankara late on Dec. 8, discussing the latest developments in talks to find a peaceful solution to the Cyprus issue.

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. 

The special adviser of the U.N. Secretary-General (SASG) on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, said after a meeting with Turkish Cypriot Leader Mustafa Ak?nc? on Nov. 24 that progress has been reached on a number of issues in recent peace talks. Eide was speaking a day before the two leaders from both sides of divided Cyprus were scheduled to meet in Nicosia as part of talks on Nov. 25. 

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.