Front Page Headlines
Personal dentists soon in GESY
Investment in prevention and timely diagnosis of serious conditions. Dentists call for expediting the consultations procedure with HIO (Health Insurance Organisation). A dental cleaning per year for all beneficiaries.
- Cyprus problem: They are struggling for a trilateral
- Akinci: They are looking for his (election) opponent
- They are cornering the ‘all-wise’ Trump – Moscow: Waiting for a briefing from Erdogan. Violation of the truce by the Turkish invasion forces.
They erased the ‘grey picture’
A change in the stance of the EU that is now referring to a Cypriot EEZ by name. Britain had imposed a generalized reference. Anastasiades sought and received support.
- The Cyprus problem on pause due to developments – Guterres on stand by.
- Turkey is killing – Turkey agreed on a truce but carries on bombing.
Never-ending scandal investigations
The government which is faced with public ridicule due to the issue of golden passports chooses to remain silent. Many scandals, many investigations… The investigation on the OCCRP’s report is still in the dark, never-ending investigations on the disappearances of women and girls, investigation underway on the 14-year-old Stylianos, the 14-year-old Panayiotis Stefani, investigation on the sea caves, and so forth…
- The EU has shielded us with… solidarity
Scam cost state €200k
Homeless fraud in Limassol much worse than it was initially believed.
- Kurdish solidarity march (organised by AKEL)
- Buffer Fringe Festival is back with focus on the buffer zone
- Shelling in Syria despite five-day ceasefire deal
Exceed 70,000 in numbers
The problem of irregular foreigners and asylum seekers takes huge dimensions. The situation with foreign nationals who abandon their employers and become illegal is just as bad. What does the Ιnterior ministry say and what instructions did President Anastasiades give during the latest meeting at the Presidential Palace.
- European Council: Unanimous ‘Yes’ to the measures against Turkey on the EEZ
- Article: Cyprus problem and the EU by Leontios Ierodiakonou
- The ferry connection between Cyprus and Greece is getting ready for… Brussels – Procedures continue.
- Erdogan is bombing the… truce
Main News
Anastasiades: Pleased with unanimous support from EU partners
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades on Friday welcomed the adoption by the European Council of the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on targeted measures as regards Turkey’s illegal drilling, the papers report.
Following the announcement by the European Council endorsing the FAC conclusions on Turkey’s illegal drilling in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and reaffirming its solidarity with Cyprus, Anastasiades said he had the opportunity to extensively inform his EU counterparts about what Turkey is doing against the Republic of Cyprus, either in its EEZ or through threats to settle Famagusta or through violations of the buffer zone.
“As a result of the information and solidarity that has truly been unanimously expressed by all, we have succeeded in including in the conclusions on Turkey, the full adoption of the conclusions of the Council of Foreign Ministers, whereby the violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus is condemned and solidarity with the Republic of Cyprus is reiterated, but most importantly for the first time concrete targeted measures are now being taken on individuals and companies,” Anastasiades said.
He said this was a development in the diplomatic fight against the Turkish challenges.
“What we are pleased about, is the unanimous support of our partners and the solidarity expressed as a result of the wider framework,” he said.
For Phileleftheros, the decision by the European Council puts a stop to the grey picture imposed for many months by Britain in the EU concerning Turkey’s illegal activities which for the UK were taking place in ‘the Eastern Mediterranean’ and not specifically in the Cypriot EEZ.
The Council’s reference to Cyprus’ EEZ marks a change in the EU wording as regards the substance of the issue since the EU now unanimously recognises that Turkey’s illegal activities took place within the Cypriot EEZ.
Citing sources, Phileleftheros reports that this development was due to President Nicos Anastasiades who during Thursday’s dinner with his EU counterparts had asked for a change in the reference to the ‘Eastern Mediterranean’ to make it clear where exactly the Turkish illegal activities were taking place.
Politis too points out that this was the first time there is a reference in the conclusions of an EU body to Turkish illegal drillings in the Cypriot EEZ compared to ‘in the Eastern Mediterranean off Cyprus’.
Under the headline ‘The EU has shielded us with… solidarity’, Haravgi reports Anastasiades satisfaction by the expressed solidarity from the EU partners but that Turkey’s illegal actions can be effectively dealt with only with the solution to the Cyprus problem.
Alithia reports the European Council conclusions were a substantive step towards curbing Turkish provocations.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Very pleased about the unanimous support of Cyprus’ EU partners and the solidarity they expressed by condemning Turkish illegal acts in the Cypriot EEZ & agreeing for the first time on concrete targeted measures.
>> The adoption of the FAC conclusions is a positive development within the diplomatic fight against the Turkish challenges.
Trilateral on the cards for the end of November
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
According to the dailies, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said that a meeting between UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres and the two leaders is expected to take place towards the end of November.
Christodoulides said the meeting may take place during the last week of November and that exploratory contacts on this issue were at an advanced stage. The GC side’s aim was for the meeting to take place and to achieve those results that will be conducive to the resumption of substantive negotiations as the UNSG has asked, he said.
Christodoulides said the aim is not just for the talks to resume but to have promising talks with prospects for a positive outcome. He reiterated that negotiations must resume from the point they left off in Crans-Montana, with a view to reaching a solution based on a bizonal, bi-communal federation as provided in the UN resolutions. At the same time, he added, any illegal Turkish activities must be terminated, as required by the international community, either as regards the Republic of Cyprus EEZ, or plans for the fenced-off city of Varosha or the buffer zone.
Phileleftheros reports no developments are expected on the Cyprus problem at the moment due to Brexit as well as the situation in Syria which are forcing the UN to pause any procedures on other issues.
UN envoy Jane Holl Lute’s contacts are expected to take place before the meeting of the UN Secretary-General with the two leaders. The UN, however, will wait for the wider picture to become clearer before it sets dates for both the trilateral and the five-party meetings, the paper reported.
Politis reports that, the Greek ambassador to Nicosia has declared that Athens is ready to participate in a five-party meeting but that it was more important for the trilateral to be arranged first, Politis reported.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> The GC side does not just want for the talks to resume but for them to be promising ones with prospects for a positive outcome.
>> Talks must resume from where they left off in Crans-Montana aimed at reaching a BBF solution, but illegal Turkish activities in the Cypriot EEZ or the buffer zone & plans for the fenced-off city of Varosha must be terminated prior to that.