GCC Press Review 14 Oct 2019

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Akinci as a Cypriot, Tayyip as a dictator

They are setting the TC leader against the wall for declaring the obvious on the invasion in Syria and Cyprus. Trump threatens Turkey with harsh sanctions. The European countries, one after the other, are proceeding with arms embargo. The European FMs are studying deterrent measures against Turkish actions in Syria and the Cypriot EEZ.

  • Theatre of absurdity without denouement (article on Turkish operations in northern Syria)

Phileleftheros

Frigates and diplomacy

Nicosia is moving on two fronts to address Turkish provocations. After France, Italy also participates in an exercise, Greece follows.

  • Akinci also in the cross hairs – He provoked Ankara’s ire.
  • President: Effort to rid Turkey (of responsibility)
  • Warning by the AKEL leader on the risks (over prolonged dead end)
  • The importance of the escalation of tensions in the EEZ
  • Trump: Sanctions on the way for Turkey – They opened the door to the jihadis.

Haravgi

The president becomes worse when cornered

The president, instead of blaming himself since it is his handling that led the Cyprus problem to a dead end, he takes it out on AKEL confirming that he is and feels cornered. Yesterday, during the rally of Morphou refugees, and unable to withstand general criticism, he attacked AKEL and reiterated, among other things, that he is determined to work for a solution “but not just any solution.”

  • M. Akinci: In war, blood flows
  • ‘Peace Spring’ with many victims

Alithia

Kick him out!

Orders by Erdogan to his minions in the occupied areas after Akinci’s bold criticism on his invasion in Syria. M. Akinci: Regardless if the 1974 invasion was dubbed as a ‘Peace Operation’ and today’s in Syria as ‘Peace Spring’, they were wars that shed blood and not water.

  • Come to a trilateral anywhere – Call by President Anastasiades from the Morphou refugees’ rally to the TCs and Turkey for a meeting anywhere. Morphou Mayor: We are tired. We have been hearing the same every year.
  • In Brussels… through Luxembourg for Turkey’s condemnation
  • Turks: From athletes, they turned into provocative propagandists of the invasion

Main News

Anastasiades: Yes to solution but not just any solution

Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, Energy, Regional/ International Relations

OVERVIEW

According to the dailies, President Nicos Anastasiades expressed readiness to attend talks with the TCs anywhere and anytime but that he would not agree to just any solution.

He was speaking at the 39th annual peace rally by Morphou refugees which turned into a spat with main opposition AKEL.

Anastasiades said on Sunday that he is ready to enter talks, adding that he has no objections on the place or date of a tripartite meeting with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the TC leader Mustafa Akinci.

He also said that he was determined to work for the solution but “not just any solution” since there must be limits to concessions that can be made by the GCs.

Anastasiades also said he felt compelled to reply to criticism against him on the current situation on the Cyprus problem. He said things would be different today if the Turkish and TC sides had been as responsive as the GCs had been in Crans-Montana.

“I don’t accept things I hear, whereby the GC side is loaded with responsibility in order to relieve Turkey of responsibility,” he said.

He wondered if he should ever accept a solution providing for Turkish guarantees, the permanent presence of Turkish troops on the island and a positive TC vote, the way the TCs perceive it, that would eventually paralyse the state.

To those criticising him of avoiding dialogue and that he ought to convince the UN Secretary-General of his sincere intentions, he said that he called on Turkey and Akinci to dialogue. “As if this depends on my will and not by what Turkey is trying to undermine through her illegal actions,” he said.

Anastasiades also said Turkish actions in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Cyprus, was “a second invasion.”

He said that unity is required, due to visible dangers and pointed towards Turkey’s military operations in Syria. He also expressed disappointment with the stance of powerful countries that are permanent members of the Security Council as regards the Turkish invasion in Syria.

Haravgi reported that instead of Anastasiades blaming himself for the way he handled the Cyprus problem that led to the dead end, he attacked AKEL, confirming the common secret that he is and feels cornered.

Unable to withstand criticism by Morphou mayor Victoras Hadjiavraam, Anastasiades set aside his written speech and attacked AKEL, the daily reported.

Hadjiavraam said in his speech that people no longer have hope and called for the immediate relaunch of the talks.

He said the situation was disappointing and that the people are tired of hearing the same every year. He added that in Morphou new faits accomplis are being created daily.

AKEL spokesman Giorgos Loukaides said later on that Anastasiades lost his temper and dedicated his whole speech to “unjust, baseless and immoral accusations.” He also said it was his own handlings that led to absolving Turkey of her responsibilities, Haravgi reported.

According to Phileleftheros, Anastasiades reacted to criticism of his handling of the Cyprus problem and chose to provide answers on the ongoing deadlock at the Morphou event.

KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>>
Willing to go to the tripartite with Akinci and Guterres anytime and anywhere.
>> Ready to work for a solution but not just any solution since there must be a limit to GC concessions.
>> If the TC & Turkish sides were as responsive in Crans-Montana as the GCs were, things would have been very different today.
>>
Does not agree with criticism that tries to absolve Turkey from her responsibilities and puts the blame on the GCs.
>> Asks whether he is expected to agree to a solution providing for Turkish guarantees, permanent presence of Turkish troops & a positive TC vote the way the TCs perceive it, that would eventually paralyse the state.
>> Problem is not whether he is avoiding dialogue, which he is not, but Turkey’s illegal actions that undermine the process & that constitute a second invasion.
>>  Calls for unity to tackle the visible dangers ahead.
>> Disappointed by the stance of powerful countries, P5 members, on the Turkish invasion in Syria.

Hadjiavraam (Morphou mayor)
>>
Refugees have lost all hope & want to see the immediate relaunch of the talks.
>> The current standstill is disappointing while new faits accomplis are being created in Morphou daily.

Loukaides (AKEL)
>>
Anastasiades’ speech was mostly based on unjust, baseless & immoral accusations.
>> It is the way Anastasiades is handling the Cyprob that led to absolving Turkey of her responsibilities.


Akinci under fire over ‘Peace Spring’ comment

Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

All dailies report that TC leader Mustafa Akinci has been under fire both in the north and by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after criticising Turkey for the invasion in northern Syria.

Akinci said in a post on Facebook on Saturday that among other things that he experienced Turkey’s military intervention in 1974 as a 27-year-old man while some of his friends had died.

The TC leader said according to the dailies that even if the Turkish operation in 1974 was named a ‘Peace Operation’, it was a war and blood was shed because of it.

Now with the ‘Peace Spring’, it is blood that flows and not water, he said, the dailies reported.

According to Phileleftheros, Akinci, through his criticism, has become Ankara’s target. His post with which he kept his distance from the war waged by Turkey in Syria, was enough to irk Ankara but also the settlers in the occupied areas.

Politis reports that the coalition ‘government’ in the north is discussing whether to ask for Akinci’s resignation. According to the daily, Akinci’s statements have taken great dimensions on social media but also sparked official statements by Turkish and TC officials.

According to Alithia, Akinci’s post was unprecedented in political courage and boldness. The daily reports that the TC leader openly criticised the Turkish invasion of Syria and linked it with the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Akinci has irked Erdogan who openly called on the TCs to kick him out, the daily reported.

KEY ACTORS
Akinci
>>
No matter how Turkey dubbed the ‘Peace Operation’ in Cyprus and the ‘Peace Spring’ in Syria, in both cases blood was shed.


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