Front Page Headlines
Toward a legal battle for the import of natural gas
The government wants (to import) liquefied (natural gas), Energean (wants) a pipeline from Israel. The government ‘froze’ articles of the law and gave DEFA (Natural Gas Public Company of Cyprus) import monopoly. Energean intends on turning to the European Commission.
- AKEL- Government: Spat over Russia-US
Hospitals are not ready
Full x-ray for GESY (National Health Scheme) – Instructions by the president for speeding up of the dialogue between Okypy (state health services organisation) and trade unions. The lines at state hospitals have come to an end; the practices of family physicians are full.
- (UN special envoy Jane Holl) Lute is trying to set up meetings
- They (Turkey) failed to close the (Titina) Loizidou case
- (Bill on) Postponement of military service with monetary guarantee – It will be confiscated if the conscript doesn’t show up. Athletes with mental problems will not be given health cards.
- They have a bet to win at DISY (reflection after disappointing Euro-election results)
Nest egg instead of houses for the people
The government cuts funds from the work of the Cyprus Land Development Agency to give a bonus to state funds. In fact, ‘Adonis II’ project is located in Limassol (Pano Polemidia), where the biggest problems are observed due to the large increases in property prices but also rents. The interior ministry has submitted a relevant bill to parliament.
- They (government) are ‘tying us’ behind the USA chariot
- Handlings on the natural gas are a publicity stunt – Erdogan sends in the drill rig.
- Demetris Christofias’ critical health condition will be assessed on Monday
GESY declared a success overall
President visits Nicosia General to see health system in action, makes promises.
Conspiracy Theories
(AKEL leader) Andros Kyprianou, using the US arms embargo as an excuse, picks on the Americans and the government. He sees an attempt to bind Cyprus to the NATO chariot, accuses the government of misleading and lying and expresses concerns over the Russian interests in Cyprus. The government categorically rejects claims on the Natoisation of Cyprus and asserts that the further deepening of our relations with the USA is not turning against Russia.
- Council of Europe: It is not closing the Titina Loizidou case
Main News
Christodoulides: Cyprob stakeholders must support efforts for the resumption of talks
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The papers report on a number of issues concerning the Cyprus problem such as information that Lute is trying to set up meetings and statements by UK Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan on Turkish drillings in the Cypriot EEZ. TC leader Mustafa Akinci has stated his opposition to a lift of the US arms embargo on Cyprus, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to defend TCs’ rights to natural gas.
Phileleftheros, citing sources, reported that Lute is trying to set up meetings with all sides but her efforts have not been successful so far although developments have not been ruled out, possibly within July.
Lute spoke with GC negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos and it is believed she had similar contacts with the Turkish and TC sides, the daily reported.
But while Turkish provocations in the Cypriot EEZ continue, no significant developments are expected from a possible visit by Lute in the region since Nicosia has made its position clear on the matter, the daily said.
Phileleftheros said Erdogan’s statements on Friday reinforce Nicosia’s position that it will be impossible to relaunch the talks.
The daily reported statements by Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides to CyBC on Friday who said that everyone understands that Turkey must end its illegal actions for any prospect as regards talks.
Lute has not terminated her efforts and is not waiting for developments (to act). She is working based on the UN Secretary-General’s instructions, the minister said.
Christodoulides said that given Turkey ends her illegal actions, there are three options that could lead to the launch of the process; a joint meeting of the two leaders with Lute, or with the UNSG or a meeting with the Crans Montana composition.
He said Anastasiades has proposed these options and that backstage efforts are taking place to see which one of them could be made possible.
The minister also said that the disagreements between TC leader Mustafa Akinci and Ersin Tatar’s ‘government’ which seems to be following Ankara’s policy are not helping in efforts for the relaunch of the talks.
“All those involved in the Cyprus problem must support efforts for the resumption of the talks,” he said, according to Phileleftheros.
Christodoulides also said his ministry is in daily contact with the UN on the situation in Deneia. Following meetings with all competent services two goals have been set; to prevent such incidents from happening again and ensure the rights of the GCs in the area.
“This is something we request from the UN. We are working with the UN to ensure that the rights of the area’s residents will not be violated in any way,” he said, Phileleftheros reported.
Phileleftheros and Politis also reported that Erdogan declared that Turkey will not give up the rights of the TCs in the Eastern Mediterranean and that Turkey too has rights in the region and will continue its drilling activities.
The Cyprus
Mail, Politis and Alithia report that Akinci told Deputy
Assistant Secretary at the US State Department Bureau of European and Eurasian
Affairs, Matthew Palmer who was on the island for contacts that lifting the US
arms embargo on Cyprus would negatively affect peace efforts on the island.
Citing TC media reports, the papers said Akinci explained to Palmer why the
arms embargo should not be lifted, arguing that a possible lifting of the arms
embargo would negatively affect the peace efforts in Cyprus.
He also conveyed to the US official the views of the TC side on the issue of natural gas and that the GC side is constantly rejecting the TC proposal to create a joint gas committee while carrying on its unilateral actions on hydrocarbon exploration. This left the Turkish Cypriot side with no other choice but to take similar actions, he said, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, according to Politis, Haravgi and the Cyprus Mail, UK Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan has reiterated his country’s opposition to Turkish drilling in the island’s EEZ. Responding to a National Federation of Cypriots in the UK open letter regarding Turkey’s incursion into the EEZ, the minister said he had raised the issue with the Turkish Ambassador in London, and the British Ambassador in Ankara had also engaged with the Turkish foreign ministry, to urge de-escalation. “We have been clear both publicly and privately that we oppose their plans to drill,” he said, urging “dialogue, in accordance with international law” to be used, not “force, militarisation or coercion”. The minister went on to reaffirm the position of the UK government that it recognises the sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus to exploit its oil and gas. Duncan highlighted the ever closer cooperation between the UK and Cyprus and said: “I want to reassure the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK of the great importance the UK attaches to this enduring friendship.”
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Everyone understands the RoC position that for any prospect as regards talks, Turkey must end its illegal actions.
>> Lute continues her efforts regardless of developments, based on the instructions of the UNSG.
>> Anastasiades has proposed three options that could boost the launch of the process; a joint meeting of the two leaders with Lute, or with the UNSG or a meeting with the Crans Montana composition. Efforts are taking place behind the scenes to see which one of them could be possible.
>> Disagreements between TC leader Mustafa Akinci and the Tatar’s ‘government’ which seems to be following Ankara’s policy are not helping in efforts for the relaunch of the talks.
>> Everyone involved in the Cyprob must support efforts for the resumption the talks.
>> The foreign ministry is in daily contact with the UN on the situation in Deneia to ensure that the rights of the area’s residents will not be violated in any way. The government wants to prevent such incidences from happing again and ensure the rights of the GCs in the area.
Erdogan (Turkey)
>> Turkey will not give up the rights of the TCs in the East Med.
>> Turkey too has rights in the region and will continue its drilling activities.
Akinci
>> Feels that lifting the US arms embargo on Cyprus would negatively affect peace efforts on the island.
>> The TCs decided to take similar actions as the GCs since the latter are carrying on their unilateral actions on hydrocarbon exploration & are constantly rejecting the TC proposal to create a joint natural gas committee.
Duncan (UK minister)
>> Reiterates the UK’s opposition to Turkish drilling in the island’s EEZ calling for dialogue, in accordance with international law and not force, militarisation or coercion.
>> Reaffirms UK recognition of the RoC’s sovereign right to exploit its oil and gas.
>> Gave reassurances of the great importance the UK attaches to its enduring friendship with Cyprus.
AKEL: Deeper US-Cyprus relations forces links with NATO against Russia
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/International Relations, Energy, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The papers report on a new spat between the government and main opposition AKEL over the rekindling of relations with the US.
AKEL accuses the government that it is trying to forge links with NATO against Russia but also China that stood by Cyprus in the past. The government refutes these claims.
Haravgi reports that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou criticised on Friday the government on its foreign policy and of trying to attach itself to the US chariot but also of lying that upgrading relations with the US is not against any other country.
Kyprianou said that the bill proposed by US Senators Bob Menendez and Marco Rubio for which they have been honoured by PSEKA (International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus) does not provide only for the lift of the US arms embargo on Cyprus but also “demands that we replace our existing equipment with NATO equipment.”
This, he said, means Cyprus would have to pay billions in euros which it does not have arguing that replacing the arms is not a priority at the moment. He added that the bill attaches the island to the US and NATO chariot in a time when there is a confrontation in the region between great powers. There is a risk that these confrontations could come to Cyprus, he said. He said this was unacceptable for his party.
He recalled that the bill demands the removal of interests of other countries such as Russia and China that have assisted Cyprus in the last few years and support the Republic on the Cyprus problem.
Kyprianou refuted claims that the reason the bill focuses on Russian interests is to remove illegal activities taking place on the island arguing that it is not only Russians involved in corruption cases but also nationals of other countries. This cannot be done selectively, he said.
The AKEL leader also expressed concerns over delays observed on behalf of the government as regards decisions on the export and sale of natural gas. He said the government, instead of exhibiting the due seriousness it is dealing with energy matters just as with all other issues, with publicity stunts, Haravgi reported.
Phileleftheros reports that Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said in response that the government effort to further deepen relations with the US is dictated by the genuine interests of the country and the role that Cyprus can play as a pillar of stability and security, as an EU member and within the tripartite cooperation schemes, such as that with Greece and Israel, which is also being strengthened with US participation.
He added that it must not be seen as an act directed against countries with which Cyprus has traditionally maintained excellent relationships, such as the Russian Federation just as the government does not think that Russia’s cooperation with Turkey affects Cypriot-Russian relations or the attitude of the Russian authorities with regard to the Cyprus problem.
Kyprianou’s claims on the militarisation of the Cyprus problem, not only do not have backing but do not relate to the policy followed by the government which is seeking substantive negotiations for a solution.
The sought approval of the bill in question is of great political significance for the Cyprus-US relationship and the international position of our country, but it does not imply any armament orientation nor changes our choices for resolving the Cyprus issue through diplomatic means, Prodromou said, according to the paper.
Alithia reports that AKEL is again picking on the US warning of the so-called risk of ‘attaching Cyprus to the NATO chariot’ and of the so-called negative consequences to the relations with other countries such as Russia.
In a sudden anti-American burst, on the occasion of the award by PSEKA to Menendez and Rubio on the bill providing a lift of the US arms embargo, Kyprianou launched an attack to the government and the bill in question, the daily said.
In another article, Alithia reports that Anastasiades said on Friday the aim of Cyprus is to strengthen the already close cooperation with Russia and explore new areas of mutual interest and beneficial cooperation. He was addressing a reception at the Russian Embassy in Nicosia on the occasion of the Russian Federation’s National Day. Anastasiades, referring to the long-standing relations between Cyprus and Russia, said that they are based on deep links between the two peoples, but also in the political, economic, cultural, religious sectors.
Anastasiades also expressed his government’s sincere appreciation of Russia’s solidarity on Turkish provocations in the Cypriot EEZ and conveyed Cyprus’ gratitude for Russia’s “principled position on the Cyprus problem and the long-standing support to reach a viable and functional settlement” , the daily reported.
KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Criticises government of attaching Cyprus to the US and NATO chariot through the Menendez-Rubio bill and of lying that it is not turning against Russia and China that helped Cyprus financially and through their stance on the Cyprob.
>> The bill does not provide only for the lift of the US arms embargo on Cyprus but also demands that the RoC replaces existing equipment with that of NATO, which could cost billions the country does not have. Replacing arms is not a priority at the moment.
>> Attaching Cyprus to the US-NATO chariot is unacceptable and could mean regional confrontation between great powers spilling over the island.
>> Argues that stamping out corruption from the island cannot be done selectively & dismisses claims that the bill focuses on Russian interests to remove illegal activities in the island since it is not just Russians involved in corruption cases but also other foreign nationals.
>> Accuses the government of using publicity stunts on energy just as in all other issues, instead of exhibiting the due seriousness & expresses concerns over delays observed as regards decisions on the export and sale of natural gas.
Prodromou
>> Government efforts to further deepen relations with the US is dictated by the genuine interests of the country and the role that Cyprus, as an EU member, can play as a pillar of stability and security in the region. The tripartite cooperation schemes, such as that with Greece and Israel, which is also being strengthened with US participation is part of this effort.
>> Cyprus-US relations must not be seen as an act against countries with which Cyprus has traditionally maintained excellent relationships, such as Russia in the same way as the government does not think that Russia’s cooperation with Turkey affects Cypriot-Russian relations or the attitude of the Russian authorities with regard to the Cyprob.
>> Refutes Kyprianou’s claims on the militarisation of the Cyprob which are not in line with the government policy which is seeking substantive negotiations for a solution.
>> An approval of the bill does not imply any armament orientation or changes the government’s choices for resolving the Cyprob through diplomatic means. It would be however of great political significance for the Cyprus-US relationship and the international position of the country.
Anastasiades
>> Cyprus wants to strengthen the already close cooperation with Russia and explore new areas of mutual interest and beneficial cooperation.
>> The Cyprus-Russia long-standing relations are based on deep links between the two peoples, but also in the political, economic, cultural, religious sectors.
>> The government appreciates Russia’s solidarity on Turkish provocations in the Cypriot EEZ & is grateful for Russia’s principled position on the Cyprob and support to reach a viable and functional settlement.