GCC Press Review 26 May 2019

Front Page Headlines

Sunday Mail

Are we safe from measles scourge?

Lack of a national database, unreliable surveys and disconnect between private, public health sectors mean we do not actually know.

  • Political cartoonist (Yiorgos Mavroyenis) dies
  • Tales from the Coffeeshop: Who would want to be an MEP?
  • World: Contest to replace British Prime Minister May hots up
  • Comment: A little bitty tear let Theresa down and now it’s Johnson

Simerini

Euro-elections, like parliamentary elections

The four issues at stake.

  • Prominent cartoonist Yiorgos Mavroyenis passes away
  • Mike Germanos: Cynergy submits tenders and moves with strategic investments in East Med energy sector
  • Cyprus Problem: The rights of fishermen and Cavusoglu’s wife
  • Editorial: “Sea Wolf”

Politis

We vote for Europe

The stakes and the profile of the Euro-elections. The history of Euro-elections in Cyprus. The far right and the EU’s broken window. European defence and security and fake news.

  • Geopolitics: “A legal tool” for Cyprus – The ruling of the International Court (of Justice) at the Hague on Chagos Islands

Phileleftheros

The four “keys” to the ballot box

The factors that will tip the scales during today’s contest for the European Parliament: Rallying (party votes); Abstention; Turkish Cypriots; The hidden vote.

  • Unusual candidates for a seat in Brussels
  • Increasing the temperature in the EEZ: Turkey choses to escalate tensions
  • Many challenges, a divided internal front
  • British safety net for Turkey in the EU
  • Relations with USA and Economy: Erdogan prepares to kneel again

Kathimerini

Editorial: Cypriot deficiencies in the European election battle

  • Parties: Expectations and fears ahead of ballot
  • Euro-elections to turn things upside down
  • Stephen Cook: The new balance in the Eastern Mediterranean
  • Turkish provocations: Diplomatic dribble over EEZ provocations

Haravgi

Give power to your voice

We say no to fear and division.

  • World: The most critical Euro-elections in the EU’s recent history
  • We say no to fears and division

Alithia

We vote for our Europe

Participating en masse in today’s Euro-elections is our collective obligation.

  • Myths and reality, the EEZ and the (British) bases
  • Koma tou Yialou: They burned and destroyed the arch of Agia Solomoni
  • Theresa May: Her short term with many negative records
  • Commentary: The exit from an energy cul-de-sac
  • Euro-elections in Cyprus: They have their own, if short, history

Main News

Euro-elections: hopes and fears

Alithia, Haravgi, Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis, Simerini, Sunday Mail
EU Matters

OVERVIEW

The majority of newspapers call on people to vote in the European Elections, with Alithia and Politis making this call their headline story and Kathimerini highlighting the deficiency of discussion on European issues in the Cypriot public sphere. Simerini leads with the messages that Sunday’s ballot will have on the national political landscape. Most newspapers present the fears and expectations of the parties, with Politis also publishing stories about European security and the far right, and Kathimerini including a story on the reversals expected on the European level.

Phileleftheros meanwhile codifies the main stake of this election in four fields: the ability of parties to retain their traditional voters, the level of abstention and indifference, the participation of the Turkish Cypriots, and the phenomenon of the “hidden vote”, i.e. of voters misleading pollers by not truthfully answering on their voting intentions.


Turkey’s moves in EEZ continue, Nicosia plans action

Alithia, Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis, Sunday Mail
Energy, Regional/International Relations, External Security

OVERVIEW

In an analysis, Politis points out that Turkey is expected to proceed with drilling regardless of the fact that public opinion had not paid attention to the issue due to the long and divisive pre-election campaign. The newspaper cites converging information that the Turkish drill ship Fatih will be remaining in the area until at least September. It is expected, the newspaper adds, that Turkey will assess its next moves in the coming weeks by keeping in mind the wider picture and the way it can use the issue of hydrocarbons as a card in the Cyprus Problem.

Kathimerini reports on the government’s plan to deal with Turkey’s actions in the EEZ west of Cyprus, including pressure by third powers as well as moves preventing Turkey from finding companies with which to work in the region. According to the newspaper, the weight falls on Cypriot diplomacy.

In a related story, Phileleftheros reports that Turkey intends to bring about tension due to the delays observed in its drilling programme, which in turn are connected with the RoC’s steps against any company that would work with Turkey’s state company TPAO in the region. The newspaper’s analysis links this issue to rising tensions between Greece and Turkey. According to Phileleftheros‘ correspondent in Brussels, the UK has protected Turkey from being hit with sanctions by the EU.

Meanwhile, in a comment article hosted by the Sunday Mail and Alithia it is pointed out that if there is going to be a solution regarding the hydrocarbon issue, the “technical legalities behind the EEZ dispute with Turkey need to be understood”.

Kathimerini also publishes an interview with Stephen Cook, an academic specialising in issues regarding the Middle East. In the interview, Cook speaks of the new balances in the East Med, the increasingly antagonistic relations between the US and Turkey, and the RoC’s opportunity to take advantage of the circumstances.


Thoughts in Turkey and north on bypassing federal solution

Kathimerini, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, Energy, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

The Turkish presidency and the new “government” in the north as well as the army are examining the idea of pushing for further cooperation of the two sides, especially concerning hydrocarbons, Kathimerini reports. The newspaper focuses on the “government” programme signed by partners Ersin Tatar and Kudret Ozersay, in which it is stated that conditions are no longer conducive to negotiations on a federal solution.

In an analysis article, Phileleftheros lists the challenges concerning the Cyprus Problem that will come up after the European Election, pointing out that national politics are divided at a critical juncture. The newspaper points out the ongoing Turkish moves in the Eastern Med, the political shifts in the north ahead of the 2020 “presidential” elections, and the decision of the new “government” to promote the end of discussions on a federal solution.


Part of Agia Solomoni church in north burned

Alithia
CBMs

OVERVIEW

Alithia reports that experts from the Nicosia Byzantine Museum were unpleasantly surprised when visiting the Agia Solomoni chapel in occupied Koma tou Gialou, where they were intending to conduct 3D mapping of the temple ahead of the return of icons that were stolen during the invasion and have been recently returned.

The officials discovered that the arch was damaged by fire and that the 8th century chapel is in a bad condition. The newspaper notes that this is not the first time that officials from the Byzantine Museum have found damaged monuments in the north.


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