Front Page Headlines
In search of consensus to eliminate the cost
The President takes over and calls on parties to jointly decide on civil servants. A constitutional amendment is also on the table at the (party) leaders’ meeting to be convened within the coming days. The administrative court’s decision worked up the appetite also of ETYK (Union of Bank Employees) for claims in favour of employees of the former Central Cooperative Bank.
- Lute returns: Unclear what the next steps are
- He took the brunt of the negative climate at the CMP (Committee on Missing Persons) –The President terminated the appointment of (GC member of CMP Nestoras) Nestoros. Discontent by Nestoros over the way he was informed.
- Turkey: Istanbul is the catalyst
The climate on GESY (National Health Scheme) is changing
The registrations of (private) hospitals, pharmacists and private doctors bring optimism. Important steps also on pediatricians.
- Lute is coming and meets with Anastasiades on Sunday: The President calls for patience
- New front, now on (GC negotiator Andreas) Mavroyiannis
- The fear of abstention brought mass registrations
- They are calling for restoration of Ayios Fanourios chapel in Kyrenia: Desperate cry from refugees
- Protest during the extradition hearing of the Kurdish fighter
Anastasiades admits to inconsistency
The resignation of (Finance Minister) Harris (Georgiades) would have “weighed” on his conscience. He disagrees with the responsibilities attributed to him. New depreciation of the committee and its findings (on the demise of the Cooperative Bank).
- AKEL General Secretary: “Anastasiades deceived the people on the issue of the negotiator”
- A joke commitment concerning the refugee world
Govt mulls how to defy pay cut ruling
Constitutional amendment could stop more public servants reclaiming lost pay: president
Revelations at the Focus trial
(Prosecution witness) Andreas Kizourides rats on his former father-in-law (Christodoulou) and others. “(Former Central Bank Governor Christodoulos) Christodoulou used me to legitimise the €1m he received from Zolotas’ Focus.” “Following Christodoulou’s initiative and his meeting with Andreas Vgenopoulos, a proposition was made to me by Vgenopoulos himself to work in Laiki Bank.” “Around the end of September 2012, Yiannis Papadopoulos asked me to bring him in contact with Vgenopoulos to invest in his companies.” “Kikis Lazarides and Andreas Vgenopoulos decided to ask the help of Christodoulos Christodoulou for Laiki to end up in the hands of Vgenopoulos instead of going to HSBC, in exchange to remain Central Bank Governor for another five years.” “Kikis Lazarides, due to his special connection at the time with President Tassos Papadopoulos, would ask him to reappoint Christodoulou as Governor. In the case his reappointment would not be achieved, they had agreed for Christodoulou to receive €1m from Vgenopoulos in exchange, just as it happened.”
- Dispute between AKEL and the government on conflict of interest in the appointment of Andreas Mavroyiannis
- After 45 years: UNFICYP abandons Ledra Palace because it is dangerous
- After five years: An end for Nestoros at CMP. He returns to his service
- On Saturday: Lute returns to Cyprus to see the President
- A lie or…?: The British did not bombard us with chemicals and it rained!
Main News
Anastasiades: Hopefully Turkey will realise guarantees are anachronistic
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations, Energy
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades will meet on Sunday with UN envoy Jane Holl Lute who arrives on the island on Saturday.
Government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou announced on Tuesday evening that Anastasiades had a telephone conversation with Lute and they would meet on Sunday at 10am to continue attempts to set parameters to restart negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem. She is to also meet with TC leader Mustafa Akinci with whom she had a telephone conversation on Monday night.
In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, Anastasiades said on Tuesday he hopes that during political consultations on the international aspects of the Cyprus problem between Turkey and Greece in Athens next week, Turkey’s attitude would create conditions for a solution to be reached.
“Let us hope that Turkey’s stance will recognise what the UN Secretary-General said in Crans-Montana about the anachronistic system of guarantees and the need to replace it with an effective mechanism with international participation and generally an attitude on Turkey’s part which will create the conditions to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem to the benefit of everyone,” he said.
On whether an agreement was within reach, Anastasiades said that he could not predict “how close or far away we are if the Turkish side and the TCs insist on their positions, on political equality.
For one side to insist to have the final word on all decisions means abolishing political equality and putting in place a system on the basis of which one side will determine what decisions will be taken, he said.
He said he shares TC concerns on the possibility of the GC side taking advantage of its power, but political equality means, among other things, having a positive vote but not on every decision. He reiterated that an effective mechanism for resolving differences should be in place.
TCs should reciprocate by showing they understand GC concerns over the lack of functionality and the danger of the state collapsing the day after an agreement is reached, hence the insistence to become fully independent without guarantees, without intervention rights, without armies, Anastasiades said.
Asked what steps Nicosia would take if by July, when UNFICYP’s mandate renewal will be discussed again by the Security Council, there has been no resumption of talks, he said the government will not wait until July.
First and foremost, our effort is for the dialogue to resume on a healthy basis which will give us a prospect, he said, adding that Nicosia acts in such a way as to make it understood how dangerous it would be for the peacekeeping force to withdraw from the island.
Anastasiades said the GC side is not using the peacekeeping force to prevent a solution to the Cyprus problem, adding that it was not the GC leaderships that did not want the solution of the Cyprus problem. It is the terms and conditions set by the other side that unfortunately did not allow one, he said.
On Turkish threats in the island’s exclusive economic zone, the president said the government was making use of all means at their disposal and in accordance with international law such as protesting to the EU and the UN.
We turn to all directions, through our trilateral cooperation schemes, he said.
Nicosia chose to engage powerful energy companies from powerful countries in its energy plans in order to mitigate any possible dangers, he said.
Anastasiades also called for patience regarding anticipation of whether the results of the municipal elections in Turkey would cause a shift in Ankara’s entire political behaviour.
It is too soon to assess if Turkey’s foreign policy would change, he said.
Generally speaking, he added, it seems that the Erdogan government has not been weakened in overall rates, but it has lost major municipalities, which is a powerful message of dissatisfaction.
He said he could not say how the Erdogan government will perceive these messages and whether there will be a policy change aimed primarily at not breaking the peace in the region but focusing on internal issues, such as the economy. In order to make progress in the economy there should be a certainty of stability in the country and not a possible involvement in warfare and risks that such policies can create, he said.
Anastasiades also said that within the framework of expanding good relations with all permanent members of the UN Security Council, he seeks to arrange a meeting between him and US President Donald Trump. He also announced he would visit China later in April to attend the One Belt One Road conference and would be meeting President Xi Jinping
The president also said Cyprus’ aim is not to become a staging post during armed conflict. On the contrary, he said, Cyprus wants to, and is gradually turning into, a provider of security through the facilities granted not only to European countries but also other forces like Russia and the US.
Cyprus wants to be a state that does not pose a danger to anyone, but is a factor of stability that will contribute to peace in the region and not raise tensions or provoke threats through the use of its territory, he added.
Asked if there will be permanent infrastructure for hosting French navy ships, the president said it is an issue that it is being discussed.
On the peace process, citing government sources, Politis reported that at present, efforts for a joint meeting between the two leaders and Lute seem to have been unsuccessful.
Alithia reported that Akinci said a meeting between him and Anastasiades would not serve any purpose as long as the negative stance of the GC leader continues. As long as Anastasiades’ stance remains unchanged, he said, a meeting of the three would simply give the wrong impression to the people that there is some progress, adding that TC political equality is a must, the daily reported. There might be a possibility of success if the Terms of Reference (ToR) are based on the joint declaration of February 11, 2014, other convergences and the June 30 Framework, he said, according to Alithia.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Hopes Turkey will recognise
>> Can’t say whether an agreement is within reach as long as Turkey and the TCs insist on their positions on political equality.
>> Though shares TC concerns on
>> Insistence on having the final word on all decisions means abolishing political equality and putting in place a system on the basis of which one side will determine what decisions will be taken.
>> TCs ought to show understanding on GC concerns over lack of functionality and danger of state collapsing day after
>> GCs will not wait until July’s UNFICYP renewal regarding the resumption of talks.
>> UNFICYP withdrawal from the island would be dangerous.
>> GC side is not using UNFICYP to prevent a solution to the Cyprob. It is not the GC leaderships that prevent a solution but the terms and conditions set by the other side.
>> Nicosia turns to all directions through its trilateral cooperation schemes to address Turkish threats in its
>> Cyprus’ aim is not to become a staging post during armed conflict but to gradually turn into a provider of security through facilities granted
>> Cyprus wants to be a factor of stability and contribute to peace in the region and not raise tensions or provoke threats through the use of its territory.
>> Consultations are underway for
Akinci
>> Meeting Anastasiades & Lute serves no purpose as long as GC leader maintains
>> TC political equality is a must.
>> There might be a possibility of success if the ToR
AKEL: Will the GC negotiator participate in the talks through social media?
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
A war of words broke out on Tuesday between the government, ruling DISY and main opposition AKEL, after the leader of the latter accused President Nicos Anastasiades of deceiving the people concerning the announcement that Andreas Mavroyiannis would remain as GC negotiator despite his new duties as Cyprus’ new Permanent Representative to the UN.
AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said that according to the law parliament passed in 2013, the negotiator cannot exercise any other duties, thus Mavroyiannis cannot remain as negotiator.
It is regrettable that the president misinforms the Cypriot people, he said.
He reiterated that AKEL is in favour of a bizonal bicommunal federal solution, adding that there is lack of initiative from everyone involved on the resumption of talks.
This is due to a lack of will by Turkey, he said, but also due to the fact the GC side is not taking any initiative.
Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou replied that Mavroyiannis remains as negotiator in parallel with his duties at the UN. What everyone must be concerned about, including Kyprianou, is whether the TC side has a negotiator, Prodromou said, reminding that the GC side has had a negotiator since Crans-Montana.
The president is well informed of the provisions of the law in question and the government will make the necessary changes, he said.
DISY leader Averof Neophytou also replied to AKEL accusing the party of overstepping the limits with its daily criticism of the government. He said it served no purpose for AKEL to send daily the message that it is all the GC side’s fault on the Cyprus problem, adding that there is no problem with Mavroyiannis fully practicing his duties also as negotiator.
The issue, he said, is for an agreement to be reached on the ToR.
Neophytou said he would not take lessons from AKEL on the economy and the Cyprus problem.
According to Alithia, AKEL replied with an announcement asking whether Mavroyiannis would participate in the talks through WhatsApp, Viber or Skype. The party called on the government to get serious and stop toying with the citizens’ intelligence, the paper reported.
Phileleftheros reported that the formula of the negotiator also having other duties was tested during the Tassos Papadopoulos administration.
KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Anastasiades misinformed the people because according to the law the negotiator cannot exercise any other duties, thus Mavroyiannis cannot remain as
>> Feels there is
Prodromou
>> Mavroyiannis remains as
>> The issue is TC side doesn’t have a negotiator while GC side has had one since Crans-Montana.
Neophytou (DISY)
>> There is no issue with Mavroyiannis fully
CMP currently without GC member
Alithia, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The GC member of the Committee on Missing Persons, Nestoras Nestoros, is no longer a member of the Committee since Tuesday when his contract was not renewed by the government.
The dailies report on the unceremonious way Nestoros, who was appointed in 2014, found out about his dismissal on Tuesday in a letter sent by Anastasiades, which said that his CMP contract would not be renewed.
He told Alithia that he was not informed why his contract was not renewed. He had requested a meeting with Anastasiades five months ago and with the foreign minister three months ago without any response, he told the paper. He is to return back to his duties at the state Land Development Corporation (KOAG) from which he had received unpaid leave of absence to exercise his duties at the CMP. Nestoros said his leave from KOAG was renewed annually.
Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou told Alithia that the maximum period he could take annual leave from KOAG was five years, and since that limit has been reached, he had to return to his duties there. He said temporary arrangements would be made with another person working in the public sector.
Politis reported that Nestoros, who also spoke to the daily, did not conceal his discontent with the way he was informed of the termination of his time at the CMP.
Anastasiades’ letter to Nestoros, the daily said, shows that the presidency took into consideration the increasing climate of discontent within and outside the CMP due to the poor results of the last few years.
Within this framework, one cannot overlook the numerous statements by the Commissioner on Humanitarian Issues, Photis Photiou, who also spoke of the risk of terminating the operation of the CMP since the success rate both of excavations and in finding remains had dropped, Politis said.
The paper also recalled that Photiou and Nestoros had disagreed in public last September when the former said the CMP was removing names from the list on missing persons based on incomplete findings (such as fragments of remains). Nestoros at the time had replied that he had a moral obligation to inform the relatives of the missing persons about the course of investigations concerning the identification of the remains of their relatives.
Another issue, Politis said, is the competitive mode of operation of CMP between the GC and TC sides on good quality information provided by each side on the missing of the other side.
Citing sources, the paper said that lack of quality information on missing persons causes confrontation. It gave as an example tension caused on the quality of information given to the CMP by the Cyprus Intelligence Service (KYP).
Phileleftheros reported that there is talk that some in the government were undermining Nestoros, who wanted to meet with the president and the foreign minister to inform them on issues concerning policies but also practical matters and seek guidance for possible actions in Cyprus and abroad.
Nestoros told the daily he is at peace with himself that he did what was possible to shed light on the fate of as many missing persons as possible.
He said that there have been serious issues lately that needed to be addressed and blamed the Turkish side on the fact that few missing persons were located the last few years. Nestoros also pointed out that the GC side could have done more.
Recently, Phileleftheros reported, the foreign minister put together a team of persons who had dealt with the missing persons issue in the past and who possess information on persons involved in incidents in a bid to draw more information on the missing on both sides.
KEY ACTORS
Prodromou
>> Nestoros’ CMP contract was not renewed because he must return to his duties at KOAG.
>> Another person from the public service will be temporarily appointed as GC member of CMP.
Nestoros
>> Serious issues have come up that need to be addressed.
>> Turkish side to blame for
Refugees call for restoration of Ayios Fanourios chapel and cave in Kyrenia
Phileleftheros
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Refugees from Ayios Fanourios in Kyrenia made an appeal for the restoration of a small chapel dedicated to the saint and of his cave that contains an ancient fossil.
Kleanthis Erotokritou, a member of the ‘Historic and Religious Movement of Ayios Fanourios, Kyrenia’, told the daily they would like the two monuments to be put under the protection of the EU.
He said they would like for TC authorities to allow the group to put a fence around them and paint the chapel, adding they have contacted archeologists and architects, among others, calling for their help.
Erotokritou said they were especially worried about the cave since the fossils, which the Church says are those of the horse of Ayios Fanourios, according to science belong to a dwarf hippo. He said 60 per cent of the fossil remains have been destroyed.
Members of the group visit the site and recently raised money for the chapel to be painted by the man currently operating it as an art gallery, he said.
GC head of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage Takis Hadjidemetriou told Phileleftheros the Committee has already made some steps toward that direction but that it also depends on others. He said there is intension by the TC side to undertake the restoration of the chapel and of the cave.
More voter interest in Euro-elections than last time
Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Large numbers of people from Cyprus but also from other EU countries, especially Greece, registered in the electoral rolls ahead of May’s Euro-elections.
Chief Returning Officer Demetris Demetriou told Haravgi that more people registered this year compared to registrations before the 2014 Euro-elections. The voter registration deadline expired on Tuesday.
According to the paper, 4,800 GCs registered, as well as 2,800 nationals of other EU member states and 36 TCs living in the government-controlled areas. In total 6,000 people registered to vote from abroad. The number of TCs living in the occupied areas will be known on Wednesday. Up to Tuesday morning around 77,000 TCs were registered as eligible to vote, Haravgi reported.
According to Politis, Greek nationals living in Cyprus, especially people from former Soviet countries, were encouraged by a newly-established political party to register as voters. The registrations were made by a candidate of the party in question, the paper reported. It added the final number of Greek voters is expected to reach 3,000.