Front Page Headlines
They seek balances on political equality
Common ground between the two sides will define the convening of the trilateral. The Republic of Cyprus is turning to the Security Council on Varosha. Reservations by the TC side on President Anastasiades’ true intentions.
Decision on Monday
Joint meeting of UNSG with President Anastasiades and Akinci seems possible. Messages from the president’s meeting with Guterres.
- They are asking for the canonisation of Father Zacharias
Next step, the trilateral meeting
President Anastasiades, after his meeting yesterday with the UN Secretary-General, spoke of a trilateral meeting within October and then an “informal” five-party conference. The next steps, however, will be defined by the UN Secretary-General after he listens to the TC leader on Monday but also his envoy Ms Lute on the results of her consultations with the three guarantor powers.
- The new Mackenzie (events hall to be built) again on TC plot
Guterres gets things moving
President ready for a tripartite meeting with Akinci and the UN chief.
- Local creative lives it large and now bringing 1974 to the big screen
The trilateral is being ‘unlocked’
Guterres’ tete-a-tete with President Anastasiades has encouraged even more the UN Secretary-General. The UNSG will announce his decisions on the next steps after his meeting on Monday with Mustafa Akinci. President Anastasiades: The possibility of a trilateral in October but also of an informal five-party conference is visible.
- Bishop of Constantia: He will suggest the canonisation of Father Zacharias who was beheaded by the Turks in 1573-74 and was found buried in the chapel of Panayiotissa
- (UBP leader Huseyin) Ozgurgun: Towards lifting his ‘immunity’ over the enormous amounts in his bank accounts
Main News
Anastasiades sees possible trilateral meeting in October
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations, Energy
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades said there is a possibility of a tripartite between him, TC leader Mustafa Akinci and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as well as an informal five-party conference, the papers report.
Following his meeting on Friday with Guterres, Anastasiades said the meeting had been very productive. “It seems that a tripartite meeting is on the horizon,” Anastasiades said.
He said he informed Guterres about the GC side’s positions, and their readiness to agree on the Terms of Reference (ToR), which are based on the joint statement of February 11, 2014, the convergences that were achieved up to the conference on Cyprus in Crans-Montana in 2017, and the framework set out by Guterres himself on June 30 during the same conference.
“I am ready to hold a tripartite meeting at any moment, to find a way to agree or to at least restore the understanding there was on August 9 and after Ms Lute’s arrival [in Cyprus],” the president said.
He added that if there was a positive conclusion to a potential tripartite, there could be room to hold an unofficial five-party meeting with the guarantor powers. The trilateral might take place in October, he said.
Politis and Haravgi reported that Anastasiades hosted a lunch for the representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and informed them of the government’s intention of turning to the UNSC on the issue of the closed-off town of Varosha.
Phileleftheros, citing sources, reported that Guterres is expected to decide what happens next after his meeting with Akinci on Monday but also after his briefing by Lute about her contacts in New York with the foreign ministers of the three guarantor powers.
According to Politis, all sides including the UN are seeking a formula to satisfy everyone on the issue of political equality so that there can be progress in the procedure which will lead to a trilateral. Guterres expressed readiness to help as long as the sides convince him there is common ground for an agreement on the ToR.
TC sources, according to the daily, feel that Anastasiades’ references during his speech before the General Assembly on Thursday were not satisfactory as regards political equality since they would have wanted a clearer stance on the issue.
It is not ruled out that the TC side would agree to a trilateral but the most possible scenario is that it will raise the issue of political equality which, according to them needs to be clarified before substantive talks on the Cyprob, the daily reported.
Most of the papers also report that Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis said during his own speech at the UN that the only acceptable solution was that of the bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF).
They also report that the Russian foreign ministry said that Moscow would only support a decision which is taken by the Cypriot communities themselves, without external pressure.
Moscow’s position during the 74th session of the UN General Assembly on the Cyprus problem was that the solution “should be based on UNSC resolutions and provide for the creation of a two-community, two-zone federation with single and indivisible sovereignty, nationality and international legal personality.” It added that the current system of security guarantees for the communities is outdated and should be put under UN Security Council control.
In the
meantime, according to the papers, Foreign Minister
Nikos Christodoulides met with his Greek and Egyptian counterparts in New York
where they discussed preparations for the trilateral high-level conference in
Cairo on October 8.
He said there was also an exchange of views on developments in the region, the
Eastern Mediterranean, the Arab world, Syria, Libya and what is happening with
Turkey’s illegal activities in the Republic of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone.
In a joint statement, the ministers condemned Turkey’s unlawful actions in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, in particular the escalating, provocative and illegal drilling activities, seismic surveys and military presence in Cyprus’ maritime zones, which blatantly violate international law and the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus. They also stressed that Turkey’s actions undermine the UN-led efforts for the resumption of negotiations for a viable, comprehensive Cyprus settlement and further destabilise the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Believes a tripartite meeting is on the cards, which, if it yields positive results, would lead to a five-party conference.
>> The GC side is ready to agree on the ToR or, at least restore the understanding reached between him and Akinci on August 9 and after Lute’s arrival on the island.
Mitsotakis (Greece)
>> The only acceptable Cyprob solution is the BBF.
Russian foreign ministry
>> Moscow will only support a decision taken by the two Cypriot communities themselves, without external pressure.
>> The Cyprob solution should be based on UNSC resolutions and provide for the creation of a BBF with a single and indivisible sovereignty, nationality and international legal personality.
>> The existing system of security guarantees is outdated and should be put under UNSC control.
FMs of Cyprus, Greece, Egypt
>> Condemn Turkey’s unlawful actions in the Aegean Sea and the East Med, in particular the escalating, provocative & illegal drilling activities, seismic surveys & military presence in Cyprus’ maritime zones, which violate international law & the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the RoC but also undermine efforts for the resumption of talks & further destabilise the region.
Former EC chief regrets non-solution of Cyprob
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
EU Matters, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
According to the dailies, former president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker named the failure to reunite Cyprus during his term in office as one of his two greatest regrets. In an interview with the German daily Augsburger Allgemeine, Juncker listed the non-resolution of the Cyprus problem and the Swiss-EU partnership treaty as his two greatest regrets.
“I’m saddened that we did not see the reunification of Cyprus,” Juncker said. “I told our Cypriot friends: you probably won’t find another person who worries so much about you,” he added.
Ktima Mackenzie to be rebuilt on another TC plot
Haravgi
Property
OVERVIEW
The paper reports that the TC properties Guardian has approved an application by the owners of the Ktima Mackenzie to erect a new establishment on another TC plot in Larnaca, but that the area’s residents are reacting.
The daily reported on the Ktima Mackenzie building, which was demolished recently after a court ordered its return to its owners following a court ruling that the land it was built on was not supposed to be under the Guardian’s control. Citing information, Haravghi reported that the Ktima’s owners have obtained permission to erect a new establishment, an events reception hall, on another TC plot on Faneromeni Avenue in Larnaca, across from the church of Ayios Georgios Makris.
This time, however, the area’s residents have reacted to this since it will be built in a densely populated area, the daily reports. An initiative group opposing the construction of a new events hall have sent letters to the local authority, the Guardian, the district administration, political parties, the ombudswoman and the Auditor-general.