Front Page Headlines
Euro-elections: a dearth of issues
The campaign was marked by the daily squabbles between the two biggest parties.
- Cavusoglu letter to UN and EU ‘will not be left unanswered’
- The mosque where religion and politics collide
- Scars of civil war mark refugee family in Paphos
- Turkish drilling: Top energy expert on Turkey’s real goal in entering our waters
- Comment: A long-time DISY voter on why she’s switching to AKEL
This is the Cyprus-France agreement
It is being implemented immediately while French experts are coming within days.
- Three vetoes and sanctions: A series of measures to incur a cost on Turkey
- Debate (between DISY leader) Averof (Neophytou)-(AKEL leader) Andros (Kyprianou): ‘Dueling’ on the Cyprob, EEZ and Euro-elections.
- On the raisins of Smyrna (editorial on the UK’s role in the region)
- Jean Claude Juncker: Vote – It matters
They want a solution here and now
We reveal the survey Guterres referred to. 61%of Greek Cypriots and 51% of Turkish Cypriots declare that they wish to coexist peacefully in a united Cyprus. 70% of GCs and 51% seek a continuation of the negotiations and talks process to find a Cyprus problem solution. 77% of GCs and 79% state they are either not well or not at all informed on the sides’ discussions on resolving the Cyprus problem. ‘Yes’ to mixed schools.
- The ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of the (Euro-election) candidates – The other questionnaire.
- Interview (with DISY MEP candidate Nicos Tornaritis): The EU can contribute to Cyprob solution
- Turkey: Fear for a domino effect from a crisis
Bases-Brexit on the agenda
Sir Alan Duncan’s statements bring back ‘closed’ issues. Important resolution at the UN on Wednesday on Mauritius, an important tool for Nicosia (analysis piece).
- Euro-elections: Abstention and TCs determine the result
- Brussels: British pillow in the EU for Turkey
- Averof Neophytou: The dilemma is do we go forward or backwards?
- Cyprus in the Euro-election battle
- Nicos Rolandis: Turkey is watching Cyprus through the eyes of a vulture
- Calliopi Agapiou Iosifidou: Trends, positions and perceptions (Euro-elections)
- Christos Stylianides: The EU is us
- Jean Claude Juncker: Vote – It matters
- A hundred years since the Pontic genocide
- Michalis Ignatiou: Duncan has done Turkey’s job (opinion piece)
- Yiannis Spanos: The massacres of Armenians and Pontians (opinion piece)
- Theodoros Tsakiris: Small victories, strategic dead ends (opinion piece)
Abstention and TCs will determine the elections
The DISY-AKEL arm wrestle, the hot sixth seat and an end result that may reveal twists and turns.
- ‘Naval battles’ on the law of the sea
- Andros Kyprianou: President-Turkey raised issue of a two-state (solution)
- (EDEK MEP) Demetris Papadakis: EDEK shed its blood for democracy
- (DIPA MEP candidate) Marinos Cleanthous: We claim another, social Europe
- Parties: At the final stretch for the ballots
- Christos Stylianides: The EU is us
Nicos Anastasiades has hit rock bottom
Trivialisation of political life from the country’s first citizen. The President of the Republic is out of order. This (description) and many others characterise Nicos Anastasiades. Especially, what he said on Friday confirms he has hit rock bottom. Offensive to AKEL and thousands of its members, whom he characterised as ‘zeros’ while he called the Cyprus he took over in 2013 ‘a dump site’. A sharp response from the ‘zeros’ gathered at an AKEL rally for the Euro-elections.
- (Niyazi Kizilyurek) The answer to nationalism is the common patriotic struggle of TCs and GCs
- Territorial waters, continental shelf, EEZ – What we must know
- Next Sunday we give power to the voice of Cyprus (AKEL election campaign)
- Turkey: Tayyip Erdogan’s great risks
(Turkey) Now reproaches the EU
Turkey is emboldened and determined to continue its unlawful actions. (Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut) Cavusoglu sends letters to permanent members of the UN Security Council, European countries and (EU foreign policy chief Frederica) Mogherini attempting to give them lessons on international law. The Cypriot government responds that his claims are baseless and contrary to international law as defined by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
- Heavy accusations: The dispute between government and AKEL has escalated
- (DISY MEP candidate) Nicos Tornaritis: Away from slogans and populism
- Christos Stylianides: The EU is us
- Christos Panayiotides: Statism and monopolies sabotage reunification (Opinion piece)
- Analysis: There are no obstacles that cannot be overcome in the solution
Main News
Cavusoglu: The EU ought not to take sides in EEZ dispute
Alithia, Sunday Mail
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The government on Saturday said that a letter from Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to the international community, including the UN and EU, concerning Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was baseless and would not go unanswered.
The dailies report that, according to Anadolu agency, Cavusoglu sent a letter to the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, other member states and the foreign ministers of the UN Security Council permanent members – France, Russia, China, the US and Britain – laying out Turkey’s position on drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Anadolu agency, which said it had obtained Cavusoglu’s letter, reported that the minister said the area where Ankara has positioned its drillship Fatih, “lies entirely within the Turkish continental shelf notified to the UN”.
Fatih’s operations were located 75km or 46.6 miles off the west coast and the drilling area “has nothing to do with any of the GC’s so-called licence areas or TCs’ licensed areas granted to Turkish Petroleum (TP),” the letter said.
Cavusoglu said the EU’s support for Nicosia on the issue was not compatible with international law.
Turkey, he said, “does not recognise the unilateral and illegitimate EEZ claims of the GCs” and added that “third parties should refrain from taking sides in overlapping maritime boundary claims and they should not act as if they are a court in rendering judgment on bilateral maritime boundaries.”
Anadolu reported that the minister “highlighted that the question of the entitlement of islands to maritime jurisdiction areas and their effect in the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas are completely separate issues of the Law of the Sea,” adding that Cavusoglu said Turkey had made its position on drillings clear since 2004 and registered it with the UN.
“He said the final maritime boundaries in that part of the Mediterranean can only be settled through agreements and not by infringing upon third parties’ rights, to be concluded between relevant coastal states based on international law,” the report said.
Overlapping maritime jurisdiction claims of EU members, “infringing on the legitimate rights of the third countries cannot be portrayed as the external borders of the EU,” the letter said.
A delimitation agreement with Cyprus on respective EEZs could only happen after a Cyprus settlement, Cavusoglu said adding he had told Mogherini that in the absence of that the EU should not take sides.
He also addressed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding Washington’s stance and support for Cyprus on the issue.
Turkey, he said, had “legitimate rights and vital interests in the Eastern Mediterranean” and has been “exercising its sovereign rights over its continental shelf in accordance with international law”.
Cavusoglu said Cyprus had been “disregarding the inalienable rights of the TCs, as the co-owners of the island, on natural resources of the island” and that this was jeopardising the security and stability in the region.
“Cavusoglu stressed that unless the GCs involve the TCs into the decision-making process regarding hydrocarbon resources or cease their unilateral hydrocarbon activities, Turkish drilling and survey vessels will also continue activities in the areas where the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus granted licences to TP in the south and east of the Island,” Anadolu wrote.
Turkey should not be expected “to sit idly by and condone the ongoing violation of its rights and those of the TCs”, the letter said.
In a response, government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said the letter is “completely baseless, and will not go unanswered by the Republic of Cyprus.”
“The Republic of Cyprus will take the appropriate actions in the attempt by Turkey to mislead the international community by justifying its illegal actions at sea,” he said.
Prodromou said: “At this time, Turkey is acting against international law, and is violating the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus.”
Sunday Mail reports that main opposition AKEL also weighed in on the issue, blaming the government for Ankara’s actions.
AKEL leader, Andros Kyprianou said that Turkey’s actions were foreseeable, and that the government did not want and was not able to react in time.
“They ignored our repeated warnings, and insisted on their unprecedented tactic,” he said.
He added that in their attempts to hide their failures, the government started to blame AKEL, calling them ‘Turkophiles’.
The government said in their response that AKEL needs to stop and recognise what Turkey’s plans are, as well as, the real danger, instead of attacking the government.
“They should find and do something more useful,” Prodromou said.
KEY ACTORS
Cavusoglu (Turkey)
>> Fatih drillship is entirely within Turkish continental shelf as notified to UN and has nothing to do with the GC’s so-called licenced areas or TCs ’ licensed areas granted to Turkish Petroleum.
>> EU’s support for Nicosia not compatible with international law. Third parties should not take sides in overlapping maritime boundary claims or act as if they are a court in rendering judgment on bilateral maritime boundaries.
>> Turkey does not recognise unilateral & illegitimate EEZ claims of GCs and has made its position on drillings clear since 2004 and registered it with the UN.
>> The issue of the entitlement of islands to maritime jurisdiction areas and their effect in the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas are completely separate issues of the Law of the Sea.
>> Final maritime boundaries in that part of Mediterranean can only be settled through agreements & not by infringing upon third parties’ rights. RoC’s overlapping maritime jurisdiction claims that infringe on legitimate rights of third countries cannot be portrayed as EU external borders.
>> Delimitation agreement with Cyprus on respective EEZs would be possible only after a solution. In the absence of that the EU should not take sides.
>> Wants US to know that Turkey has legitimate rights and vital interests in the East Med and has been exercising its sovereign rights over its continental shelf in accordance with international law.
>> Cyprus disregards inalienable rights of TCs as co-owners of the island on natural resources and this is jeopardising the security and stability in the region.
>> Unless the GCs involve TCs into decision-making process or cease their unilateral hydrocarbon activities, Turkish drilling & survey vessels will continue activities in areas where ‘TRNC’ granted licences to TP in south & east of the island.
>> No one should expect Turkey to sit idly by & condone ongoing violation of Turkey’s & TCs’ rights.
Prodromou
>> Cavusoglu’s letter is completely baseless. RoC will respond & take appropriate actions on Turkey’s attempt to mislead international community by justifying its illegal actions at sea.
>> Turkey is acting against international law, and is violating the RoC’s EEZ.
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Turkey’s actions foreseeable but government did not want & was not able to react in time, ignoring AKEL’s repeated warnings & instead insisting on its unprecedented tactic.
Both communities want talks to continue, says survey used in UNSG report
Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Politis published the findings of a survey among the two communities to which UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres referred to in his latest report on his Good Offices in April.
The UNSG used the findings of the survey to exert criticism on the two leaders, especially on their rhetoric and, to a certain extent, their actions that did not help to improve the climate in the whole process, the paper reported.
The findings of the survey, carried out by a TC and GC company between October and November 2018, show that the majority in both communities want to see the continuation of talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
For the first time since 2009, the majority of respondents confirmed that GCs and TCs can co-exist peacefully in a reunited Cyprus (GCs 61per cent, ΤCs 51per cent). The majority of older in age GCs and younger TCs were mostly the ones with this conviction, the paper said.
Seventy per cent of GCs and 51 per cent TCs said they would like the process for a solution to continue with 62 per cent of GCs and 46 per cent of TCs believing that the solution should come immediately. Another 43 per cent of TCs said it is not necessary to put pressure for an immediate solution.
Despite optimism in previous surveys in 2012 and 2015, in this one, only 21 of GCs believe that a solution can be found. While TCs don’t see a solution coming, 44 per cent declare that they keep their hopes up for one. GCs and TCs who have bicommunal contacts are the ones more hopeful for a solution.
One of the elements recorded by the survey is lack of information on the process and the solution framework since 77 per cent of GCs and 79 per cent of TCs said they were either informed a little or not at all informed on what the two sides are discussing on a solution. What the citizens are most interested in are aspects such as property, territorial adjustments, equal treatment, power sharing and guarantees.
In the event of a solution, 65 per cent of GCs consider that many TCs will choose to live under GC administration. However, 68 per cent of TCs disagree with this attitude, indicating that TCs do not intend to move to a GC administration after the solution. Seventy-seven per cent of GCs and 71 per cent of TCs disagree with the position that in a possible solution many GCs will move to the TC area. A majority in both communities (GCs 73 per cent, TCs 62 per cent) considers that the other community has nothing to fear from them. The TC community sees by 69 per cent that they have nothing to fear from the GC side. The GCs however, said at a rate of 59 per cent they feel they should be afraid of the TC community.
As regards barriers to closer contact, 79 per cent of GCs and 76 per cent of TCs believe it is due to the distrust of the other community, while 73 per cent of GCs and 60 per cent of TCs said it was fear of the other community.
Almost one in four, 74 per cent, of TCs and 51 per cent of GCs said that it was legal barriers, while 72 per cent of TCs and 56 per cent of GC said it was the desire to live apart.
On benefits from a solution, for the TCs the top three are: economic development, end to uncertainty, and utilisation of hydrocarbons. For GCs it is: return of property to refugees, territorial adjustments and utilisation of hydrocarbons.
In the case of a solution, the greatest fear of both communities is possible conflict. The GCs also said they feared an increase in Turkish influence in Cyprus, and that GCs would end up being a minority. The fear of becoming a minority was also the second biggest fear for TCs and fear of not having autonomy in decision making was the third.
In the case of no solution, GCs said they feared de facto recognition of the TC regime, absorption of TCs by Turkey and the preservation of the status quo. For TCs, the fear is of a collapse of the economy, fear of their absorption by Turkey and a rise in unemployment.
As regards education, 70 per cent of GCs and 65 per cent of TCs said they believe it was acceptable for children to go to mixed GC/TC schools, and 77 per cent GC and 75 per cent TCs said the same about universities.
Fifty-seven per cent of GCs said they were positive to the possibility of the obligatory learning of Turkish in school, while 61 per cent of TCs said the same about Greek.
The survey was carried out in three stages. At first, 1,000 randomly selected persons were screened, half from each community. In the second stage, beyond questionnaires, focus groups were set up in each community for discussion and further analysis of the findings. This element makes the findings of special interest since the teams were called on to state their opinion based on the responses of the other community. In the third stage, a new questionnaire was given to the randomly selected respondents from both communities, the daily reported.