Front Page Headlines
The welfare state needs its manager
The overhaul of the social welfare services starts with overtime, purchase of services and synergies. The reinforcement of the social welfare services is being promoted with the purchase of services by professional psychologists, psychiatrists and children’s psychiatrists. Citizens’ access to social welfare services will be enhanced by neighbourhood social workers.
Topsy-turvy over meds
A race to cover shortages. Delays also in the flu vaccines. In the public sector, doctors and Okypy (state health services organisation) defused tension yesterday and decided on dialogue.
- They are waiting for a signal by Guterres – The next step is hanging in mid-air.
- Ankara’s intervention ‘stopped’ the F-16s
- Full backing by AKEL to (its MEP) Niyazi
An influx of loans only to big businessmen
New data from Central bank reveals increase in funding to very big businesses but also reduction to small-and-medium-sized enterprises. Loans to the tune of €2.24 bn were given. Sixty-two per cent of new loans concern businesses (€1.39 bn), while the remaining 38 per cent concerns households (€848.7 m).
- There is a distance that needs to be covered (Cyprus problem)
- They were disturbed by the office MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek will open
Clash over MEP office in north
Akel MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek says office would bring TCs closer to European Union.
Controversy over August 9
Did they agree or not on the new terms? A new different interpretation of data and decisions. Nicos Anastasiades: We agreed on the Terms of Reference on August 9, I will not follow those who want to renege. Mustafa Akinci: There was no conclusion on a consensus document on August 9, Mr Anastasiades should tell the truth.
- An issue raised on direct trade with the occupied areas at the European Parliament
Main News
Two leaders disagree over August 9 outcome
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The disagreement between President Nicos Anastasiades and TC leader Mustafa Akinci over whether the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the resumption of talks had been agreed during their August 9 meeting or not is the main Cyprus problem item in papers on Thursday.
Anastasiades said on Wednesday that the ToR had been agreed with the TC leader on August 9 and that they were confirmed the first day after the arrival of UN envoy Jane Holl Lute, who was informed about the convergences achieved and prepared a short statement at their request.
“Now, if some back down, if some ask for the inclusion of predetermined positions, I am very sorry, but I cannot follow,” he said.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace, Anastasiades was asked to comment on statements by Akinci that the president is engaging in a blame game. Anastasiades responded that until now he had never blamed Akinci for a series of setbacks, in an effort to maintain good and friendly relations with him.
Later in the day, Akinci, however, said that this was not true and the only thing they agreed on August 9 was that the procedure ought to be results-oriented and not open-ended.
“There was no agreement to a consensus document on August 9, so there was no backing down on a document that does not exist,” Akinci said. The day Anastasiades will accept the Guterres Framework of June 30, 2017, and commit to the convergences concerning effective participation of the TCs in decision making, will be the day the Terms of Reference will be completed, he said.
According to Phileleftheros, Akinci continued the blame game, insisted on political equality and gave his own version of the ToR.
Phileleftheros reports that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to announce his intentions soon as regards what will happen next. Citing diplomatic sources, the paper reported that it is expected that soon Cyprus’ permanent representative to the UN, Andreas Mavroyiannis, will hear from the UN.
The daily also reports that within the coming days a discussion is expected to take place by the Security Council on the issue of Turkish intentions on Varosha. Nicosia wants the discussion to take place behind closed doors to avert the participation of representatives by the pseudo-state or Turkey who would put forth their own claims to justify their illegal plans, the daily reported.
The papers also report that foreign heads of state sent Anastasiades congratulatory messages on the 59th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, among them US President Donald Trump who told Anastasiades that his country continues to support the Republic of Cyprus in its efforts to reunify the island as a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF).
Trump notes that the US relationship with the Republic of Cyprus is “stronger than ever, and we continue to deepen our coordination across a range of issues including energy, counter-terrorism, security cooperation and regional stability”.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Accuses Akinci of backing down from the ToR agreed on August 9 & confirmed on Lute’s arrival.
>> Refuses to go back on agreement & include predetermined positions.
Akinci
>> There was no agreement on the ToR on August 9 but consensus reached that procedure ought to be results-oriented and not open-ended.
>> When Anastasiades accepts June 30 Guterres Framework & commits to convergences on TC effective participation, will have agreement on ToR.
Trump (US)
>> US continues to support RoC in its efforts to reunify the island as a BBF.
>> US-RoC relations stronger than ever. Continue to deepen coordination across a range of issues including energy, counter-terrorism, security cooperation and regional stability.
DISY-AKEL push to halt EU direct trade discussion
Alithia, Haravgi
EU Matters, Economy
OVERVIEW
According to the dailies, ruling DISY and main opposition AKEL will exert pressure through their European families so that the issue of direct trade with the occupied areas is withdrawn from the European Parliament’s pending issues list.
Alithia reports that at the beginning of each parliamentary season pending issues are reviewed by the leaders of the political groups but this year, the Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) with MEP Kati Piri at the forefront, want the issue to be revived and for a decision to be taken. The group is pushing for the issue to be discussed at the leaders’ meeting on October 10.
According to the daily, the European People’s Party to which DISY belongs, will demand for the issue of direct trade with the occupied areas to be removed from that list, while AKEL, through the European United Left (GUE) is calling for the freezing of the issue but not its deletion.
DISY said in an announcement that this attempt by the S&D must be immediately dealt with and for the issue to remain closed because it is not in line with EU law and sends out the wrong messages.
A DISY delegation headed by party leader Averof Neophytou will travel to Brussels for consultations on the issue, the daily reported.
Haravgi reported that AKEL MEPs Niyazi Kizilyurek and Giorgos Georgiou said that the position of GUE/NGL is for the issue to remain frozen.
Disappointment over no-show of Greek F16s
Alithia, Phileleftheros
External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The absence of Greek F16 fighter jets at Tuesday’s military parade to mark Independence Day was greatly noticed, the dailies reported.
The dailies, citing statements by Defence Minister Savvas Angelides to Sigma TV, reported that the minister said there were consultations with the Greek government on the issue but that it was a decision of the Mitsotakis government.
Angelides said that though the presence of the F16s at the parade had its own symbolic importance their non-presence this year must not be perceived as a setback in relations between Cyprus and Greece. The presence and statements by the Greek defence minister at the parade was proof of the substantive and symbolic support by Greece to Cyprus, he said.
He added that military cooperation with Greece is being strengthened at all levels, the dailies reported.
Alithia noted that the previous two years, during Panos Kammenos’ term in office as Defence Minister, two F16s had flown over the parade. Citing information, the paper reported that this year the fighter jets were participating in an exercise in Greece.
The presence of the Greek fighter jets at the parade served to lift the spirits of Cypriot Hellenism, the paper reported.
Under the headline, ‘Athens got scared’, Phileleftheros reports that the F16s did not fly over the parade this year due to Ankara’s intervention. Even though this cannot be confirmed, it seems the only explanation for the fact that the Mitsotakis government did not send the Greek fighter jets, the daily said.
What is the message to Ankara when Athens appears scared, the daily asked.
According to the paper, the presence of the Greek fighter jets at the anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus had a symbolic meaning and was sending Turkey, which occupies the island, a message. The Mitsotakis government did not even make this symbolic move, it said.
The decision on the F16s was taken on Tuesday morning following an intervention by Ankara, the paper reported.
After their appearance during the past two years, the new Greek government decided to follow the usual road confirming the old dogma of other leftist governments that ‘Cyprus is far’ while it follows the policy of not taking actions that could create problems or unwanted developments.
This can also be seen by Athen’s inaction to Turkish illegal actions in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone, the daily said. Greece could have sent one or more frigates so that their presence acts as a deterrent, but did not, the daily said.
It added that neither the previous Greek government did so when the Turkish drillship Fatih invaded on May 4 the Cypriot EEZ, but it did avert a Turkish exploratory vessel some eight months ago from entering the Greek sea area.
According to the daily, the Greek defence minister said on Tuesday after the military parade in Nicosia, that Greece is by Cyprus’ side but these are just empty words when symbolic moves such as sending Greek fighter jets to fly over the parade are annulled.
The daily also cites Turkish analyst Babak Taghvaee who tweeted on Tuesday that the plan for a fly-past of the Greek F16s during Cyprus’ Independence Day parade was cancelled after Turkey protested. He also said that Turkish fighter jets and helicopters fly over the military parade in the occupied areas during the sad anniversary of the Turkish invasion, the paper reported.
KEY ACTORS
Angelides
>> Just because the Greek F16s did not fly over the parade this year does not mean that military relations with Greece have taken a hit, on the contrary, they are being strengthened at all levels.
Kizilyurek under fire over office in north decision
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
EU Matters, Property
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that AKEL has backed its MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek’s decision to open an office also in the occupied areas following strong criticism by other parties.
AKEL said in an announcement that those who react to the announcement by Kizilyurek that he would open an office in the north are the same ones who did not accept a TC running in the Euro elections and pretend that they do not know that the constitution recognises two official languages.
Kizilyurek said his aim is to bring the EU closer to the TCs. He also said that he was in contact with the Cypriot foreign ministry to promote his proposal for a political office in the occupied areas which he will inaugurate on October 11.
Some political parties reacted to this announcement, the papers report.
EDEK called on Kizilyurek and AKEL to reconsider this move arguing that while it is Kizilyurek’s right to open an office in the occupied areas, it would “directly or indirectly reinforce Turkish plans for a further upgrade of the occupation regime whose final goal is its recognition”.
According to the Solidarity Movement, the operation of the office in question would be illegal since MEPs can have up to three offices: one in Brussels, one in Strasburg and one in their place of residence. “Mr Niyazi Kizilyurek does not live in the occupied areas,” the party said. It added that this also sends out the wrong messages since the EU acquis is suspended in northern Cyprus.
Far-right Elam said the move was yet another provocative act by Akel’s TC MEP and “a crime” against the homeland. Such an act is unacceptable as regards the interests of the Republic, the party said since the property of a GC refugee “is being turned into a subject of usurpation by a ‘representative’ of the Republic of Cyprus in the EU while it will be financed by Europe’s own funds.”
In response to criticism, AKEL called on all critics to explain how the opening of an office by an MEP of the RoC in the occupied territory of the RoC – which is (also) part of the EU – on TC property is an upgrade of the pseudo-state.
The party also reminded those defending the RoC that they ought to defend it for what it really is: “The common home of GCs and TCs and not a second Greek state.” Later in the day, ELAM accused AKEL of serving Turkish interests, arguing that AKEL ought to know that the EU acquis will be applied in the north only after a solution to the Cyprus problem.
KEY ACTORS
AKEL
>> Asks how the opening of an office by an MEP of the RoC in the occupied territory of the RoC, which is also part of the EU, on TC property is an upgrade of the pseudo-state.
>> Those defending the RoC ought to defend it as the common home of GCs and TCs, and not as a second Greek state.
EDEK
>> Calls on Kizilyurek and AKEL to reconsider since such a move would assist Turkish plans for a further upgrade & recognition of the occupation regime.
Solidarity Movement
>> Kizilyurek’s office in the occupied areas would be illegal since MEPs are allowed to have offices where they live and he does not reside in the occupied areas, where the EU acquis is suspended.
ELAM
>> This move is provocative & a crime against the homeland since it harms the interests of the RoC while the property of a GC refugee will be usurped by a ‘representative’ of the RoC on the EU’s buck.
>> AKEL is serving Turkish interests.
>> AKEL ought to know that the EU acquis will be applied in the occupied areas only after a solution to the Cyprob.
Cypriot printmaker Hambis to open Nicosia museum
Phileleftheros
Property, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
According to the daily, the Hambis engraving museum will open its gates at the end of November in Nicosia in a space that used to operate as a bakery in the past and which is owned both by TCs and the Archbishopric.
The museum’s first exhibition will be titled: ‘From Albrecht Durer to Telemahos Kanthos.’
The building on Famagusta street was given by the Nicosia municipality while the Hambis engraving school assumed the costs for its conversion to a museum.
To help fund the project, the engraving school has circulated copies of two silk prints which are being sold at €180 and €120 each.