Cyprus peace process

Rival Cypriot leaders have made progress on the prickly core issues of putting the divided island back together again, UN envoy Espen Barth Eide said on June 29.

United Nations Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide on Monday returned to Cyprus, where President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci are due to meet Wednesday, after being briefed about Greece?s positions on the reunification talks.

Both sides in Cyprus must work to find a solution that does not create winners or losers on the divided island, Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades told Hürriyet in a recent interview, adding that a new government in Turkey may have a ?direct effect? on the talks that recent got back on track.
 

There is strong international and domestic momentum behind UN-brokered peace talks aimed at reuniting Cyprus after 41 years, an ?encouraged? UN envoy said Tuesday.

?We are on a good track right now. and the international support is remarkably strong,? Norwegian diplomat Espen Barth Eide told reporters after meeting Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

The rival leaders of Cyprus attended a theatrical play on June 8 that implores the island's Greek- and Turkish-speaking communities to confront the wrongs of a tortured history to drive home their shared commitment for a reunification deal.

By Pantelis Boukalas

The rival leaders of Cyprus attended a theatrical play on Monday that implores the divided island's Greek- and Turkish-speaking communities to confront the wrongs of a tortured history to drive home their shared commitment for a reunification deal.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed May 28 to open further crossing points linking the two parts and to merge their electricity networks, a U.N. envoy has said. 

Two hot developments happened simultaneously concerning the eastern Mediterranean. One is from Cyprus, the other from Iraq. 

Don?t consider that what happens in Iraq is far away from the eastern Mediterranean? Syrian ports, the Persian Gulf and indeed Turkey?s Mediterranean shores are on the same ?strategic fault line.? 

Rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders took a stroll together on both sides of the divided capital's medieval center to raise the feel-good factor Rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders took a stroll together on both sides of the divided capital's medieval center, sharing snacks and drinks, to raise the feel-good factor as talks aimed at reunifying the split island kick into gear.