Latest Cyprus government News

Cyprus minister says a proposal to set up safe zones in Syria for refugees to return is advancing

Mar. 22, 2024 11:39 AM EDT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A Cyprus government proposal to enable repatriations of Syrian refugees by designating specific areas within the country as safe zones is “gaining ground” among the island nation's fellow European Union member states, the Cypriot interior minister said Friday. ...

How the US military is scrambling to build a floating dock for urgently needed aid to Gaza

Mar. 09, 2024 00:03 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even before President Joe Biden announced in his State of the Union address the plans for providing aid to Gaza by sea, the Army’s 7th Transportation Brigade and other units were scrambling to pull equipment together. They received their orders before the...

2 Lebanese men ordered detained for bringing 146 Syrian refugees to Cyprus by boat

Feb. 24, 2024 15:54 PM EST

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A court in Cyprus on Saturday ordered two men to remain in police custody for six days on suspicion of people smuggling. The men were identified as the drivers of two boats that brought 146 Syrian refugees and one Lebanese migrant to the east Mediterranean island nation. ...

Cyprus president wants the European Union to discuss designating Syria safe zones for refugees

Feb. 12, 2024 08:56 AM EST

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The European Union won't serve its own best interests if it doesn’t consider designating some parts of Syria as safe zones so refugees and migrants can return there, the president of Cyprus said Monday. President Nikos Christodoulides said Cyprus is...

Cyprus president makes government ministers sign a pledge not to tolerate sexual harassment

Feb. 02, 2024 12:19 PM EST

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus' president on Friday required all government ministers to sign a “zero tolerance” declaration on sexist behavior and sexual harassment among employees and anyone visiting a government office. Cyprus already has stringent laws against sexual...

UN urges rivals in Cyprus to de-escalate tensions and seize opportunity to restart negotiations

Jan. 30, 2024 17:12 PM EST

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Cyprus for a year and urged all parties including rival Green Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to take steps “to de-escalate tensions in and around the buffer zone” dividing the...

A UN envoy says her experience in Colombia deal may help her efforts in restarting Cyprus talks

Jan. 30, 2024 10:48 AM EST

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A United Nations official said on Tuesday that her experience in negotiating an end to decades of conflict in her native Colombia may help her as she seeks to rekindle talks over Cyprus’ ethnic division. María Ángela Holguín Cuellar, the U.N. chief’s...

Cyprus government unveils support measures for breakaway Turkish Cypriots ahead of UN envoy's visit

Jan. 26, 2024 13:05 PM EST

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The government of ethnically split Cyprus on Friday promised breakaway Turkish Cypriots a package of measures aimed at winning their trust ahead of a renewed United Nations attempt to revive long-dormant peace talks. It includes promises to expedite...

A child dies after being rescued off Cyprus with 59 other Syrian migrants

Jan. 25, 2024 08:57 AM EST

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — One of the five children who were hospitalized in Cyprus after being rescued from a rickety boat carrying 60 Syrian migrants has died, officials said Thursday. The migrants, who were rescued early Wednesday by Cyprus police, apparently ran out of food and...

Cyprus sees Russian bank deposits plunge as government seeks to clean up its financial image

Jan. 24, 2024 10:11 AM EST

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus has made headway in weaning itself off Russian cash and business as it tries to clean up its image, according to official figures, while a visiting team of U.S. officials is helping the government look at cases of alleged violations of sanctions against Russia. ...