Eide

European, Arab and Islamic nations have launched an initiative to strengthen support for a Palestinian state and its institutions, and prepare for a future after the war in Gaza and escalating conflict in Lebanon, Norway's foreign minister said Friday.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that Norway has lifted defense-industry related restrictions on Türkiye, which had been in place since 2019.

According to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli, the news was conveyed by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a phone call on Wednesday.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has written a book on the recent Cyprus peace talks, in which he criticises UN envoy Espen Barth Eide and shares details and documents unseen by the public.

Kotzias, a former career chief diplomat, played a pivotal role in the latest round of Cyprus talks that ended up in failure last summer.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said Greece and Turkey should first come to an agreement on the aspects of security and guarantees, before a new Conference on Cyprus is convened.

Turkey has reportedly approved the appointment of Jane Holl Lute as the United Nations' new special adviser in the Cyprus reunification talks, the Cyprus News Agency has reported.

Barring unforeseen circumstances will be assuming her new post next week after being formally appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the CNA said.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has dismissed criticism over his handling of the failed Cyprus reunification talks in Switzerland in July, saying he could not accept the presence of Turkish forces on the island as part of a settlement as that would only perpetuate the problem.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said on Monday that Greece is willing to continue participating in Cyprus reunification talks within the framework of proposals presented by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Crans-Montana peace conference in July.

UN special representative for Cyprus, Espen Bart Eide, officially resigned a month after the failure to reunify the island. This was announced on Monday by Deputy Official Secretary-General Farhan Hack. Reports BGNES. 

United Nations Cyprus mediator Espen Barth Eide has quit to pursue a political career in Norway, the United Nations said on Aug. 14, after U.N.- backed talks to broker peace between Greek and Turkish Cypriots ended in acrimony last month.

Following Espen Barth Eide, Stephane Dujarric the Secretary-General’s representative in New York also sent a message to the two leaders in Cyprus repeating that they need to reflect on the situation created, clearly indicating that they would be the ones to decide on the next steps regarding the Cyprus issue.