Front Page Headlines
Natural gas in the Cyprob cadre
The EEZ (exclusive economic zone) crisis is being discussed by the UN Security Council to be part of the Cyprob procedure. The draft report on UNFICYP does not include references to Varosi. Cavusoglu continues provocation on the EEZ with the Presidential Palace calling for rational understanding.
- He (Kudret Ozersay) forgot the CMP (Committee on Missing Persons) as regards Varosi – Recording of buildings but not of exhumations of missing persons. Photo description: Ozersay, from the terrace of the (makeshift) 1974 hospital is pointing to a missing persons’ burial site.
There are thousands of ‘missing’ women
Chaos as regards domestic workers. Between 2,745 to 8,000 have turned illegal (migrants). The president gave one number of (people declared as) missing, police gave another and agents give a different number. Everyone points out that the police are not doing much to locate them.
- Erdogan-Cavusoglu: The sultans are hurling threats
- A 264 per cent increase in migrant arrivals through the occupied areas – We reveal a report by the EU Commission.
The aim is de-escalation of tensions
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in new statements, threats but also under the pretext of the TCs’ rights which he mentioned that President Nicos Anastasiades had avoided guaranteeing during a conversation they had, insists on provoking on the Cypriot EEZ.
- (AKEL) What the president is asking for annuls convergences and is not being accepted by the UN Secretary-General
Over 130,000 GP visits in a month
‘Positive’ start to GESY, (Health Minister)Ioannou says amid strikes at Limassol’s general hospital.
- Cavusoglu appears to threaten new invasion
- Swedish food expert disses halloumi
He died helpless in hospital. They could not find a pulmonologist!
A 44-year-old father of two. The health minister, who heard the complaint straight from the dead man’s brother, ordered a probe.
- Raw threats by Turks on the EEZ – Erdogan: We can too speak the language they can understand. Cavusoglu: The GCs will receive the same answer as in the past.
- Washington warns Ankara on the S-400s
Main News
TCs’ natural gas rights are secured, government says
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, External Security, Regional/International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday perceived as threats of another invasion this time over natural gas, feature prominently in all papers on Friday.
The government responded later in the day, while main opposition AKEL and other parties too said such statements by Turkey were unacceptable.
According to the dailies, Cavusoglu said their drilling activity inside the island’s EEZ was in response to the Republic’s failure to guarantee the rights of TCs and that threats from the GCs were meaningless to Turkey.
Speaking to state TRT Haber television, Cavusoglu said: “They know they cannot take a step against us, and if they dare do so they will get their response like in the past.” He said Cyprus protested to the EU in a bid to secure decisions against Turkey but it failed “because we made the necessary briefings.”
Cavusoglu said even President Nicos Anastasiades had conceded that TCs had rights but he also told him he could not guarantee them right now but rather once the sale of the gas started. “Nicos, I told him, if you cannot guarantee them now, then what is the guarantee that you will do so when you start selling?” Cavusoglu said, to which he got no response.
“We are saying it clearly, either you guarantee it or we start drilling with our drillships,” he added.
Erdogan too warned anyone attempting to deny his country access to natural gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He said Turkey was taking all legitimate steps and shall continue doing so but should anyone who does not recognize this stands in her way, “then we too can speak the language they understand.”
In response, Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou recalled the conclusions of the European Council summit of June 20 which stated that the sovereign rights of Cyprus must be respected.
On Cavusoglu’s claims regarding his private conversation with Anastasiades, Prodromou said the president “has never said and does not say that what TCs are entitled to by proportion is not guaranteed.” On the contrary, a relevant law [Hydrocarbons Fund] has been passed, he said.
He added that a convergence had been reached between the two sides on natural gas and that up to the UN Conference on Cyprus in Crans Montana, including, no such issue was raised at the talks.
According to the Cyprus Mail the convergence provides that the management of natural resources would be the purview of the central government in a reunified state.
AKEL said in a statement Cavusoglu’s threats were unacceptable and offensive. “Essentially, the Turkish foreign minister threatened with a new invasion of Cyprus because the Republic exercises its sovereign rights inside its EEZ,” the party said.
It added that such statements escalate the tension that has already been created by Turkey’s illegal drill inside the EEZ and that Ankara appears to have a peculiar understanding of international law, which in such cases recommends negotiations to delineate and joint recourse to an international court if that failed.
AKEL also said solutions on natural gas issues can be given only through the overall settlement of the Cyprus problem. Through a solution the rights of the TCs on natural gas will be secured through the relevant convergences, the party said.
According to Phileleftheros, the Citizens Alliance said Cavusoglu’s statements were provocative and condemnable and that Turkey is behaving like a pirate who issues threats and ignores international law.
The party said Cyprus should intensify pressure for financial and political sanctions against Turkey by the EU by pointing out that Turkey is a destabilizing factor in the region and harms European interests.
The Solidarity Movement said that Greece has unilaterally renounced her guarantor rights before the Cyprus problem is solved while Turkey is attacking, Phileleftheros reported.
Phileleftheros calls Erdogan and Cavusoglu as sultans who got pissed off and are issuing threats. According to the daily, Nicosia’s refusal to leave Turkey do as she pleased in the Cypriot EEZ has irritated Ankara. The Erdogan-Cavusoglu duo, adding insult to injury, are threatening the Republic of Cyprus because it is promoting measures on Turkey’s illegal actions in Cyprus’ EEZ, the paper said.
Alithia reports that Turkey openly threatened for a new Attila [invasion].
Most papers also report that Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic gave reassurances on Thursday that the EU Commission will do what has to be done, concerning the concrete actions in light of Turkey’s continued illegal drilling activities and in full support for Cyprus.
In his speech on behalf of President Juncker at the EP plenary, he said Juncker was the first one to say already back in Sibiu that “on this issue I am Cypriot” and was delighted that at the European Council every member state said the same. “The Commission is now backing up that spirit of solidarity: we are working on concrete actions we can take. I can assure the people of Cyprus that we will do what we have to do. Europe stands in full solidarity with Cyprus,” he said, according to the dailies.
KEY ACTORS
Cavusoglu (Turkish FM)
>> GCs are well aware they can do nothing to Turkey but if they try, Turkey will respond as in 1974.
>> Cyprus was unable to secure decisions against Turkey at EU level because Turkey briefed member states of the situation.
>> Does not trust GCs will share natural gas proceeds with TCs after Anastasiades admitted TCs had rights too but would not guarantee them until after sale of the gas started. So Turkey will drill in the Cypriot EEZ unless GCs guarantee TCs’ rights.
Erdogan (Turkish president)
>> Warns anyone who might try deny Turkey access to natural gas resources in the East Med by ignoring her legal rights, she will not hesitate to speak in the same language as them.
Prodromou
>> Refers to the European Council’s June 20 conclusions that state the sovereign rights of Cyprus must be respected.
>> Anastasiades has never said or believes that TCs must not get their share of natural gas proceeds and to prove this, the government has set up the Hydrocarbons Fund.
>> There is a convergence on natural gas and the issue was never brought up at the talks so far not even in the last round in Crans-Montana.
AKEL
>> Finds Cavusoglu’s threats unacceptable and offensive since he basically threatens with a new invasion just because the RoC exercises its sovereign rights inside its own EEZ.
>> Ankara does not seem to understand international law and what procedures are taken for this type of disputes.
>> Only through a comprehensive solution to the Cyprob can natural gas issues be resolved and TCs’ rights secured through the relevant convergences.
Citizens Alliance
>> Cavusoglu’s statements are provocative and condemnable while Turkey, that ignores international law, behaves like a pirate in the region.
>> Calls on the government to further push for sanctions against Turkey pointing out to the EU how Turkish actions are a destabilizing factor in the region and against European interests.
Solidarity Movement
>> Greece has renounced her guarantor rights before the Cyprob is solved leaving room for Turkey to be aggressive.
Sefcovic (EU Commission VP)
>> Pledges EU support to Cyprus through the preparation of proposals on concrete actions against Turkey for her illegal drilling activities.
>> Europe stands in full solidarity with Cyprus.
UNFICYP mandate to be renewed but concerns over standstill grow
Politis
External Security, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The daily, citing UN sources, reports there is no reference on the Turkish moves on Famagusta in the draft report of the UN on UNFICYP, while, for the first time, natural gas will be linked with the Cyprus problem procedure.
According to Politis, the UNFICYP mandate is expected to be renewed at the end of July when the Security Council will discuss the matter but the members of the SC expect developments on the Cyprus problem and especially the relaunch of the talks. They find the stance of the two sides as regards hydrocarbons as an important obstacle to the procedure, the daily reported.
The sources also said that UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute is willing to travel to Cyprus to meet the two leaders but the UN are not convinced by the two sides that there is ground for substantive developments.
The draft report on UNFICYP will be submitted to the Security Council on July 10 while UNFICYP head Elizabeth Spehar will brief the body on July 19. The vote will take place on July 30, the paper reported.
In the meantime, negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis is in New York for consultations on what the GC side would like to be included in the report.
According to Politis, the report is expected to be stern and describe exactly what each side must do.
Although there will be references to incidents in Deneia and Strovilia, diplomatic sources told the paper these references do not justify preserving UNFICYP to keep security and order in the buffer zone given that peacekeeping forces in other parts of the world have to deal with deaths in schools and hospitals located in war zones.
The paper reports that nothing has been done during the past six months concerning the call by Guterres in his last report for the two sides to create communication mechanisms to solve any problems in the buffer zone to avoid the constant requests for UNFICYP involvement.
TC plans on Varosha do not include CMP excavations
Politis
CBMs, Human Rights, Territory
OVERVIEW
The paper reports that TC ‘foreign minister’ Kudret Ozersay forgot to include in his recent announcement on an inventory of the buildings of the closed-off town of Varosha, any permission allowing the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) carry out excavations since it is believed a number of GCs are buried in a cemetery there.
Politis, commenting on a photo Ozersay himself published on social media showing him on the roof of a building in Varosha, reported that the TC politician was standing on the roof of ‘Markos’ hotel that was used as a hospital during the 1974 invasion and treated mostly GCs but also TCs.
The paper also said that the point to which Ozersay is pointing with his finger in the photo is the Stavros cemetery in which the CMP estimates that GC missing persons have been buried.
The CMP had submitted a request to be allowed to carry out excavations in 54 military areas in the occupied areas but was recently given permission for 30. Among the 24 areas the Turkish military refuses to grant permission is the Stavros cemetery in Varosha, the paper reports.
Ozersay, during his visit in Varosha this week did not mention exhumations to locate missing persons or Turkey’s obligation to facilitate investigations into the fate of these persons, the daily said.
Politis, citing sources, reported that between July 20 and August 15, 1974 29 GCs who were killed during the invasion were buried at the Stavros cemetery, across from Markos hotel. These people (25 GC soldiers, three Greek military officers and one unknown person) were not included in the missing persons list.
It is believed that more persons were buried there after August 16, the daily reported.
EU records steep rise in migrant crossings from north in Green Line report
Phileleftheros
CBMs, Economy, Migration & Citizenship, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The paper, revealing the latest report by the European Commission on the Green Line, said that Cyprus presents a tragic image as regards migration since it records a 264 per cent increase in the number of irregular migrants who crossed to the free areas through the Green Line.
Last year 4,451 irregular migrants crossed compared to 1,686 in 2017 and 1,499 in 2016 the report said according to Phileleftheros. The majority (1,573) who crossed last year were Syrians, while the rest were persons from Cameroon, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Iraq.
At the same time, the report recognizes that asylum applications have risen substantially while avoiding mentioning numbers, the daily said.
In its conclusions, the Commission said the issue is increasingly worrying and that it must be carefully monitored. It also urges the British Bases administration to allocate the necessary human resources to address the issue of unauthorized crossing points.
The Commission said it continues to believe that the stability, predictability and legal certainty of the requirements at the crossing points, and free movement of EU citizens, is of the utmost importance, the paper reports.
The report also records that the numbers of GCs crossing to the occupied areas has almost doubled and that there has been a slight decrease in crossings of TCs to the free areas, which the Commission attributes to the fall of the Turkish lira.
Last year 1,014,340 crossings by GCs were recorded compared to 654,569 in 2017, while as regards TCs, there were 1,076,667 crossings compared to 1,140,682 in 2017.
As regards transactions, according to the information the TC community gave the Commission, they amounted to €5,405,121 from the occupied to the free areas recording a 5,1 per cent drop compared to 2017.
In the case of GCs spending in the occupied areas, there has been a 1,4 per cent increase this year in transactions as they spent in total €4,856,892.
The most popular categories of products that crossed from the occupied to the free areas as part of commercial agreements was fish and construction materials, the report said according to the paper.
Citing the report, the paper said that smuggling from the occupied to the free areas is booming since there have been 1,711 confiscations of products in 2018 compared to 1,334 in 2017.
The quantities of cigarettes and tobacco seized by GC authorities have increased in 2018 the paper reports. It said that last year 469,870 cigarettes and 587,513 grammes of tobacco were confiscated compared with 203,290 cigarettes and 440,259 grammes in 2017.
The report said there has been a 45 per cent increase in smuggling of products that violate intellectual property rights in 2018.
According to Phileleftheros, the Commission, remaining true to its classic position, does not hesitate to attribute responsibility to Nicosia for the limited volume of trade through the Green Line, considering that the issue of the crossing of TC lorries over 7.5 tons has not yet been solved, unless they have documents in full compliance with Community law.
The Commission is convinced that a solution to the issue would substantially contribute to increasing the volume of trade as it will facilitate the transport of goods, the paper reported.
It also said the Commission holds Nicosia responsible on that Cypriot authorities do not allow the crossing of processed foods and materials due to concerns by the health services for the procedures in the occupied part of Cyprus. Under the existing legal framework, however, these products are allowed to cross the Green Line and should therefore not be banned by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, the report said.
The Commission also notes that the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus do not allow TC buses carrying EU citizens cross from the occupied to the free areas and that TCs continued to express discomfort for difficulties in advertising and placing their products in stores located in areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, the paper reports.
Chaos reigns on the issue of domestic workers abandoning workplace
Phileleftheros, Politis
Migration & Citizenship, CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that confusion reigns when it comes to the numbers of foreign domestic workers who are being reported as missing by their employers, many of whom are believed to have crossed in the occupied areas.
According to the daily, police say 2,745 domestic workers have been reported as missing by their employers, the head of the federation of private employment agencies says it is 8,000 women while President Nicos Anastasiades had said recently that the number was 3,600.
Τhe gradually increasing problem of abandonments by domestic workers of their employers is proof that no one is taking the situation seriously while police were found to be at fault for not trying to locate these women, the paper said.
The situation has also economic and social consequences since employers lose the guarantee money they pay for their domestic workers and many are unable to pay the around €2,500 necessary to bring another one, while many elderly persons are left without carers.
Andreas Tsangarides, head of the private employment agencies told Phileleftheros that according to data by the immigration department, only last year, around 2,000 domestic workers crossed to the occupied areas. He said that according to information, these women are heavily exploited in the occupied areas.
He also said that many of these women fall victims to some rings that exploit them also sexually.
Tsangarides said the problem was created after the government, during the stint of Neoclis Sylikiotis as interior minister [2006-2007 & 2008-2012], stopped arresting and deporting domestic workers who used to leave their employers as the practice was deemed as racist.
Before that, none of them used to abandon their workplace, he said, adding that the group had meetings with government officials since expressing their concerns but were not heard, Phileleftheros reported.
Politis reports that police, in the aftermath of the discovery that five women and two girls who had been reported as missing ended up being murdered by serial killer Nicos Metaxas have prepared a protocol on how disappearances of persons must be dealt with.
The protocol provides among other things how to handle cases when there is information that the missing person crossed to the occupied areas. Such cases will be handled with the help of the competent bicommunal technical committee, the paper reports.