Front Page Headlines
Blessings and tolerance from Trump and Putin
Turkey invades Syria without being met with substantial international reactions. The US President continues dithering after having given the green light. Move preceded by a call of the Turkish President to the Russian President.
- EU supports Cyprus: Juncker the ‘Cypriot’
- In Brussels for direct trade: Turkish Cypriot side campaign
- Brexit: They have begun the blame game
A black hole in GeSY
Public hospitals are the unsolved riddle of the reform – Doctors quit daily. Karatsakis attacks OAY (Health Insurance Organisation) over salaries that were ceded to doctors in the system – They gave in to pressure from organised groups.
- Tusk arrives tomorrow: Lobbying ahead of European Council
- They now give other numbers: Population boom in occupied areas
- Developments unpredictable: Barbaric Turkish invasion in Northern Syria
- Decision taken to proceed with electricity cable – Tenders open for construction (of cable) up to Crete.
- At ’64 makeshift hospital: Exhumation of fallen of Tylliria begins
- Parliament’s 56th seat saga ends
(Kyprianou:) Partition also unbearable for the EU
- Security Council adheres to resolutions on Varosha
- Renewed carnage during Turkish invasion in Syria
Turkey launches Syria offensive
Condemnation worldwide as fears of civil war are reignited.
Operation “Peace Spring”… Turkish style
Turkey repeats what it knows how to do well. It has once again invaded Syria.
- Averof Neofytou: He briefed the plenary of EPP’s MEPs on EEZ
- EEZ: The weight of our efforts concentrated on Europe
- Alexandros Kosti: The 11-year-old who “conquered” Turkey
- Archbishop: He is not afraid of Turkish actions – Turkey, he says, is walking on a tightrope and will fall. Let them brag.
Main News
Juncker is a “Cypriot” again over EEZ, Tusk on his way
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, EU Matters, External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The scheduled Friday visit by outgoing European Council President Donald Tusk to Nicosia is seen by the media as a prominent part of the government’s efforts to lobby ahead of next week’s summit. Phileleftheros reports that Nicosia turns its attention and diplomatic efforts towards lobbying the country’s EU partners in order to increase the likelihood of the adoption of “decisions that will create costs for Turkey”.
Phileleftheros reports that President Anastasiades is in contact with EU member state leaders ahead of the summit, while on Wednesday FM Nicos Christodoulides briefed the ambassadors of EU member states in Nicosia on the latest Turkish actions in the EEZ. The newspaper points out that “obviously the result of the previous cycle of efforts within the EU for measures to be taken against Turkey was not enough to prevent Ankara from its goals” and questions whether the member states will be ready to do so in this summit, especially considering the latest developments in Syria.
Phileleftheros quotes a statement by government spokesperson Prodromos Prodromou that Tusk’s Friday visit is a part of his customary tour of EU capitals ahead of the end of his term. But, Prodromou added, it will be an opportunity to also discuss the issues that are on the agenda of the next summit. Responding to a journalist’s comment that the measures taken so far have not been effective in stopping Turkey’s actions, Prodromou is reported to have answered that the government is expecting developments from its diplomatic and political activity, taken in cooperation with Greece and other governments with a clear position on the issue.
Politis also reports on outgoing Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s statements during Wednesday’s plenary of the European Parliament in Brussels. As the newspaper points out, Juncker repeated his older statement that “I am Cypriot”, giving his absolute support to the country in light of “Turkish illegal drilling the Eastern Mediterranean”. Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party (EPP) group in the Parliament, also expressed his support to Cyprus and suggested that all issues concerning Turkey be dealt with in a holistic manner.
Haravgi reports on statements made in Brussels by AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou who argued that the safest way to deal with Turkish bellicosity is a resumption of negotiations and a push towards a solution in the foreseeable future. If that is not done, he added, permanent partition will become a painful reality, one that will also be unbearable for the EU and the international community.
Alithia also reports on statements by Archbishop Chrysostomos after a meeting with President Anastasiades where he said the country has nothing to fear if it focuses on the economy and the National Guard. The archbishop commented that he did not fear Turkish actions in the EEZ, adding that Turkey is walking a tightrope and will fall.
KEY ACTORS
Juncker (EU Commission)
>> Regarding Turkish illegal drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, he is a Cypriot and will remain in full solidarity with Cyprus.
Weber (EPP leader)
>> Expressed support to Cyprus.
>> Issues concerning Turkey should be examined as a package by the EU.
Kyprianou
>> Safest way to deal with Turkey is to resume talks & push for solution in foreseeable future.
>> Without solution, permanent partition will also become an unbearable reality for the EU
GC & TC politicians lobbying in Brussels over direct trade
Alithia, Haravgi, Politis
EU Matters, Economy
OVERVIEW
The issue regarding the possible reopening of discussions on direct trade between the EU and the Turkish Cypriot community is likely to end with the proposal being frozen once more, Politis reports. DISY and AKEL leaders, Averof Neophytou and Andros Kyprianou continued to have separate contacts in Brussels, promoting their versions of the Greek Cypriot position over the direct trade issue, as well as briefing the leaderships of the EU’s political groups and institutions on Turkey’s actions in the EEZ.
According to Politis, DISY and EPP are maintaining their position that the proposal for a direct trade regulation should not only not be forwarded to the next Commission, but be permanently shelved due to its legal basis. AKEL is insisting that the regulation should remain suspended. A compromise which would see the regulation being once again frozen is possible however, Politis reports.
The newspaper also reports that a delegation of Turkish Cypriot politicians is also in Brussels, aiming to convince the political groups to renew discussions on direct trade and even push for its adoption.
EuroAsia Interconnector in motion despite Greek position
Phileleftheros
Energy, Economy, EU Matters, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that the project promoter for the EuroAsia Interconnector has been prompted to proceed with the necessary steps for implementation by both the EU and the Cypriot government. These encouragements were given despite Greece’s final decision to move forward with the section of the cable that will connect Crete and Attica as a national rather than international project (thereby apparently removing the option of EU co-funding). According to the report, the EU has already confirmed that it will co-fund and also provide technical and political support to the EuroAsia project, without including the Crete-Attica connection.
The tenders for the EuroAsia Interconnector will remain open until the end of October, as initially planned. The newspaper also cites information that efforts are being made so that 375 million euro that would have gone to the co-funding of the Crete-Attica section can be used to cover additional costs in connecting Cyprus-Crete and Crete-Attica.
According to the newspaper, the final proposal that was rejected by Greece in a Tuesday meeting in Athens provided that the country could use the technical studies that have already been made regarding the Crete-Attica sector. That way the country could have avoided extra costs in money and time and secure co-funding by the EU. The proposal had been submitted in writing to the Greek PM.
Security Council reaffirms past resolutions on Varosha
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
Territory, Negotiation Process
OVERVIEW
Haravgi and the Cyprus Mail are the only dailies that cover the statement of the UN Security Council President following the Cypriot government’s appeal regarding Turkish and Turkish Cypriot actions in the fenced-off area of Varosha.
The UN Security Council reaffirmed its previous resolution on Varosha on Wednesday, following an unofficial closed meeting, the UN body’s president Jerry Matthews Matjila said.
Specifically, he added that the Council reaffirmed the resolutions 550 and 789, which refer to the fenced-off area of Famagusta.
UNSC resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN, while resolution 789 (1992) also urges that Varosha come under the control of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
“No action should be carried out in Varosha, not in accordance with these resolutions,” Matjila said after the meeting.
The Security Council president also called on the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus to work on creating and implementing more confidence-building measures.
According to the Cyprus Mail, the UNSC additionally reaffirmed resolution 2483 from July 2019 renewing UNFICYP’s mandate which recalled “the status of Varosha as set out in relevant resolutions”.
The 2019 resolution also urged all participants involved in the Cyprus problem to renew their political will and commitment to a settlement under United Nations auspices, and to agree on terms of reference to enable results-oriented negotiations leading to a settlement as quickly as possible.
Speaking after the meeting, Cyprus’ UN Representative Andreas Mavroyiannis said the government of Cyprus was satisfied with the council’s decision.
Regarding recent entrances into the closed off town by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials, “I hope the reaffirmation is a sufficiently strong message,” Mavroyiannis said.
The UNSC president’s statement came after Security Council members were briefed on the situation and developments in general as regards the Cyprus problem by a senior representative from the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
The Cyprus Mail reports that the Security Council website said that by November 15, the secretary-general is expected to submit to the Council the report on his Good Offices Mission in Cyprus. “Council members will probably have a broader discussion on Cyprus at that time,” it said.
KEY ACTORS
UN Security Council
>> Reaffirms UNSC Resolutions 550 (1984) & 789 (1992) on Varosha & 2483 (2019).
>> No action should be carried out in Varosha, not in accordance with these resolutions.
New data shows population increase in north
Phileleftheros
Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that there has been a “population boom” in the north, citing reports from Wednesday’s Turkish Cypriot press summarised by Cyprus News Agency.
According to the reports, interior “minister” Aysegul Baybars informed the Turkish Cypriot “assembly” on Tuesday that on April 24, 2019, the number of citizens in the “TRNC”amounted to 252,497 and the number of temporary workers, students and other temporary inhabitants reached 117,291. The number of these 117,291 persons includes 53,844 temporary workers, 452 persons who were approved on the basis of creating a business, 4,297 companions, 3,698 visitors and 55,000 students.
Baybars stated that the population in the north has increased by 1.5%, which is higher than the EU average.
Baybars also stated that starting October 23, interested persons can apply for a “residence permit” online. She added that the current administration is reexamining provisions regarding permanent and temporary stay in the north, since they will have to be streamlined in order to deal with issues such as a lack of personnel in the health and education sectors.
Search begins for remains of 1964 Tylliria victims
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that work has begun for the location of the remains of staff of a field hospital, who died during the Turkish bombardment of the area of Tylliria in 1964. The search began on Wednesday and will concentrate on the area of Pahiammos.
The newspaper reports that the search concerns doctors, nurses, injured persons, soldiers and volunteers who were caught up in the bombardment that the Turkish air force conducted using napalm bombs. The search is part of the RoC’s program of exhumation in the government-controlled areas.
Animal Party: Illegal trade in wild birds across Green Line
Alithia
Economy, EU Matters, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The Animal Party has said in an announcement that illegal trade in wild birds is being conducted across the Green Line, Alithia reports. In its statement, the party cites information that a person in the occupied areas imports thousands of wild birds from Africa which are then sold in the south with the cooperation of a Republic of Cyprus citizen.
Some of these birds, the party adds, end up being sold elsewhere in the EU. These practices, it underlines, are a danger to the country’s biodiversity and public health, and might result in an investigation by the EU.
Turkish invasion of Syria draws parallels with Cyprus
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/ International Relations, External Security
OVERVIEW
Greek Cypriot dailies give extensive coverage of Turkey’s renewed military operation in Syria. Alithia, Cyprus Mail and Politis make the Syria story their headline, while the rest of the dailies give prominence to photographs and details on the development on their front pages.
Most newspapers more or less draw parallels with the Turkish invasion of 1974, with Phileleftheros using the rote term “barbaric”, often used in public discourse for the country’s actions on the island. It adds: “The Turks boast of largest operation since the invasion of Cyprus.” The newspaper also reports on the possibility of an alliance between Kurdish militia and the Assad regime. Also, it is reported that “Russia warns of painful consequences.”
Alithia draws a direct connection between the 1974 invasion and the current operation “Peace Spring”, pointing out that the Cyprus offensive was also termed a peace operation. The newspaper points out that Turkey remains the “spoiled child of the world’s powerful in our area”. Politis focuses on the lack of international condemnation using more neutral language and pointing out that while US President Trump gave the green light, Russia reacted only with “lukewarm statements”.
Haravgi also gives prominent coverage on statements by European Commission President Juncker and German FM Heiko Maas which have called on Turkey to immediately cease its offensive. The Cyprus Mail points out that the operation sparks fears of renewing the country’s civil war.