Front Page Headlines
President and DISY backtracking on the zeros
Political downturn under the threat of Turkey and opinion polls. A weekend of corrective statements by DISY and the Presidential Palace after the ‘zeros’ comment. Full attack by (AKEL leader) Andros, reporting Anastasiades’ suggestion of a two-state solution.
- ELAM’s ‘Yes’ only on GESY (National Health Scheme) and Brexit – ELAM and Citizens Alliance-Greens respond to the other questionnaire. Alliance-Greens in favour of adoptions by same sex couples and decriminalisation of cannabis.
- (DIKO MEP) Costas Mavrides: TC candidacy is fair
The stage is on fire
Conflict without boundaries between government and AKEL on all issues. DIKO opened a front with both of them.
- Influx of migrants from Turkey through Tymbou – The system exceeded its limits.
- Survey on the Islamisation of occupied Cyprus – Turkey’s long-term plans.
The president (acted) as party leader for a few votes
Instead of the president and those in power apologising for their offensive references at the expense of one third of the people, they attempted yesterday to justify the unjustifiable, arguing that AKEL (and all media apparently) distorted his reports to… zeros! The General Secretary of AKEL characterised the behaviour of the president as that of “a party leader in his worst version.”
- Cavusoglu’s letter is unacceptable
- New ambassadors for cultural heritage – Call from the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage to young people to become ambassadors for the protection and promotion of our cultural heritage. Event at the Home for Cooperation on Thursday.
They vote polarisation
The president tried to deescalate tension but AKEL insists. President Anastasaides: You distort my words. I spoke of a nullifying criticism. I respect the people of the left. AKEL: We distorted nothing, everything is recorded, you turned into the worst version of a party leader, we will not follow you to the downhill.
- Erdogan: The issue of the East Med does not concern Cypriots
- Achilleas Demetriades: The value of (occupied) property should be determined
- Gallop: The youth are troubled on Euro-elections
Main News
DISY: Allegations regarding two-state solution encourage Turkish provocation
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Regional/International Relations, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
With the Euro-elections just under a week away, the government and main opposition AKEL continue to cross swords with tensions rising this time over a reported reference on Friday by President Nicos Anastasiades to criticism ‘by zeros’, while DIKO also entered the fray by accusing DISY and AKEL of a creating artificial polarisation, the papers report.
Phileleftheros reports that the Presidential Palace has entered the election battle and picks up the gauntlet to every attack by AEKL.
Politis reports that Anastasiades had said that “zeros cannot talk of the excellent ones.”
In a written statement on Sunday in response to AKEL criticism over his comment, Anastasiades said that AKEL distorted his words in a bid to avoid replying to his response to the main opposition’s ‘nihilistic criticism’ of him and the government.
Anastasiades said that he had pointed out during his speech at a DISY election event, “the rage and nihilism with which the AKEL leadership and its general secretary systematically seek to denigrate any government achievement.” He said he respects the people of the left wing.
AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said in response that Anastasiades acted as the worst version of a party leader for a few votes and that there is no issue of distorting what he said since they are recorded on video.
He said that there are problems concerning the Cyprus problem and the economy which are expected to increase while there are also serious issues concerning scandals and corruption.
“The Cypriot people need solutions to their daily problems and the big national issues which create a dangerous situation as regards the country’s future and prospects,” Kyprianou said.
DISY leader Averof Neophytou entered the dispute regarding Kyprianou’s claims in an interview in Kathimerini on Sunday that Anastasaides had proposed a two-state solution.
Kyprianou’s statements “do not help in the efforts to condemn Turkish provocations and in paving the way for a reunification of the country,” Neophytou said.
At a time when the country is at peril and its stability at risk, it would be best for everyone, regardless of ideological differences, to support the president who is struggling to shield the Republic of Cyprus within the EU.
Kyprianou’s statement that the GC side allegedly proposed a two-state solution give an alibi to Turkish provocation, he said.
Meanwhile, DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos accused DISY and AKEL of creating “artificial polarisation on the ruins of a failed policy on the Cyprus problem which they jointly supported and implemented until its collapse.”
Alithia reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during an event in Samsun that the issue of the Eastern Mediterranean does not concern Cypriots.
“Even if some people think that the Syrian issue concerns Syrians, the Iraq issue the Iraqis, the issue of Bosnia-Herzegovina the Bosnians, even if they think that the question of the Eastern Mediterranean is the issue of the Cypriots, that of North Africa of Libyans, of Tunisia of Algerians, we know very well that this is not the case,” Erdogan said in his speech, the daily reported.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Statement on the ‘zeros’ referred to the nihilism with which AKEL is trying to denigrate all the government’s work.
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> There are problems concerning Cyprob & economy which are expected to increase as well as serious issues concerning scandals and corruption.
>> The people need solutions to their daily problems and the big national issues which create a dangerous situation as regards the country’s future and prospects.
Neophytou (DISY)
>> Kyprianou’s statements on Anastasiades’ alleged proposal for two-state solution don’t help efforts to condemn Turkish provocations & pave the way for reunification, but give Turkey alibi.
>> Everyone, regardless of ideology, ought to support Anastasiades’ efforts to shield RoC at a time when the country is in peril.
Papadopoulos (DIKO)
>> DISY and AKEL created artificial polarisation on the ruins of a failed policy on the Cyprob which they jointly supported and implemented until its collapse.
Erdogan (Turkey)
>> Just as other issues in the wider region are not matters of those living in those areas, the issue of the East Med does not concern Cypriots.
Increasing influx of migrants through Tymbou airport
Phileleftheros
Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
Interior Minister Constantinos Petrides said there is an increasing trend of the arrival of migrants to Cyprus through Tymbou airport in the occupied areas.
During an event at the University of Nicosia on migration flows, the minister said that during the last two years there has been an increasing trend in the arrival of migrants who travel by air to Istanbul and from there they fly to the occupied areas and then cross to the free areas.
There has also been a change in the profiles of migrants crossing to the free areas, who usually hail from African countries, Lebanon and Syria. It is probably people who were denied entry to other countries, the minister said, according to Phileleftheros.
The minister called for the creation of security zones to limit the threat for the first reception countries such as Cyprus, Greece and Malta that receive large waves of migrants.
“The numbers are such we cannot cope anymore,” he said, adding that more than 4,500 applications for asylum were filed in Cyprus during the first three months of the year, which is a 140 per cent increase compared to the equivalent period in 2018.
The government will create a second and third reception centre but the numbers are so big it cannot cope as the system has exceeded its limits, he said. The capacity of the existing reception centre in Kofinou is 400 people but there is currently a need for 1,500 people.
KEY ACTORS
Petrides
>> More and more migrants arriving in last two years via Tymbou airport.
>> Calls for creation of security zones to limit threat for first reception countries such as Cyprus, Greece and Malta that receive large waves of migrants.
>> Cyprus has received so many migrants, system has exceeded its limits and cannot cope anymore.