Front Page Headlines
Parties’ fears over health being sold off
(Health minister) C. Ioannou emphatically denies the possibility of sliding into privatisations. Unions direct accusations that GeSY and (hospital) autonomy are being undermined.
- Security Council (decision) on Varosha: TC side shows indifference
- DEFA (Natural Gas Public Company): They rush to get the permits
- Total-ENI have booked drillings: Descalzi caused concerns
- Turkey continues invasion unimpeded: Everyone “worries”, no one reacts – International reactions range from tepid to ridiculous.
- Larnaca: Oil tanks leave… soon
- UN: In search of money
Euro-Erdogan’s massacre
Dozens dead, thousands of refugees after Turkish invasion on Kurdish territory. European leaders worry that “their ally” will send millions of refugees to Europe.
- Security Council on Famagusta: Reaffirmed resolutions without referring to provocations
- Battle on all fronts over direct trade
- All scenarios possible regarding the Cyprus Problem
Turkey spreads death on Syrian territory
- ENI: I will not drill next to war ships…
- Pancyprian Peace Council: Protest event tomorrow Saturday
- Resolution on Varosha with reference to BBF
Warships would deter ENI drills
Cyprus says it’s to be expected. Ozersay says Turkey’s strategy is paying off.
- Kurds protest Turkey in Nicosia (photo)
- World: Turkey presses offensive in Syria, Erdogan hits out at critics
Minister fulminates against unions over GeSY
(Health minister) Constantinos Ioannou speaks bluntly to MPs. C. Ioannou: They block the measures proposed to solve problems, while their demands have been met. (DISY MP) C. Constantinou: Unions need to change their mentality. They got what they wanted, it seems that appetite increases with eating.
- Nicosia: Satisfied over Security Council statement on Famagusta
- Turkey obstinate: Three-party (meeting) idea not moving forward – Greek defence minister asked for French ships at block 7.
- 29,400 euro fine: Priest brought tobacco from occupied areas
- Turkey’s “Peace Fountain” has started pouring out dead: Massacre without end – Civilian deaths – First victims include little children – New mass waves of refugees.
Main News
ENI: presense of warships would deter drilling
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
ENI CEO Claudio Descalzi told journalists in Rome that his company will not be prospecting off Cyprus if that meant that the Italian gas company would have to deal with warships. Cyprus Mail reports, citing the AFP news agency, that Descalzi commented on the situation in the Cypriot EEZ by saying: “I am not worried… (but) if someone turns up with warships, I won’t drill wells”. Only Cyprus Mail, Haravgi and Politis put the statements on their front pages.
Block 7 of the Cypriot EEZ, where Turkish drillship Yavuz is currently active, escorted by two Turkish frigates, was licenced to ENI and French company Total last month. Cyprus Mail reminds readers that ENI had to cancel an operation in February 2018, when Turkish warships blocked its way to a drilling target in block 3, on the pretext that military exercises were in progress in the area. The standoff had lasted for two weeks.
Phileleftheros reports that the Energy Ministry in Nicosia contacted ENI headquarters on Thursday, asking for a full transcript of the statements and clarifications over what was said. Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis is reported to have asked to meet ENI’s representatives in Cyprus early on Friday morning.
Politis reports that despite the statements, government sources appear confident that the RoC’s energy prospecting plans will proceed without a problem, pointing out that Total and ENI recently signed a deal to continue preparations for drilling in the Cypriot EEZ. It is expected that the first of these drillings will take place at the start of 2020.
An anonymous government source told the Cyprus Mail that Descalzi’s statements were “logical and to be expected”. “What else could he have said? That they would defy Turkish warships?” the source added. According to the newspaper, the north’s foreign “minister” Kudret Ozersay was later quoted as welcoming the remarks by the ENI CEO, adding that what they show is that Turkey’s policy is paying off.
Cyprus Mail also spoke to energy analyst Charles Ellinas, who pointed out that the statements should come as no surprise as an oil company’s first priority is “to ensure their staff and contractors are safe” and that “responsibility for ensuring drilling operations are conducted in safe conditions, rests with the licensor”, i.e. the Republic of Cyprus (RoC). Ellinas also points out that currently energy companies licensed by Cyprus have turned their attention elsewhere and that “these companies are in no rush to drill off Cyprus”.
Greek Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos is reported to have raised the possibility of French and Italian ships making their presense known in the Cypriot EEZ during a meeting with French Defence Minister Florence Parly. Phileleftheros and Alithia quote Panagiotopoulos as saying that he and Parly discussed developments in Syria and the Cypriot EEZ, as well as “the presence of French and Italian ships near the the Turkish ships that accompany the vessel that conducts research in the area, so that Turkey can once more see that the EU is present against its transgressive behaviour”. The story was presented with the title “Greece asked for French warships in the EEZ”.
Phileleftheros cites a statement by Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis made during a panel discussion in Athens, in which Mitsotakis points out that the EU cannot not react to Turkish actions in the Cypriot EEZ. He added that he made his position clear to Turkish President Erdogan that there will have to be a restart in the relations of the two countries. Phileleftheros and Haravgi also report that EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini stated during a press conference during the Union for the Mediterranean Forum in Barcelona, that Turkish actions in the EEZ are causing concerns and they should stop. She added however that it would be a mistake to connect this issue with humanitarian aid to refugees in the region.
KEY ACTORS
Descalzi (ENI CEO)
>> Not worried, but if someone turns up with warships, ENI won’t drill wells.
Ozersay
>> Descalzi’s statements indicate that Turkey’s strategy is paying off.
Nikos Panagiotopoulos (Greek Defence Minister)
>> He discussed with French Defence Minister the presence of French and Italian ships in the area where Yavuz is currently active.
Mitsotakis
>> The EU cannot ignore Turkey’s behaviour in the Cypriot EEZ.
Mogherini
>> Asked Turkey to stop & believe that the consequences of its actions will be very dangerous.
>> This issue should not be connected with assistance to Syrian refugees in the region.
TC side reportedly against trilateral in Paris
Alithia, Haravgi, Politis, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that there are no concrete plans regarding the next steps in the negotiations and that UN envoy Jane Holl Lute is seeking a deal both on the location and date of a meeting of the UNSG Antonio Guterres with President Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci, as well as on the terms of reference. The newspaper reports that the UNSG and Anastasiades are ready for a meeting and that Akinci “is expecting an ‘evet’ from Ankara”.
Turkish Cypriot sources have told Politis that there are still consultations in progress on whether there will be a three-party meeting or a five-party meeting. The newspaper adds that the timing and location of the meeting has become a mystery in the past few days, even though it has been a week since information emerged about the UN’s intentions. Politis adds that the lack of progress could also be related to the situation in Syria and Turkey’s involvement.
Anastasiades is quoted by Phileleftheros as saying that what he is interested in is that the meeting takes place. “We did not disagree regarding the date, neither regarding the location,” he added. The newspaper points out that Akinci had suggested holding the meeting at a European capital and that he denied having been asked about Paris after reports in the press. Phileleftheros also reports that Jane Holl Lute will soon decide whether she will return to Cyprus soon, adding that Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay will be in Cyprus on Friday.
The Turkish Cypriot side has told the UN it does not agree with holding a three-party meeting in Paris due to the fact that France is a member state of the EU, Phileleftheros reports as part of its Varosha story, citing diplomatic sources from New York. UNSG deputy spokesperson Ferhan Haq also stated that there is no confirmed location or date for such a meeting.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Important that the meeting takes place.
>> GCs did not cite any disagreements regarding the timing or the location.
Farhan Haq (UNSG dep. Spokesperson)
>> There is no confirmed location or date for a meeting of the UNSG and the leaders.
TC politicians start positioning ahead of elections
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports on statements made in the Turkish Cypriot media by foreign “minister” and leader of the People’s Party Kudret Ozersay as well as by the “prime minister” and leader of the National Unity Party Ersin Tatar. In the story, included in the reporting on negotiations, it is pointed out that politicians’ attention in the north is turning to next year’s election for TC leader, and that this affects the negotiations process.
Ozersay is quoted as having said to Bayrak that he considers the next election to be a turning point, but that neither he nor his party have decided. Phileleftherosalso reports on a statement by Tatar to Diyalog TV that if both him and Ozersay were to run for the leadership of the community, their current “government” coalition would collapse.
GCs and TCs react to UNSC Varosha statement
Alithia, Haravgi, Politis, Phileleftheros
Territory, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The Cypriot government expressed satisfaction with the UN Security Council’s reaffirmation of its resolutions on Varosha. According to the Cyprus Mail, President Anastasiades expressed his “utmost satisfaction” on the “unanimous decision” on Thursday. The Cypriot foreign ministry also called the move an important move in efforts to prevent new faits accomplis, which sends “a clear message to Turkey to put en end to its illicit acts”. The Greek Cypriot political parties as well as the Famagusta Municipality also welcomed the decision in positive terms, Phileleftheros reports.
The Turkish Cypriot foreign “ministry” on the other hand has called the decision a part of the GC side’s policy of “vainly attempting to maintain the status quo”, Phileleftheros and Politis report. In an announcement on the issue, the “ministry” points out that decisions taken regarding Varosha will be implemented and that both international law and the rights of former inhabitants and the Evkaf (Turkish Cypriot religious properties body) are taken into account. The “ministry” also expressed disagreement with the reference to the BBF in the statement.
The correspondent of Phileleftheros in New York reports that the decision reaffirms the resolution but does not make specific mention of Turkey’s actions in Varosha. Diplomatic sources in New York also pointed out to Phileleftheros the fact that all 15 members of the UNSC took a positive position during the discussion, and that the new US ambassador joined the other ambassadors in arguing for the upholding of the resolutions and the need to return to negotiations. In a statement to Phileleftheros, UK ambassador to the UN Jonathan Allen said that the aim of the decision was to reaffirm the resolutions and to point to what’s most important, that is the return to negotiations. All parties, he added, should avoid provocative actions.
The decision of the UN Security Council’s unofficial closed meeting on Varosha on Wednesday afternoon (New York time) was to reaffirm resolutions 550 (adopted in 1984) and 789 (1992) which consider any attempts to resettle the fenced-off area by anyone other than its original inhabitants as inadmissible, calls for the transfer of the area to the UN administration, and for the area to come under the control of UNFICYP. UNSC president Jerry Matthews Matjilla had stated that: “No action should be carried out in Varosha not in accordance with these resolutions” and that all participants should renew their political will and commitment to a settlement under UN auspices.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Expressed utmost satisfaction regarding the statement.
Christodoulides
>> The decision sends a clear message to Turkey to put an end to its illicit acts.
Ozersay
>> UNSC decision is non-binding and helps the GC side’s attempt to maintain the status quo.
>> Steps taken by TCs in Varosha are in accordance with international law and property rights of former residents and Evkaf.
Jonathan Allen (UK ambassador to UN)
>> The decision was to reaffirm past resolution. What is important now is to return to negotiations and avoid provocative actions.
Neofytou: “EPP will not support direct trade”
Alithia, Haravgi, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Economy
OVERVIEW
DISY has completed its contacts in Brussels regarding the issue of direct trade, Cyprus Mail reports. The party’s team, led by Averof Neofytou, met with representatives of its political group in the European Parliament, the European People’s Party (EPP). According to the Cyprus Mail, the DISY and EPP position is to permanently strike the direct trade proposal from the agenda, or, failing that, keep the proposal in limbo as it has been for almost a decade. Meanwhile, the newspaper adds, Turkish Cypriot politicians are also lobbying to keep the regulation alive, even if inactive.
Phileleftheros reports that the effort by political parties in Brussels was a “battle on all fronts” and that Neofytou had positive feedback from his interlocutors in Brussels. In statements before his departure, Neofytou said that there is no possibility that the EPP will ever support direct trade and that the issue will be discussed next week.
According to Phileleftheros, DIKO and EDEK leaders Nicholas Papadopoulos and Marinos Sizopoulos also joined the fray by penning a letter to the leader of the Socialists & Democrats political group, Iratxe Garcia Perez. In the letter they point out that direct trade is a red line for the Cypriot government and the political parties, adding that such a move would not promote economic reunification, would undermine efforts for a solution, would reduce the TCs’ motivation to work for a solution and would upgrade the “TRNC”.
In a small comment on DIKO and EDEK’s initiative, Politis points out that the S&D’s position is that the matter should be discussed and if necessary reopened. According to the commentator, the direct trade regulation will most likely be frozen once again since this is the position towards which most political groups in the European Parliament lean.
Republican Turkish Party leader (CTP) Tufan Erhurman has reacted regarding the efforts made by DISY, AKEL, DIKO and EDEK in Brussels, Phileleftheros reports. Erhurman stated that no one can expect Turkish Cypriots to remain limited in their economic activity and called on the EU’s institutions to base their decisions on current realities. He also criticised Greek Cypriot politicians for putting pressure on the EU to permanently shelve the proposal.
In a related note, Haravgi reports on the participation of AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou in a conference organised by Sin Fein regarding the issue of Northern Ireland. Kyprianou, who was also lobbying in Brussels regarding free trade, did not mention the issue in his speech but mentioned the effect that the Green Line Regulation has had on peace efforts.
KEY ACTORS
Averof Neofytou
>> The EPP will never support direct trade with the occupied areas.
N. Papadopoulos, M. Sizopoulos (DIKO, EDEK)
>> Adopting the direct trade regulation will not help economic reunification but subvert solution efforts, reduce TC motivation to work for a solution and upgrade the north.
Tufan Erhurman (CTP)
>> One can’t expect Turkish Cypriot economic activity to remain for ever limited.
Priest caught smuggling 72.5 kg of tobacco from north
Alithia, Phileleftheros
Economy, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Alithia and Phileleftheros both report on a priest who was caught trying to carry 72.5 kg of tobacco from the north to the south and issued with a fine on Thursday. He had been arrested on Wednesday while unloading the tobacco at a warehouse. The case was settled out of court, with the priest being fined 29,400 euros and the tobacco confiscated.
Alithia reports that the 40-year-old priest maintains a business selling smoking products and nargiles in Nicosia. The newspaper adds that the matter might be discussed by the Church of Cyprus’ Holy Synod.
Casualties in Turkish invasion of Syria – Kurds protest in Nicosia
Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations, External Security
OVERVIEW
Greek Cypriot dailies focus on the casualties caused by Turkey’s military intervention in northern Syria, with Phileleftheros especially focusing on the casualties among the Kurdish population, making it the lead on its front page.
Phileleftheros also reports on the Cypriot foreign ministry’s statement issued on Thursday, condemning Turkey’s actions in Syria and calling the country to end its intervention. The announcement points out that Turkey risks destabilising the region and reversing the progress that was made in the fight against ISIS.
Haravgi reports that on reactions to the invasion in the north under the title “Far right Ozersay and Tatar support the invasion”. Kudret Ozersay is reported to have said in a post on the internet that Turkey has valid reasons for the operation, and Ersin Tatar stated that the TCs prayers are with the Turkish army. Haravgi also reports that the Turkish government has ordered the arrest of the Birgun news website editor, because the site published information regarding civilian casualties in Syria.
Phileleftheros and Cyprus Mail report that about 300 Kurds living in Cyprus protested on Thursday against Turkish actions. The protest began at the Ministry of Interior and ended at the US and Russian Embassies.