Front Page Headlines
Ankara is creating new faits accomplis
After the fray in block 3, she now puts a drill west of Paphos. Reference of the president to a second invasion, he is calling for measures. Guterres expresses concern over the tension. US and EU enter the game with strict recommendations.
- Meeting with the (energy) companies – Fatih does not cause any change of plans.
Moves that come with a cost
Nicosia is taking measures that will have a political and economic cost for Turkey. Anastasiades sends a letter to Guterres.
- Averof (Neophytou) owes me an apology, says (AKEL MEP candidate) Niyazi (Kizilyurek)
New registrations to GESY (National Health Scheme) despite the undermining
Over 180,000 have chosen their own physician, while yesterday afternoon when enrolments for paediatricians also opened, 16,000 children were enrolled in a few hours. In the meantime, the HIO (Health Insurance Organisation) denounces attempted undermining and extortion by insurance companies.
- Lukewarm reaction by the UN Secretary-General with recommendations
- Fascist slogans for EOKA B
- Elections in Istanbul were cancelled, rerun on June 23
EEZ incursion a ‘second invasion’
Government taking measures, Erdogan defiant and demands NATO support.
‘Fatih’ is in an international stranglehold
Cyprus achieved universal condemnation of the Turkish provocations but continues to be alert. President: Second invasion. The geographical coordinates of the boundaries of the EEZ (exclusive economic zone) and continental shelf have been submitted to the UN Secretary-General based on the median line between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey. The foreign minister is in France today for important contacts, the defence minister of Greece arrives tomorrow, National Council on Saturday.
- President: Second invasion
- Euro-elections: the ballot papers are ready
Main News
Anastasiades: Turkey’s presence in Cypriot EEZ a second invasion
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Regional/International Relations, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday said Turkey’s actions inside the island’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was like a second invasion. Meanwhile, the government continues efforts to avert Turkish drilling off Paphos by garnering international support and taking measures mainly at the EU level, aimed at causing Turkey to suffer the consequences of her actions, the papers report on Tuesday.
Anastasiades said on Monday night that Turkey’s actions are “clearly a violation of international law, or, as I could describe it, a second invasion, considering the violation of the Republic of Cyprus’ EEZ.”
The president said the government’s actions were in line with a policy that had been drafted in light of the dangers from any Turkish threats and that Turkey’s actions made it impossible to resume reunifications talks.
“It is impossible for anyone to speak of peace under threat. And not just threats but an active violation of international law for the umpteenth time,” he said.
The president has also called a meeting of the National Council on Saturday to discuss the situation.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan however, said also on Monday, he expects NATO to support his country’s rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, despite the US and EU voicing concerns over Ankara’s plans.
The legitimate rights of Turkey and the northern Cypriot Turks over energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean are not open for argument, he said, adding that his country is determined to defend its rights and those of TCs.
We expect NATO to respect Turkey’s rights in this process and support us in preventing tensions, he said.
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said Nicosia was taking diplomatic steps to respond to Turkey’s latest incursion and was also seeking an international arrest warrant for the crew of the Turkish vessel. Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace, Christodoulides dismissed the notion that Nicosia was caught off guard by the appearance of the Turkish drillship Fatih to the west of Paphos, arguing that the necessary preparatory work was done by the Republic in relation to Turkey’s illegal actions in the Cyprus EEZ, and this is evident from the immediate and clear reaction of the EU.
The government, he added, is in constant communication with the European Commission as well as with EU member states. He said he spoke with the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and has had contact with important capitals of EU member states who are conveying particular interest in the illegal acts within Cyprus’ EEZ, while on Tuesday he would be in Paris where this issue will be the top item on the agenda of his meetings there.
Christodoulides said that Anastasiades on Thursday will brief his European counterparts at the informal European Council to be held in Romania, where a discussion will take place on specific actions on the legal, political and diplomatic levels which have been set in motion for a while now.
On how actual Turkish drilling in the EEZ might be averted, Christodoulides said efforts would be focused in the EU sphere, where Cyprus has a comparative advantage.
European Parliament President Antonio Tajani expressed concern over the developments and called on Turkey to refrain from illegal activities in Cyprus’ EEZ. “Turkey’s intention to drill within the EEZ of Cyprus is a violation of international law,” he said, adding, “The Republic of Cyprus has the full and sovereign right to explore and exploit natural resources within its EEZ. We stand with Cyprus in safeguarding its rights underpinned by international and European law.”
The European People’s Party and the European United Left–Nordic Green Left have also condemned Turkey’s actions.
The papers also report that Cypriot authorities submitted to the United Nations last Saturday the coordinates for the boundaries of the EEZ and the continental shelf, based on the median line that is equidistant from the shores of Cyprus and Turkey.
Commenting on why this had not been done before, Christodoulides said that all administrations since 2004, based on advice from international law experts, had opted not to submit to the UN the coordinates for the EEZ and continental shelf, as that might have been used by Turkey as a pretext to engage in provocations. At any rate, he said, Cyprus’ rights over its continental shelf are ipso facto, that is to say, automatic. There is no question over the rights of the Republic, he said.
According to Alithia, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos said that the actual reason of the presence of Turkish vessels within the Cypriot EEZ is the questioning of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus since the ships in question don’t possess the necessary know-how to carry out drilling in the area.
According to Haravgi, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ reaction to the
incident was a lukewarm one. Guterres’ spokeperson Stéphane Dujarric said that
the Secretary-General is monitoring developments following Turkey’s decision to
send ships for drilling operations around Cyprus with concern and urges efforts
to be made to reduce tensions.
Speaking during his regular briefing, Dujarric noted that the UN’s position is
that offshore hydrocarbons have the potential to benefit both communities in
Cyprus.
He said that the Secretary-General recalls that the GC and TC leaders have previously agreed in their negotiations that natural resources in a unified Cyprus would lie within the competence of the future federal government, adding that Guterres urges efforts to be made to reduce tensions, Haravgi reports.
Phileleftheros reports that Anastasiades has sent a letter to Guterres on May 2 asking for measures by the UN to avert illegal activities and drillings within the Cypriot EEZ. These measures would safeguard prospects for the resumption of talks, Anastasiades said, adding that Turkey’s expressed threat of carrying out drillings within the Cypriot EEZ would cause a serious blow to UN efforts for the resumption of talks and reaching a solution.
The daily also reports that Nicosia has been mulling over various models of sanctions for a while now, also used by the EU in the past, that would turn against Turkey. Among them are the EU decisions against Russia some five years ago, the paper said.
Christodoulides, the paper reported, said that this would include a possible block by Nicosia of an upgrade of Turkey’s customs union with the EU and consequences on the accession aid Turkey receives from the EU which has exceeded €4bn for the period 2014-2020. This would also include decisions that would negatively affect Turkey at a commercial-financial level since 45 per cent of Turkish exports concern EU countries. Christodoulides said that Anastasiades will suggest during his meeting this week with his European counterparts in Romania for decisions that would cause an actual cost to Turkey, the daily reported.
Politis said that Turkey insists on its positions aiming at creating new faits accomplis in the sea.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Turkey’s violation of Cyprus’ EEZ is a second invasion and a violation of international law.
>> Turkey’s actions made it impossible to resume reunification talks as it is impossible for anyone to speak of peace under threat especially when there is constant active violation of international law.
Erdogan (Turkey)
>> Turkey expects NATO to respect her rights in the East Med and provide support in preventing tensions.
>> Turkey is determined to defend its rights and those of TCs over energy resources in the East Med and these rights are not subject to argument.
Tajani (European Parliament)
>> Turkey’s intention to drill within the EEZ of Cyprus is a violation of international law.
>> Concerned over Turkish actions and called on Turkey to refrain from illegal activities in Cyprus’ EEZ which would be in violation of international law.
>> RoC has the full and sovereign right to explore and exploit natural resources within its EEZ.
>> EP stands with Cyprus in safeguarding its rights underpinned by international and European law.
Katrougalos (Greece)
>> With this move,Turkey aims at questioning the sovereign rights of the RoC rather than drilling in its EEZ since the vessels it deployed don’t have the necessary expertise to do so.
Dujarric (UN)
>> UNSG is monitoring developments with concern & urges efforts to be made to reduce tensions.
>> Offshore hydrocarbons have the potential to benefit both communities in Cyprus.
>> The GC and TC leaders have previously agreed that natural resources in a unified Cyprus would lie within the competence of the future federal government.
Cyprus’ energy programme continues as planned
Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey’s aggression does not change the energy plans of the government which will carry on with its scheduled meetings this week with energy companies on various matters, Politis reports.
According to the daily, the government has scheduled meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday with energy companies Noble-Shell-Delek as part of ongoing negotiations concerning reaching a final agreement on the companies’ share from the sale of gas from the Aphrodite field. The two sides will attempt to seal the deal during these two days, the daily said, while the government will include in the new contract new, more pressing obligations for the companies as regards new confirmation drilling in Aphrodite and investment in infrastructure for extraction and transportation of natural gas to Egypt through a pipeline.
On Thursday and Friday, meetings will also take place with Total and ENI on block 7 and for a revision of the contracts for French Total to acquire 50 per cent of rights to blocks 2, 3, 9 and 8. Italian ENI currently holds sole rights to those blocks. Consultations also concern a vigorous programme which will include four to five drillings between the end of 2019 and the end of 2020, the daily reported.
Both Politis and Phileleftheros report that the US statement on Sunday on Turkey’s presence in the Cypriot EEZ provoked a strong reaction from the Turkish foreign ministry which accused the US of making unrealistic announcements concerning Turkey’s drilling activities “in its own continental shelf”.
Turkey has made its position explicitly clear regarding its continental shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean since 2004, the foreign ministry said, adding that since then, it has brought to the attention of the relevant countries and the international community that the GCs’ EEZ delimitation agreements with the countries in the region are not valid for Turkey and the TCs and one of these agreements violates Turkey’s continental shelf rights.
Similarly, it said, Turkey has announced to the international community and registered with the UN its continental shelf in the region, adding that delimitation agreements based on equitable principles in accordance with international law have not yet been concluded among all relevant coastal states in the region.
The attempts of third parties to act as an international court in determining maritime boundaries is unacceptable, it said. The US statement expressing the view that “there exists GC claims over the area” is neither constructive nor compatible with international law, given the fact that there is no valid maritime delimitation agreement in the region.
Turkey’s drilling and seismic vessels will resolutely continue their activities in its continental shelf in the areas where the government granted the Turkish Petroleum licenses in 2009 and 2012.
Unless the GCs include the TCs, as the equal partners of the Island, into the decision making mechanisms regarding hydrocarbon resources or cease their unilateral hydrocarbon activities, Turkey will continue to protect the continental shelf rights of the TCs as well, the ministry said, according to Phileleftheros.
According to Politis, this insistence clearly shows the intentions of the Turks to implement their threats, at least to create ‘grey zones’. It cannot be ruled out that the Turkish side wants to prepare a package of requests on issues in the wider area, to be able to negotiate these issues across the board, concerning Greece, Egypt, Cyprus-Cyprob and Syria, as Erdogan likes to have all the fronts open and negotiate accordingly, the daily said.
Politis also noted that it is baffling how the Turkish and TC press have not paid much attention to the issue and have given so little information on the Fatih drillship’s moves. One would expect that the issue would be more visible in the public sphere since it concerns a move that, as per Turkey’s statements, will put them on the energy map of the Eastern Mediterranean, the daily said.
It added that there is no clear information in the press on when the drilling will start and what the real expectations of Turkey are. The TC press is mostly reproducing GC press reports, Politis said.
France has also condemned Turkey’s actions and pledged its support to Cyprus, Phileleftheros reported.
KEY ACTORS
Turkey
>> US announcement concerning Turkey’s drilling activities in its own continental shelf is unrealistic while its statement over GC claims in the area is neither constructive nor compatible with international law, given the fact there is no valid maritime delimitation agreement in the region.
>> Turkey’s position on its continental shelf in the East Med has been made explicitly clear since 2004. The international community was notified that the GCs’ EEZ delimitation agreements with countries in the region are not valid for Turkey & the TCs. One such agreement violates Turkey’s continental shelf rights.
>> Turkey also announced to the international community and registered with the UN its continental shelf in the region, while delimitation agreements based on equitable principles in accordance with the international law have not yet been concluded among all relevant coastal states in the region.
>> The attempts of third parties to act as an international court in determining maritime boundaries is unacceptable.
>> Turkey’s drilling and seismic vessels will continue their activities in its continental shelf in the areas where TPAO was issued licences by the government in 2009 and 2012.
>> Unless the GCs include the TCs who are the equal partners of the island into the decision-making process on hydrocarbon resources or cease their unilateral hydrocarbon activities, Turkey will continue to protect the continental shelf rights also of the TCs.
Parties condemn Turkish actions, and some DISY and AKEL too
Phileleftheros
EU Matters, Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
All parties condemned the Turkish provocations in the Cypriot EEZ, but some made sure to include it in their election campaigns, the paper reported.
The matter led to a public spat between the government and main opposition AKEL when the latter’s leader, Andros Kyprianou, said that his party had warned that lack of action for a way out of the standstill on the Cyprus problem would come to this. Most of the other parties criticised the ruling and main opposition parties for their stance.
Kyprianou said that Turkey’s actions in the Cypriot EEZ were unacceptable and illegal and ought to be reported internationally.
This incident harms efforts for the resumption of talks, he said, while Turkey is creating new faits accomplis in the region.
We have been warning that as long as the standstill on the Cyprus problem is prolonged, Turkey will escalate its aggression and we had said that it would create faits accomplis in the Cypriot EEZ, he said.
In response, Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou called on Kyprianou to say what the president and the GC side could have done more. Kyprianou has overstepped the mark by putting the blame on the GC side for Turkey’s threats of invasion in Cyprus’ EEZ, he said.
Not forgetting that this an election period, ruling DISY pointed out that the largest group in the European Parliament, the European People’s Party (EPP), took a clear stand against Turkish provocations and called on other parties in Cyprus to do the same through their own European political groups, wrote the daily.
DIKO chairman Nicolas Papadopoulos said that this is the most serious Turkish provocation against the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus since the declaration of the pseudo-state in 1983.
Unless Turkey promptly bears the cost, the consequences will be particularly harsh for Cyprus, he said.
He called on Anastasiades to promptly submit to the UN the coordinates of the outer lines of the Republic’s entire EEZ and continental shelf. Failure to delimitate our legitimate claims, feeds Turkish claims and weakens our international position, he said.
EDEK expressed concern that the Cypriot administrations did not proceed to submitting the EEZ boundaries so far. It also expressed concerns that there are political forces that credit the occupation power with goodwill and cultivate the impression that with additional serious concessions on our side, we would break the deadlock and lead to a solution.
The Greens criticised DISY and AKEL that looked to their election numbers instead of unity and serving the interests of Cyprus at a time when national issues had to remain outside the election race.
Citizens’ Alliance stressed that Ankara’s violations reveal the true face of Turkey. It also said that using a situation that ought to unite everyone to serve party interests is an irresponsible attitude.
ELAM said that Cyprus is being attacked, so
the message must be sent out that Europe is also under attack.
KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Turkey’s actions in the Cypriot EEZ are unacceptable and illegal and ought to be reported internationally.
>> Turkey is creating new faits accomplis in the region while this move harms efforts for the resumption of talks.
>> AKEL has been warning that as long as the standstill on the Cyprob is prolonged, Turkey will escalate its aggression and would create faits accomplis in the Cypriot EEZ.
Prodromou
>> Wants Kyprianou to say what the president and the GC side could have done more.
>> Kyprianou has overstepped the mark by putting blame on the GC side for Turkey’s threats of invading Cyprus’ EEZ.
DISY
>> The EPP took a clear stand against Turkish provocations. Calls on other Cypriot parties to do the same through their own European political groups.
Papadopoulos (DIKO)
>> This is the most serious Turkish provocation against the sovereign rights of the RoC since the declaration of the pseudo-state in 1983.
>> Turkey must promptly bear the cost otherwise consequences will be particularly harsh for Cyprus.
>> Calls on Anastasiades to promptly submit to UN the coordinates of the Republic’s entire EEZ and continental shelf. Failure to do so feeds Turkish claims and weakens Cyprus’ international position.
EDEK
>> Concerned that Cypriot administrations did not submit the EEZ boundaries so far.
>> Concerned that some political forces credit the occupation power with goodwill and cultivate the impression that additional serious concessions by GCs would be a way out of the deadlock and lead to a solution.
Greens
>> Criticised DISY and AKEL of looking to elections instead of interests of Cyprus at a time when national issues ought to remain outside the pre-election race.
Citizens’ Alliance
>> Ankara’s violations reveal the true face of Turkey.
>> Instead of focusing on unity, those who use the situation to serve party interests exhibit an irresponsible attitude.
ELAM
>> If Cyprus is under attack, Europe is also under attack.
Kizilyurek: An apology by the DISY leader is in order
Alithia, Phileleftheros
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
TC academician Niyazi Kizilyurek who runs as a candidate in the Euro-elections on an AKEL ticket, said he would like an apology from DISY leader Averof Neophytou over his criticism of AKEL on Sunday in which, the latter did not name Kizilyurek but was obviously talking about him.
Speaking to Phileleftheros, Kizilyurek said he was not happy with DISY’s accusation that AKEL was using doublespeak in its election campaign depending on whether the audience was GCs or TCs. Kizilyurek said that while the ruling party’s criticism refers to him, they avoid naming him.
He noted that while DISY avoids using his name it is obvious they are talking about his campaign to woo Turkish Cypriot voters.
He also dismissed as baseless DISY’s claims that AKEL is using doublespeak in its election campaign, calling on his critics to come up with proof.
From the beginning, as a candidate, Kizilyurek said he told the TCs that he does not seek to represent the TC community but that as an MEP, he would represent European citizens that vote based on their opinion.
He said he calls on both TCs and GCs to vote for him because he is a federalist and because he believes in a federal Cyprus, the peaceful co-existence of the two communities. Whoever believes in these values can vote for him, said Kizilyurek .
He also said he has declared also in Greek that he would struggle for the Turkish language to be included as one of the EU languages, arguing that only one of the two official languages of the Republic, Greek, has been included so far.
The president had made an attempt in 2016 but did not succeed, he said, adding that he would fight to see also Turkish included in the working languages of the EU.
Some forget that the Republic of Cyprus is a bicommunal state, he said, adding that TCs are part of the Republic, hence EU citizens, and that is why they have the right to vote.
He added that states are represented at the European Council but citizens at the European Parliament.
“I believe Averof Neophytou owes me an apology for the baseless, black campaign and for the fact that Eleni Stavrou, who writes what she writes about me is on the DISY ticket,” Kizilyurek said.
He added that instead of all GC candidates meeting with TCs and seeking their vote, they ignore them and level accusations against candidates like him who talk to the TCs. They present it as a sin and this is low, he said.
However, DISY continues to insist on the question posed to AKEL on Sunday, the daily reports, with the party’s deputy head Nikos Nouris calling on AKEL to respond.
DISY has always been aiming for the solution of the Cyprus problem, said Nouris, arguing that if we want to live peacefully with our TC compatriots, we must be honest towards all citizens.
AKEL is organising separate election campaigns in the free and occupied areas, charged Nouris.
DISY calls on AKEL to deny that they engage in doublespeak, depending on whether they are talking to GCs or TCs, said Nouris. He further said DISY asks AKEL to clarify whether they have promised TCs the election of a TC MEP would mean representation of the TC community and not of the Republic of Cyprus in the European Parliament, as well as what their position will be in the case questions are raised on the lifting of the supposed embargo on the pseudo-state or even on the alleged isolation of the TCs.
Nouris said DISY are still waiting for AKEL to clarify whether they promised to the TCs that, with the election of a TC in the European Parliament, an attempt would be made to introduce Turkish as an official language of the EU. It would be a lie if someone claims that Turkish can be spoken in the European Parliament, he said, adding that Anastasiades had made a relevant request in 2016 but was rejected by the European institutions.
Alithia reported that DISY MEP candidate, Eleni Stavrou, commenting on AKEL’s decision to include on its ballot Kizilyurek, posted on social media that it is certain that an elected TC candidate would proclaim to Europe and the whole world, from the loudspeakers of the European Parliament, that he represents, not the Republic of Cyprus of the Greeks of Cyprus, but the “poor community of the Turks of Cyprus.”
KEY ACTORS
Kizilyurek (AKEL)
>> Not happy with Neophytou’s criticism of AKEL that indirectly points the finger at him over alleged doublespeak to TC voters. These are baseless accusations.
>> Does not seek to represent the TC community as an MEP but European citizens that share the same values as him.
>> Calls on TCs and GCs to vote for him if they share the same values on a federal Cyprus & peaceful co-existence of the two communities.
>> He will fight to see Turkish included in the EU working languages as one of the two official languages of the RoC.
>> Some forget that RoC is a bicommunal state. TCs are part of the RoC and that is why they have the right to vote.
>> Wants Neophytou to apologise for the baseless slander but also for including Eleni Stavrou on DISY’s ticket.
>> Instead of all GC candidates meeting with the TCs to seek their vote, they ignore them and present talking to TCs as a sin of those who do.
Nouris (DISY)
>> DISY has always been in favour of a solution but peaceful coexistence with TCs means honesty towards all citizens.
>> Wants AKEL to deny doublespeak, and that they are promising TCs that voting for a TC MEP would mean representation of TC community, not of the RoC. Also seeks clarification on attempt to introduce Turkish as an official language of the EU in the EP.
>> It would be a lie if someone claims that Turkish can be spoken within the EP because Anastasiades had made a relevant request in 2016 which was rejected by EU institutions.
>> Wants AKEL to state what its position will be in case questions are raised on lifting the supposed embargo on pseudo-state or lifting alleged isolation of TCs.
Stavrou (DISY)
>> An elected TC candidate would use his position at the EP to proclaim he represents, not the RoC of the Greeks of Cyprus, but the “poor community of the Turks of Cyprus.”