Front Page Headlines
With eyes turned to the European Council
Nicosia-Athens prepare proposals for EU partners. FMs Dendias – Christodoulides to coordinate along two axes. Turkish Cypriot side signals it is not aware of a three-party meeting.
- USA-Turkey-Syria: Trump gives OK, then makes threats followed last night by a raid
Backstage activity hits climax
Nicosia looks for solutions through diplomacy against Turkish aggression. Political, legal and diplomatic measures. Main focus is on the European Council.
- “No power will stop us”: Countdown to drilling in block 7
- Summit today: Cairo tripartite sends message to Turkey
- Trump’s gift to Turkey: US withdrawal from Syria backstabs Kurds
- Desperate efforts to save EuroAsia (Inteconnector)
Drilling in block 7 increases tension
- (Andros Kyprianou) The aim is the restart of negotiations
Greece lashes out at Turkey
Greece accuses ‘troublemaker’ Turkey of artificially escalating already tense situation.
- Cyprus: Environment the focus of maritime conference
They drill us with… solidarity
Turkey “tests” our regional and international alliances. Nikos Dendias affirms that “Cyprus is not alone”, Mike Pompeo repeats that “international law will be upheld”, but Yavuz starts drilling today in block 7.
- Prasteio Famagusta: Race against time to save Church of Saint George
- Turkey: Uncontrolled – Invasion into Syria a matter of time
Main News
Cyprus-Greece coordinate ahead of European Council
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Greek FM Nikos Dendias visited Nicosia on Monday to brief the Cypriot government on his recent discussion with American FM Mike Pompeo and to coordinate with FM Nicos Christodoulides on the next steps in responding to Turkish actions in the EEZ. Cyprus Mail reports that Dendias pointed out in statements after the meeting that “Cyprus is not alone” and that Turkey’s actions are indicative of “a troublemaker entrenched in the dead ends of his own bad choices”. Christodoulides spoke of specific decisions that have been made, the implementation of which has already started, without elaborating.
Politis reports, citing diplomatic sources, that the European External Action Service has completed its preparation of a list of possible measures to be taken against Turkey. These potential measures will be discussed on October 14 at the next Foreign Affairs Council of the EU, ahead of the European Council summit.
Phileleftheros reports that the government is aiming to achieve political, legal and diplomatic measures and turns its attention to the European Council “without increasing expectations”, as it will be difficult to convince countries such as Germany and France to position themselves against Turkey. However, the newspaper reports that Nicosia expects EU countries to go one step further than rhetorical support during the next European Council.
The government is also expecting a strong statement from Tuesday’s tripartite meeting of Cyprus, Egypt and Greece in Cairo. According to reports the three countries will discuss matters of energy, regional developments, regional security, terrorism, the Cyprus Problem and EU-Egypt relations.
Cyprus Mail reports on statements made by Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez during an energy conference in Turkey on Monday. According to Donmez, all preparations have been completed and drilling was about to start on Monday or Tuesday. Alithia and Phileleftheros also report on statements made by the north’s energy “minister” Hasan Tacoy during the same energy forum. Tacoy commented on Pompeo’s recent statements and wondered whether the US FM is aware that GCs and TCs have equal rights.
Cyprus Mail also refers to a tweet made yesterday by European Council President Donald Tusk in which he states that “the EU stands united behind Cyprus”, a tweet by Israeli ambassador Sammy Revel and an interview by Egyptian ambassador Mai Khalil to CNA in which she reiterated Cairo’s concerns. Phileleftheros also publishes statements made by Greek PM Mitsotakis in an interview to Egyptian Al Ahram newspaper. Mitsotakis points out that Turkey’s actions do not contribute to the climate necessary for a restart of negotiations.
KEY ACTORS
Nikos Dendias (Greek FM)
>> Turkey is a troublemaker trapped in a deadlock created by her own ill-advised choices.
Christodoulides
>> Cyprus and Greece have taken very specific decisions to respond to Turkey on a political, diplomatic and legal level, implementation of which has already started.
Fatih Donmez (Turkish Energy minister)
>> Drill arrived in block last Saturday, preparations now complete.
Donald Tusk (European Council)
>> Turkey’s illegal drilling undermines good neighbourly relations with the EU. The EU stands united behind Cyprus.
Sami Revel (Israeli ambassador)
>> The country is following developments closely. Friends should stick with each other.
Mai Khalil (Egyptian ambassador)
>> It is possible for additional countries to be included in the East Mediterranean Natural Gas Forum when all sides involved agree.
Mitsotakis (Greek PM)
>> Turkish rhetoric is extreme and unhelpful to the resumption of talks.
Akinci’s office denies UN offered three-party meeting in Paris
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Mustafa Akinci’s office has issued a statement that there has been no sounding out by the UN regarding the timing and location of a possible meeting with UNSG Guterres and President Anastasiades, Phileleftehros and Politis report. The statement was issued as a reply to a question by TC news agency TAK regarding yesterday’s reports in the GC media that Anastasiades accepted a proposal for a meeting in Paris in mid-November. Akinci will meet the leaders of the main TC political parties on Thursday.
According to Turkish Cypriot sources cited by Politis, the Turkish Cypriot side does not have specific information on Guterres’ intentions. The same sources added that the Turkish and TC side also wish for an unofficial five-party meeting (possibly on the level of foreign ministers) to clarify the basis of negotiations.
In a statement reported by CNA, government spokesman Prodromos Prodomou said that UN envoy Jane Holl Lute is likely to return to Cyprus in October to assess the possibility of a meeting of the two leaders and the UNSG. He also said that the GC side is waiting for the UNSG’s invitation and that in a few days it will be clear whether Turkey will give its consent. He added that it was Turkey that prevented the recording of the terms of reference in September.
In statements reported by the dailies on Tuesday, AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou assessed the support by several countries to Cyprus as positive, adding however that these do not solve the problems. What is important according to Kyprianou is for the negotiations to restart and the focus to turn towards the solution. He added that if that were to happen and the president moves in the right direction, AKEL will support the president.
In other developments, the UN Security Council will discuss Turkey’s latest actions in Varosha, following a request by the Republic of Cyprus.
KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Support by foreign governments positive, but not enough in and of itself. The aim should be a return to negotiations.
Greek block to EuroAsia Interconnector project
Phileleftheros
Energy, Economy, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that the general director of the Cypriot Ministry of Energy, the leadership of the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority and the leadership of the EuroAsia Interconnector project are in Athens attempting to convince the Greek government to reverse a recent decision that would prevent the project being co-funded by the EU.
The EuroAsia Interconnector would connect Israel, Cyprus, Crete and Attica and could be eligible for co-funding by the EU. According to the newspaper, Greece missed the Friday deadline to express its interest, as the country’s government decided to connect Crete and Attica through a national project. The EU and Brussels have agreed to extend the deadline for a few days before Greece makes its final decision.
Phileleftheros columnist Iordanes Constantinides points out in a column titled “Doomed to be isolated and weak”, that the connection of the Cypriot electricity grid to the rest of the EU would increase the island’s energy security and increase the country’s energy production capabilities, while helping out Israel exit its energy isolation. According to Constantinides, the stumbling block this time was Greece, due to the influence of private interests connected to the country’s political system.
According to the columnist, there is a risk that the project will not be co-funded by the EU which will result in Greek consumers having to pay more for electricity. He adds that if Greek PM Mitsotakis decides once again that Cyprus is too far (a reference to a 1974 statement by former Greek PM Karamanlis that Cyprus was too far for Greece to effectively assist during the Turkish invasion), then that will be a tragic development. He argues that Turkey will increase its influence over Cypriot energy supply through the proposed electricity connection of Turkey and the north, which will make Cyprus vulnerable at an especially critical juncture. He adds that the danger is increased due to the interconnectivity of the electricity systems of north and south. The columnist points out that in this context, the proposals to freeze the RoC’s energy projects and discuss energy matters with Turkey before a solution are more dangerous than the proposals said to have been brought up by the president (referring to reported proposals on alternative solutions to the bizonal bicommunal federation).
Race against time to save St George church in Prasteio, Famagusta
Alithia
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The Greek Cypriot leadership of the community of the village of Prasteio, in the occupied Famagusta district, is collecting contributions for the maintenance of the small town’s historic church Saint George. Alithia reports that the Greek Cypriots of Prasteio have put in a request through the UN to conduct a service in the church on October 27.
The community aims to collect 30,000 euro. The campaign is supported by the Constantia Bishopric (which covers the district of Famagusta) while the fundraiser has received an official permit from the Ministry of the Interior.
Woman dies in north from West Nile Virus
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
A woman aged 37 died from the West Nile Virus in the north, all dailies report. According to the report by the Cyprus Mail, the woman was admitted to hospital more than a month ago with a high fever, whereupon she was diagnosed with the virus. She had remained in the hospital until her death. The reports point out that so far there have been six cases of people infected by the West Nile virus in the north. In the south, four people have been infected in Nicosia, eight in Famagusta and three in Larnaca. An elderly man died of the disease in the south in August.
Turkey prepares to enter Syria again after Trump’s green light
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/International Relations, External Security
OVERVIEW
Most dailies focus on the latest developments in Syria and the plans for a new Turkish intervention in the country on their front pages. Phileleftheros focuses on how US President Donald Trump has “wiped out decades of US diplomatic policy with one tweet” and how Kurds feel they’ve been stabbed in the back by the American decision to withdraw their forces and open the way for a Turkish invasion. Kurdish fighters are likely to turn to the Assad regime for assistance, the newspaper adds as part of its reporting. Politis reports that the main question is whether the Turkish intervention will be used as a negotiating card in the continuing dialogue between the US and Turkey over the future of Syria.