Front Page Headlines
The school district committees are going to municipalities
The president will be the one to untie or cut the Gordian knot. Articles 119-125 of the bill on (local government) reform put the school district committees under the municipalities. Strong reaction by the Coordinating Committee of School Districts. Disagreements also by ministries.
- List with names – They are seeking targeted sanctions.
- They gave the ‘keys’ to Putin – The Americans abandoned the Kurds. Wedge by Russia between her opponents and friends.
Heading for measures at the EAC (Electricity Authority of Cyprus)
The unions have called for general assemblies of workers today for decisions. They are seeking restoration of their slashed salaries and reassurances on the viability of the organisation.
- Smiles and whining over the sanctions
- Exhibition of power in the occupied areas
- Front against Akinci in the occupied areas – The Left is keeping its distance.
Looking for the medicine for restructuring
Confrontation in the healthcare sector continues while the problems choke hospitals without their restructuring going ahead. The chaotic situation also leads to loss of invoices-demands by OKYPY (State Health Services Organisation) to the HIO (Health Insurance Organisation). At HIO there is also labour difference and strike on Friday.
- Measures against Turkey are not enough… The goal remains the solution to the Cyprus problem
- They stopped the events on keeping historic memory and resistance alive
- Nothing is certain as regards the front in Syria
‘They said they would arrest me’
Napa rape teen tells court was ‘forced to sign’ false statement.
- Akinci criticism ‘stain in history of Turkish Cypriot democracy’
- Row over school prayers after teacher’s refusal
- UN warns Turkey over executions
Division in ‘parliament’ on Akinci’s statements against Turkey
‘Declaration crisis’ on the invasion in Syria. The Republican Turkish Party and the Communal Democracy Party backed the TC leader and left in protest when, despite regulations, a text was read out as a joint declaration expressing support to Turkey’s ‘Peace Spring’ operation in Syria.
- We expect something more from the European Council – Satisfaction but…
- It is hammering but without many land gains – Turkish invasion in Syria: Seven days of military operations. The sanctions against Turkey are toothless. The arms embargo does not affect us, Erdogan says.
Main News
‘Decision on EU measures welcome, but…’
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Nicosia now waits for the outcome of the European Council which is expected to discuss Turkey’s violations in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in its upcoming meeting this week, the papers report.
The government has already put together a list of persons that include Turkey’s national petroleum company TPAO’s top brass, regarding the decision for restrictive measures on persons and companies involved in Turkey’s illegal drilling operation in Cyprus’ EEZ. Political parties expressed their satisfaction with the EU28 foreign ministers’ decision but most of them say this is not enough.
According to the dailies, government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said on Tuesday that Monday’s decision by the EU Foreign Affairs Council was an important one and that the goal was for the EU to work to deter the destabilising moves Turkey continues to make.
He added that the government now expects the outcome of the forthcoming European Council, set to take place on Thursday and Friday. Following a request by President Nicos Anastasiades, he said, the issue of Turkish violations in the Cypriot EEZ has been put on the agenda of the European Council meeting.
He refrained from commenting on the attacks against TC leader Mustafa Akinci arguing that it would not be useful to make any comments.
Politis reports that Nicosia has prepared a list with names against which the EU measures would be directed such as TPAO’s CEO, Melih Han Bilgin, board members Alparslan Bayraktar, Edip Muyesseroglu and Mehmet Ferruh Akalin.
According to the daily, it was initially discussed to also add government officials such as Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Energy Minister Fatih Donmez but the idea was abandoned after considering that Nicosia would not find the necessary backing for such a move.
Most dailies also report on the statement by the TC ‘foreign ministry’ against the EU decision. The ‘ministry’ and Kudret Ozersay said the decision was unacceptable and blamed the EU for spoiling the GCs, the dailies report.
The majority of parties expressed their satisfaction with the decision but also called for a reality check on how far the EU would get.
Ruling DISY said there is a way to curb Turkish aggression also with actions, arguing that Cyprus, by putting forth international law and claiming its legal sovereign rights, was not alone against Turkey’s illegal actions.
AKEL spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the measures are a positive step but not enough as they do not match the level of Turkish aggression and provocation in the Cypriot EEZ.
Though Cyprus must not stop demanding from the EU and the international community substantive and drastic measures against Turkey, one must not keep false impressions on the limits of what can be achieved.
The solution to the problems concerning Turkey’s illegalities and provocations lies with the solution of the Cyprus problem, Stefanou said.
For DIKO, the measures were a positive step, but the party argued that had its proposals been adopted two years ago when the Barbaros first started illegal actions in Cyprus’ sea things might not have reached to where they are today.
The party also criticized the government of wasting time and urged it to intensify efforts to inflict a real political and financial cost on Turkey.
EDEK echoed the other parties as regards the positive step and wished for things to not just stay on paper. Turkey’s actions reflect her expansionist policy and no one must think otherwise, the party said.
The Solidarity Movement welcomed the Foreign Affairs Council’s decision arguing that finally, Turkey’s ongoing illegal activities do not go unnoticed. The party, however, criticised the delay in such a decision that allowed Turkey to strengthen her illegal actions and Erdogan to behave as the conqueror of the East Med.
The Greens saw the measures as a step in the right direction but called for harsher sanctions.
The Citizens’ Alliance was the only party that found the measures to be painless and reaching the limits of ridicule. It argued that they were only taken to trick the people that reacted to the passive stance of the EU and the US. The international community once more puts financial and other interests above human lives, the party said.
ELAM expressed satisfaction with the decision but said this was mainly due to the Turkish invasion in Syria which reinforced Cyprus’ negotiating power and covered its diplomatic absence and impotence. It is obvious that the Republic of Cyprus, with its misguided policies of defeat and sedation, could not bring Turkey before her responsibilities.
DIPA said the sanctions were an important step of solidarity but it is not known when they will be put in effect. This is no time for celebrations since Turkey’s goal is not drilling in block 7 but to create grey areas within the Cypriot EEZ and question the Republic’s sovereign rights, the party said.
KEY ACTORS
Prodromou
>> EU Council’s decision was important & a step toward goal of EU deterring Turkey from destabilising moves.
Ozersay
>> EU decision is unacceptable.
>> EU is spoiling the GCs.
DISY
>> EU Council’s decision is proof there is a way to curb Turkish aggression with actions.
>> By putting forth international law in claiming its legal sovereign rights, Cyprus able to find support against Turkey’s illegal actions.
Stefanou (AKEL)
>> Decision on measures a positive step but do not match the level of Turkish aggression & provocation in the Cypriot EEZ.
>> Cyprus must continue demanding substantive & drastic measures against Turkey from the EU & the international community but warns against high expectations on what can be achieved.
>> The only way to stop Turkey’s illegalities & provocations is by solving the Cyprob.
DIKO
>> Satisfied by EU decision but government wasted valuable time which it must regain by intensifying efforts to incur real political & financial cost on Turkey.
EDEK
>> EU decisions are good but hopefully, they will not stay on paper.
>> Calls for a reality check on Turkey’s actions which reflect her expansionist policy and nothing else.
Solidarity Movement
>> Welcomes EU Council’s decision but not happy with delay in taking decision which allowed Turkey to strengthen her illegal actions & Erdogan to behave as the conqueror of the East Med.
Greens
>> A step in the right direction but harsher sanctions are in order.
Citizens’ Alliance
>> The intended measures are toothless & are only aimed at deceiving public opinion that reacted to the passive stance of the EU and the US.
>> The international community once more puts financial and other interests above human lives.
ELAM
>> Satisfied with EU decision. But it was the Turkish invasion in Syria that helped to reinforce Cyprus’ position. >> RoC, with its failed policy, is not able to make Turkey face her responsibilities.
DIPA
>> Sanctions are an important step of solidarity from EU partners but they have not been implemented yet.
>> Turkey’s goal is not drilling in block 7 but creating grey areas within the Cypriot EEZ & questioning the Republic’s sovereign rights.
Turkish military exercise conducted in north
Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Regional/International RelationsA
OVERVIEW
According to Phileleftheros, Turkey carried out a military exercise in the occupied areas between October 7 and 11, exact location unknown.
The paper reports that the Turkish defence ministry, which seems to be in charge of all of Turkey’s actions lately, posted on its website photos of the military exercise in question, dubbed ‘Mediterranean Storm’. The air force, infantry and navy, as well as special forces, participated in the exercise, the daily reported.
It added that it took place in the midst of rapid developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region, as the Turkish army’s Syria invasion is underway along with attempts to ethnically cleanse the area of Kurds.
In the meantime, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu sent a message from Baku during the Turkic Council that his country will continue to protect the rights of the TCs until a solution to the Cyprus problem is found, the daily reports.
He also called on the countries participating in the Council to lift the embargo on the pseudo-state and show solidarity to the TCs.
Cavusoglu also thanked Hungary for allowing the occupation regime to open an office in Budapest, Phileleftheros reported. The daily also reports that Hungary’s foreign minister chose to attend the Turkic Council that issued a joint statement pledging support to Turkey’s operations to free Syrian territory from terrorists, instead of joining his EU counterparts in Luxembourg for the Foreign Affairs Council.
On the same issue, Politis also reports that Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, just days before the European Council, participated in the Turkic Council as observer and adopted the joint declaration welcoming it as a step in the right direction, mainly due to the migration issue. The same position was expressed by Hungary’s FM who said on Tuesday that it was in his country’s best interest that Turkey was pushing the migration issue toward Syria and not toward Europe. He said it was in his country’s interest to prevent thousands, if not millions of irregular migrants from appearing at EU borders, Politis reported.
KEY ACTORS
Cavusoglu (Turkey)
>> Turkey will continue to protect the rights of the TCs until the Cyprob is solved.
>> Calls on Turkic Council members to show solidarity to the TCs & lift the embargo on the north.
Kyprianou: Coup events must be remembered and taught in schools
Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Governance & Power Sharing, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou called for government support for the creation of a museum dedicated to the resistance against the 1974 coup, the dailies report.
Following a meeting with the resistance fighters association on Tuesday, Kyprianou expressed his sorrow that the government has forgotten the main legal provisions on keeping the memory alive as regards the fight and defence of the Republic against the coup.
He said the 2001 law on preserving historic memory provides that the state must organise a memory event on July 15 each year to honour the resistance fighters and not on July 20 which is what the Anastasiades government has been doing.
At the July 20 event there is usually a small reference to the coup while the speeches, at least during Anastasiades’ administration focus only on the Turkish invasion, he said.
He added that the law in question also provides that schools too must organise events aimed at preserving the memory on December 7 by celebrating the Day of Democratic Resistance, since they are closed on July 15. December 7 is the day of the return of President Makarios to Cyprus following the coup by the Greek junta and subsequent Turkish invasion.
What happened in 1974 must be taught in schools, he said.
Kyprianou further criticised Anastasiades, arguing that these events also stopped during his administration.
AKEL would send letters to Anastasiades and the education minister on this matter, he said.
According to Kyprianou, the resistance fighters association has taken an initiative for the creation of a monument at the Xylogefyro from which Makarios fled during the coup while the coupists were leading contingents of the National Guard, he said.
KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Anastasiades government has stopped marking the July 15 coup placing more emphasis on the invasion anniversary instead.
>> Schools must, as per the law, celebrate December 7 (Democratic Resistance Day) as a means of preserving historic memory on the resistance but also 1974 events in general.
TC party interests behind ongoing attack on Akinci
Alithia, Haravgi, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Politis
Governance & Power Sharing, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
All dailies report on the ongoing debate and confrontation in the north following TC leader Mustafa Akinci’s comments last weekend over the Turkish invasion in northern Syria.
The focus is on a statement by Akinci’s spokesman Baris Burcu in response to statements by the National Unity Party (UBP) that the TC leader should no longer participate in the Cyprus problem negotiations.
Burcu said UBP’s statement would go down as a stain in the history of TC democracy, arguing that it was absurd to think that the authority bestowed on Akinci would be affected with a decision taken by the body of a political party.
Alithia had the story as its main item, reporting on an eventful ‘parliament’ session in the north. According to the paper, the ‘deputy head’ of the body, UBP member Zorlu Tore read as a joint declaration a text supporting the Turkish operation in Syria. The move prompted the members of the Republican Turkish Party and Communal Democracy Party to leave the room in protest since their parties had no intention of adopting that text.
According to Phileleftheros, TC right-wing parties now use Akinci’s statements to form a common front ahead of the ‘elections’. The right-wing obviously believes this is an opportunity to harm Akinci’s popularity while the centre-left is keeping its distance trying to avoid also being blamed for Akinci’s statements.
Politis also reports that it is clear there is an effort by parties to create negative impressions against the TC leader ahead of the ‘elections’
KEY ACTORS
National Unity Party
>> Akinci should no longer participate in the Cyprus problem negotiations.
Burcu
>> UBP’s statement would go down as a stain in the history of TC democracy.
>> It is absurd to think that the authority bestowed on Akinci by the TCs would be removed with a decision taken by a political party.