Front Page Headlines
Personal squabbles with justice as the victim
Third conflict in a year between (Attorney-general) Costas Clerides and (lawyer) Polys Polyviou. “Disgrace to justice” and then apology and “outburst in the heat of the moment” by Polys. Keeping calm and good manners are long gone from the relations of the two godbrothers.
- Cyprob: Three-party meeting in New York
- (Cavusoglu) is threatening with the migration crisis
- US: (Trump) ignored the Democrats (on sanctions against Turkey)
Justice in the heat of the moment
Explosive situation in courts. Polys Polyviou was facing prosecution for contempt. Wild attack against the Attorney-general. “This is a court, not a coffee shop.”
- Anastasiades’ letter: Which factors will define developments
- Block to the sale and export of ‘fake’ halloumi – Two tracks destined for Romania and Bahrain were blocked at the airport. Cheese makers and farmers addressed a consultant for registration as quality product.
- (Soon to be retired Fire service chief) Marcos Trangolas for Famagusta Mayor
- They are putting pressure on Trump for sanctions on Turkey
They are turning a blind eye on housing
Steep rents and the abolition by the government of a series of housing schemes hinder tens of thousands of Cypriots – mainly young people and young couples – from acquiring a house. At the same time bank policies lead to also mass primary residence foreclosures while the government, with the referral of the laws, supports banks instead of borrowers.
- The president is using the Christofias convergences as arguments (in his response letter to Akinci’s proposal)
- Recommendations by the UN on substantive talks
Top lawyer calls AG ‘a disgrace’
Later retracts but not until protection of court is sought.
- Anastasiades’ response to Akinci proposal released
Joint meeting of the ‘three’
‘Yes’ by President Anastasiades to Antonio Guterres’ proposal for September in New York. Guterres’ ‘comeback’ to the Cyprob with a telephone conversation with the president and encouragement for substantive talks between the two leaders on August 9 to pave the way for the next steps.
- The letter to the UN Secretary-General released – The president’s response.
- Occupied areas: Tatar and Ozersay inspected the closed-off Famagusta
Main News
Leaders to meet Guterres in New York in September
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Energy
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told President Nicos Anastasiades during a telephone call on Wednesday that he looks forward to the meeting between the two leaders on August 9. Alithia and Politis also report that the two leaders are to meet Guterres in September in New York.
In the meantime, the Presidential Palace released Anastasiades’ response to Akinci’s proposal on the creation of a joint committee on hydrocarbons.
Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said on Wednesday that during a telephone conversation between the UNSG and Anastasiades, Guterres wished him a “speedy recovery”.
During their conversation, “the UN Secretary-General said that he looks forward to the president’s meeting with the TC leader on August 9 and reiterated that he is absolutely committed to the prospect of a resumption of talks for the Cyprus problem’s settlement, adding that he will remain in touch for the next steps.”
Politis and Alithia report that Anastasiades has agreed to a joint meeting between him and Akinci with Guterres in New York after the completion of the UN General Assembly towards the end of September. According to Politis the three-party meeting has been agreed following telephone conversations of Guterres with the two leaders.
As regards Anastasiades’ response to Akinci’s proposal, the president said in his letter that the proposal was “in stark contrast” to convergences achieved on the issue of hydrocarbons under past negotiating processes. These, he said, included not only provisions under the UN Law of the Sea but also that natural resources were to be managed by a federal government to which revenues would be allocated. “The Turkish side has never contested those convergences,” the letter said. “It is for this exact reason that the issue of hydrocarbons was never raised during the intense negotiating process from 2012 until July 2017 in Crans-Montana.”
Anastasiades then pointed out to Guterres that as a result of the convergences, he himself, the UN chief, had not “deemed it necessary to include the issue of hydrocarbons in your six-point framework”.
He also said Akinci’s proposal was just a pretext by Turkey using the protection of TC rights as a cover. He then referred to the hydrocarbons fund that was passed into law, saying it would ensure that revenues were reserved for future generations of all Cypriots.
Anastasiades also pointed out that Turkey’s claims on the exploration and exploitation blocks would limit Cyprus’ EEZ by 44 per cent “at the expense of the rights and interests of the Cypriot people, both Greek and Turkish Cypriots”.
He then referred to offering additional mechanisms to the TCs to safeguard their share of the wealth if a solution was on the horizon.
Anastasiades said although there were many other reasons as to why Akinci’s proposal was rejected, which he would not go into, the most important issue was reaching a solution “which will undoubtedly provide answers to all unresolved issues resulting from the unacceptable status quo”. He added that resuming the negotiations entails that Turkey will actively contribute to creating an appropriate climate conducive to holding talks by ending its unlawful activities.
He also expressed satisfaction with the fact that Akinci has adopted his suggestion and proposed an informal conference in the format of Crans-Montana with the hope that such an informal conference, thoroughly and properly prepared, will lead to the resumption of meaningful negotiations.
According to Phileleftheros the three factors that will set the tone for future efforts are Turkey’s behaviour in Cyprus’ sea area, Mustafa Akinci’s positions and adequate and proper preparation for an informal conference.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Akinci’s July 13 proposal is in stark contrast to convergences achieved so far on hydrocarbons which the Turkish side has never contested. Hence, hydrocarbons was never raised during the intense negotiating process from 2012 until July 2017 and Guterres did not include it in his six-point framework.
>> Akinci’s proposal is just a pretext by Turkey that uses the protection of TC rights as a cover. In fact, her claims would limit Cyprus’ EEZ by 44% at the expense of the rights & interests of both GCs and TCs.
>> Expresses willingness to offer additional mechanisms to the TCs to safeguard their share of the wealth if a solution is on the horizon.
>> Most important issue is reaching a solution which would provide answers to all unresolved issues resulting from the unacceptable status quo.
>> Reiterates that to resume talks Turkey must help create a conducive climate by ending its unlawful activities.
>> Hopes an informal conference that would be thoroughly and properly prepared, would lead to the resumption of meaningful negotiations.
UNFICYP mandate to be renewed for six more months
Alithia, Haravgi, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, External Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades received on Wednesday UN Undersecretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and discussed confidence-building measures (CBMs) and UNFICYP’s mandate.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council members reached agreement on the wording of a draft resolution on the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate which is to be approved in an open session on Thursday.
Lacroix, who was to meet Akinci on Thursday made no statements after his meeting with Anastasiades.
Government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said Anastasiades briefed the UN official on Turkish drilling in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and efforts for the resumption of talks. He also said the two men discussed various other matters and CBMs, including the ones Anastasiades submitted earlier in the year “so that a better climate can be created, the appropriate one for the resumption of negotiations.”
Prodromou said Anastasiades and Lacroix had also discussed UNFICYP’s “role and importance and its mandate in Cyprus”. “It is encouraging that we have the UN’s full support for the continuation of UNFICYP’s mandate,” he said.
Later on Wednesday the UN Security Council members reached agreement on the wording of the draft resolution on the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate.
According to Politis the Security Council takes a stand on the dispute between GCs and TCs on the issue of political equality through the resolution on the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate.
In the fourth paragraph of the draft, the Council urges the parties to “renew their efforts to achieve a lasting, comprehensive and just settlement based on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality” stressing that the status quo is not viable, Politis reports.
According to most papers, the draft resolution reaffirms all relevant UNSC resolutions on Cyprus, especially 1251 of 1999, which outlines the federal settlement characteristics.
Nicosia pushed for amendments in paragraphs 5 and 15 which contained references deemed to dispute resolutions 550 and 186, some of the papers report.
The resolution expresses “regret at the lack of progress towards a settlement since the conclusion of the 2017 Conference on Cyprus, and urges the sides and all involved participants to renew their political will and commitment to a settlement under United Nations auspices, including by engaging actively and with a sense of urgency with senior UN official, Jane Holl Lute, to achieve agreement on terms of reference to enable results-oriented negotiations leading to a settlement as quickly as possible.”
It also calls upon the sides and the relevant involved parties, with UNFICYP as facilitator through its liaison role, to intensify their efforts to establish a mechanism for direct contacts at military level, and to continue to explore ways to establish mechanisms and enhance existing initiatives where necessary for effectively alleviating tensions, increasing joint efforts on criminal matters and to help address island-wide matters that affect all Cypriots.
The Council also requests the Secretary-General to submit by November 15 a report on his Good Offices, in particular on progress towards reaching a consensus starting point for meaningful results-oriented negotiations leading to a settlement and encourages the two leaders to provide written updates to the Good Offices Mission of the Secretary-General on the actions they have taken in support of the relevant parts of this resolution. It also called on Guterres to submit by January 10, 2020 a report on implementation of this resolution, including further information on how best to strengthen UNFICYP’s role in the buffer zone to de-escalate tensions, and to keep the Security Council updated on events as necessary.
Furthermore, it calls on the TC side and Turkish forces to restore in Strovilia the military status quo which existed there prior to June 30, 2000, and recalls the special status of Varosha as set out in relevant resolutions.
Phileleftheros reports that there are references to the issue of hydrocarbons but not to the Turkish illegal actions while the changes made to the final wording on the mechanism satisfies the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the UN. Some of the papers also report that Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis has presented his credentials on Tuesday to Guterres as Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the UN. Mavroyiannis will continue to perform his duties as negotiator for the GC side.
KEY ACTORS
Prodromou
>> CBMs, including those Anastasiades submitted a few months ago, help create a conducive climate for the resumption of talks.
>> Government encouraged by UN’s full support for the continuation of UNFICYP’s mandate.
UN Security Council
>> Agrees to renew UNFICYP’s mandate for six more months but wants to see steps by both sides towards efforts to achieve a solution to the Cyprob based on a BBF with political equality as the status quo is not viable.
>> Regrets lack of progress since the conclusion of the 2017 Conference on Cyprus & urges the sides and all stakeholders renew their political will and commitment to a solution under UN auspices, & actively engage with Lute to achieve agreement on ToR to enable results-oriented negotiations leading to a solution the soonest possible.
>> Calls on sides to intensify their efforts to establish a mechanism for direct contacts at military level with UNFICYP as facilitator & continue to explore ways to establish mechanisms and enhance existing initiatives for effectively alleviating tensions, increasing joint efforts on criminal matters and to help address island-wide matters that affect all Cypriots.
>> Calls on the TC side and Turkish forces to restore in Strovilia the military status quo which existed there prior to June 30, 2000.
>> Calls on Guterres to submit by November 15 a report on his Good Offices and on progress on efforts to lead to a solution & on UNFICYP’s role in the buffer zone to de-escalate tensions. Wants the two leaders to provide written updates to the Good Offices Mission on the actions they have taken in support of the relevant parts of the resolution.
EU measures against Turkey underway
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Energy
OVERVIEW
According to the papers measures against Turkey by the EU due to her illegal activities in Cyprus’ EEZ have been launched with the European Investment Bank (EIB) announcing it would not carry out any new lending in Turkey linked to the government until at least the end of the year while it carries out a strategy review.
“As the EU bank, the EIB will follow the Council’s recommendations and, notably, will take a restrictive approach towards the submission of new lending operations to its Board for approval for the rest of the year,” an EIB spokeswoman said.
The EIB, which is Turkey’s biggest single lender, has spent between €0.4bn euros and €2.2 bn a year in the country over the last three years, while nothing has been invested so far in 2019. The freeze is not currently expected to affect private sector projects and the bank could still sign around €350m worth of deals before the end of the year if it gets the green light from EU finance ministers on the EIB board.
Phileleftheros also reports that Berlin would not confirm that it has taken initiative to act as mediator on the natural gas issue with Cyprus after statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that he discussed during a telephone conversation with his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, the prospect of such an initiative.
According to a spokesman of the German foreign ministry, Maas did discuss with Cavusoglu the issue of hydrocarbons but would not reveal exactly was had been said or could make any announcements on a mediation initiative, the paper reported.
Haravgi reports that the EU Commission has given reassurances that Turkey did not formally threaten countermeasures through the migration issue, after Cavusoglu warned Turkey would cancel a migrant readmission agreement with the EU if visa-free travel for Turkish citizens was not implemented.
Deputy chief spokesperson for the European Commission, Natasha Bertaud, said on Wednesday that Cavusoglu’s comments did not refer to the EU-Turkey agreement on immigration but to the readmission agreement between the EU and Turkey which, in any case, has not yet been put into effect. She added that visa liberalisation remains a condition of the agreement.
Anastasiades congratulates new UK PM Johnson
Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations, Energy
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that President Nicos Anastasiades has sent a letter of congratulations to the UK’s new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, saying he counts on the British government’s support for the sovereign rights of the Republic and efforts to address the continuing aggressive actions of Turkey.
Anastasiades expressed his readiness and wish for close cooperation with Johnson and his government in order to further promote bilateral relations. Noting the interest of the UK in the Eastern Mediterranean, Anastasiades said he counted on the British government’s support for the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and “efforts to address the continuing aggressive actions on behalf of Turkey”. Anastasiades also sent a letter to former Prime Minister Theresa May, expressing his appreciation and gratitude for their close cooperation during her term in office, the papers reported.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Counts on British government’s support for the sovereign rights of the RoC & efforts to address the continuing aggressive actions of Turkey.
>> Wants close cooperation with Johnson and his government and ready to further promote bilateral relations.
Kizilyurek calls for creativity as way out of Cyprob deadlock
Alithia, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Energy, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The papers host an opinion piece by AKEL MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek who argues that the responsibility of no prospect for the resumption of talks burdens both Anastasiades and Turkey.
According to Kizilyurek, on the one hand Anastasiades has made no actual effort for a resumption of talks other than voicing various ideas but never explicitly declaring he accepts the Guterres Framework while not responding to Akinci’s proposal to turn the Framework into a strategic agreement. He was simply buying time thinking Cyprus would acquire geopolitical power through regional cooperation and could attempt drillings for natural gas unhindered, he said.
Kizilyurek said it was clear this would lead to Turkey’s involvement.
On the other hand, Turkey has been declaring the federal solution is dead and so was the prospect of seeking a solution within UN parameters. Cavusoglu needed to hold on to what Anastasiades said behind closed doors that he was open to a two-state solution aiming to build a prospect of two states or confederation and thus sidelined Akinci while backing Kudret Ozersay who is a champion of the confederate idea.
This synergy between Anastasiades and Cavusoglu deconstructed the only basis which is the Guterres Framework and the federal solution. It is no wonder Lute was not able to find common ground between the sides since the Guterres basis was sidelined by Anastasiades and Cavusoglu, he said.
Kizilyurek called on the two to end the soonest possible this dangerous game and on Akinci to take more initiatives. He suggested that the TC leader could submit proposals on effective participation without compromising on political equality.
The TC demand on positive vote in every federal organ, important or not, could be reviewed he said, adding that such a move would be appreciated both by the UN and the EU and annul some arguments by Anastasiades.
It is everyone’s obligation to be creative, he said, according to the papers.
Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage seeks youth ambassadors
Alithia
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Alithia reports that the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage announced it seeks to appoint GC and TC ‘Heritage Youth Ambassadors’, inviting young people aged between 18 and 35 to apply by August 31.
The right candidates should embrace the values of solidarity, respect for human dignity and human rights, and believe in the promotion of a fair and equal society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality prevail, the Committee said in its announcement. The Heritage Youth Ambassadors will act as the “youth voice” of the Committee and their task would be to reach out to and engage with the young people of Cyprus through promoting cultural heritage sites and monuments to their networks, engaging young people in activities and events of the Committee, sharing stories and pictures about cultural heritage on social media.
They should also act as unofficial guardians of the selected monuments by undertaking regular visits and reporting on their status.
According to the paper there has already been great interest during events in Nicosia, Limassol and Paphos, while events are also taking place in Famagusta and Kyrenia.
Court hears family history of double murder suspects
Alithia
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that Loizos Tzionis, 33, the main defendant concerning the murder of a couple in their home in Strovolos last year, was scarred by his abandonment by his TC mother when he was a child which was the reason he became a bad influence to his younger half-brother, Lefteris, 23, who is also a suspect in the same case.
According to the paper, Lefteris’ lawyer told the court during her mitigation arguments on Wednesday that her client was also a victim of his older half-brother who knew how to manipulate him.
The lawyer told the court Loizos was deprived of his parents’ love since his Turkish mother, who gave birth to him at the age of 16, left him feeling she would ruin him if she took him with her to the occupied areas, while his father did not really want him and was violent.
She said Loizos was raised by his grandparents and was jealous of Lefteris who, despite also being abused by their alcoholic father, at least had his mother’s love.
The lawyer told the court Loizos became a bad influence for Lefteris, introducing him to drugs and manipulating him into believing he needed him. She said Loizos was taking his revenge on his mother who never raised him through his half-brother, the daily reported.