In an exclusive interview with IBNA, Cypriot Defense Minister, Christoforos Fokaides, discusses the enhanced role of the Republic of Cyprus in the EU and its active role as contributor to security and a pillar of stability in the region; deepening defense cooperation in the EU; and the multi-level co-operation between the Republic of Cyprus and neighboring countries.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told his cabinet on Monday that they are in a race against time to complete the bulk of the pending reforms agreed with the country's creditors by November so that Greece can wrap up the third review of its bailout and stay on course to exit the program in 2018.

The Greek office of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has filed a lawsuit, as it had threatened, against all responsible parties regarding the oil spill in Salamina port, last Sunday, which led to the environmental disaster of areas reaching Piraeus and the Athens Riviera.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has accused Britain of playing a hand in derailing a UN initiative to help broker a Cyprus solution during last summer's peace talks in Switzerland.