Cyprus, no military exercise again this year

The Cyprus Republic yesterday announced its decision to cancel the Nikiforos military exercise for 2012, expecting Turkey to follow suit and cancel its military exercise Toros in the north. "Despite the fact that Turkey has not replied to the proposal, (made through the UN) the Republic of Cyprus has decided, in order to avoid further tension, that the exercise will not take place," said the statement as reported by Cyprus Mail. The Cyprus Republic, currently at the helm of the rotating EU presidency, expects Turkey to respond to its proposal, concluded the statement. Both Toros and Nikiforos have not taken place for a number of years, following decisions by Cyprus and Turkey to cancel them so as not to hinder ongoing peace talks. However, the peace talks between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu have come to a stop, raising questions as to whether the Nikiforos cancellation has anything to do with the severe fiscal pressures currently on the government.