Savvas

Cypriot Defense Minister Savvas Angelides says a French frigate within the Cypriot exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was not intended to militarize a situation but to show support from France towards the Republic's sovereign rights.

A Piraeus Council of Appeals Court Judges on Monday rejected an appeal by November 17 convict Savvas Xiros to be given early release on the grounds of poor health.

While acknowledging Xiros's health problems, the judges deemed that Xiros, 55, should remain in Attica's high-security Korydallos Prison and serve 25 years of actual jail time before he can be eligible for release.

A Piraeus Council of Appeals Court Judges on Monday rejected an appeal by November 17 convict Savvas Xiros to be given early release on the grounds of poor health.

While acknowledging Xiros's health problems, the judges deemed that Xiros, 55, should remain in Attica's high-security Korydallos Prison and serve 25 years of actual jail time before he can be eligible for release.

A joint land and air exercise between Greece and Egypt, with the participation of Cypriot forces, is set to begin on Sunday in an area stretching from the island of Crete to the coast of the North African country.

Greece will take part in the exercise, dubbed Medusa 6, with two frigates, a submarine, a C-130 plane, eight F-16 jets, one AWACS, one Chinook helicopter and two Apaches.

The defense ministers of Cyprus, Israel and Greece are pledging to forge deeper military ties in order to better counter common threats and to help bolster security in a tumultuous region.

Any Turkish violation of Greece's territorial integrity will be met with a "devastating" response, Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos has warned.

Cyprus will remain a safe haven for those in need, especially for the refugees who are forced to abandon their homes and families, Defense Minister Savvas Angelides said on Wednesday.

A new center-right political party, seen as having close ties to the so-called Karamanlis faction within New Democracy opposition, was launched Tuesday.

The US Ambassador to Greece David Pearce has said Washington will view as a ?profoundly unfriendly act? legislation that paves the way for November 17 terrorist Savvas Xeros to be released from prison early.

The leftist Greek government has tabled an amendment in Parliament that could allow convicted "November 17" assassin Savvas Xiros to swap his prison cell for home confinement and an ankle monitor.

The amendment, tabled by the relevant justice minister, allows convicts serving a ? life sentence and with a percentage of disability above 80 percent to serve their sentence at home.