Front Page Headlines
Criminal game with fire in Akamas
Organised plan by arsonists that revealed the perpetrators’ motives. Fires were set in chosen areas rich in pines to cause more damage. Aerial and land forces battled with the flames for eight hours to put the fire under control.
- National Council: The parties are concerned
- Reassurances (by ENI) over ‘Cronos’
- US-Turkey: They chatted like two good friends
Scandal in Kouklia
They gave a company a present by designating especially its own immovable property as a holiday residence zone. The Auditor-general is asking for an annulment of the Cabinet decision.
- Ankara torpedoes also the trilateral – Terms of Reference to the zero.
- Mogherini warns for escalation of measures (against Turkey)
- ‘Nemesis 2019’ in the Cypriot EEZ
A road map must be agreed at the trilateral
National Council was briefed yesterday by President Anastasiades on the latest developments on the Cyprus problem ahead of the trilateral meeting on November 25 as well as on the teleconference UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute had with the negotiators of the two sides.
- Tramp on Erdogan: “We are friends. We understand each other’s country.”
‘Hellish’ Akamas fires were arson
Officials believe fires were set by those wanting to develop Akamas area.
Sick minds are burning Akamas
Nightmare and hell in an area of maximum ecologic importance. Organised plan aimed at the non-implementation of the master plan. “Whenever a meeting on Akamas is scheduled, fire erupts in the area the previous day.”
- To Berlin without any hope – Disappointment and pessimism in yesterday’s National Council. Prodromou: The president will go to the meeting with goodwill and clear political will for the next steps to be discussed and agreed on. Mogherini: An opportunity for the next steps to be agreed on.
- Green Line: The regulation on the handling of migrants is changing
Main News
Disappointment reigns over expected failure at trilateral
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades admitted saying that the trilateral would be a waste of time arguing that he said that based on statements by the Turkish FM, while UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute told the two sides’ negotiators during a teleconference that an agreement on the Terms of Reference would not be necessary, the papers report.
Political leaders expressed their concern and call for caution following a briefing of the National Council by Anastasiades on Wednesday.
According to the papers Anastasiades said he had told former TC leader Mehmet Ali Talat the tripartite meeting in Berlin between him, TC leader Mustafa Akinci and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Berlin on November 25, would be in vain and a waste of money based on previous conversations he had with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, which indicated to him there would be no result from that meeting.
“What I have told him [Talat] is I regret to say that based on Turkey’s stance, what I assess is that, unfortunately, the meeting of November 25 in Berlin seems to be an informal meeting with no result and we will be left only with the cost. That’s exactly what I said,” Anastasiades said. He added that Talat failed to say that the reason for that position was the conclusion that Turkey’s attitude and positions do not bode well for a promising course.
Anastasiades said the position of the GC side remained one of determination and political will to go to the meeting with a positive spirit and creative ideas in order to achieve ToR that will lead to a five-part conference in order for a new dialogue to begin.
Asked about his brief conversation with Guterres on Tuesday in Paris, he said the UNSG’s main aim was to convene the tripartite to create conditions to move forward. “It is not up to the SG to exert pressure so what remains is the will of the other side,” he added.
Phileleftheros, Politis and Haravgi also report that the National Council was briefed on a recent teleconference between Lute and the negotiators of the two sides.
Politis, citing sources, reports that Lute presented a blurry picture as regards the sought result of the trilateral hinting that full conclusion on the ToR will not be necessary. The same sources said that Turkey is putting obstacles even to whether there would be a joint statement after the trilateral.
Phileleftheros also reported that the Turkish side demands an open agenda process meaning that an agreement on the ToR will not be a precondition, a position to which the UN seem to not object despite that up till now it had been made clear that an agreement on the ToR was necessary.
Given the latest it is now clear there is not much room for optimism on the Berlin meeting, the paper said.
Lute is due in Cyprus this coming weekend to help the leaders prepare for the Berlin meeting.
Phileleftheros also reports that the National Council decided to reactivate the Geostrategic Research Council οn the suggestion of the Greens’ leader Giorgos Perdikis.
Politis reports that TC circles reject the conviction by the GCs that Akinci cannot differentiate his stance from that of Ankara’s arguing that the TC leader has shown his intention to distance himself from Ankara. The same circles point out that the TC side pays special attention to the outcome of the trilateral since it finds it is crucial in shedding light on how the two sides want the procedure to continue, Politis reported.
Following the National Council meeting, political leaders expressed concerns over the outcome of the trilateral.
Head of ruling DISY Averof Neophytou said the party backs Anastasiades’ efforts for the relaunch of substantive talks. He said only through dialogue will the island be rid of the occupation and that the only solution model to lead there was that of the bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF).
AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou, said after the meeting the tripartite will be very decisive. “It matters how we go to this tripartite, what we will do, how persuasive we are, so let’s wait to see the results,” he said, adding that his party insists that the GC side should go to the Berlin meeting with the approach of convincing itself of the need to reach the terms of reference and to resume substantive negotiations. He also said things had become very difficult and complex.
DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos said Turkey does not seem willing to abandon her intransigent stance but rather wants the GC side to make concessions on the issue of political equality “to do us the honour of sitting at the negotiations table with us.”
Marinos Sizopoulos, EDEK’s leader, called for caution warning of significant risks and traps that lie ahead with Turkey wanting to buy time so that she can deal with other priorities she has at the moment.
According to the head of the Citizens Alliance Giorgos Lillikas, the climate is far from conducive for effective negotiations on the Cyprus problem. He called on Anastasiades to prepare for all outcomes at the trilateral so that the GC side is not taken by surprise.
The Solidarity Movement said that despite there is no hope, it understands the need for the efforts to continue and why the GC side must participate in the trilateral.
ELAM said it does not expect any progress whatsoever. The party also called for a unitary state solution.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Admits to telling Talat the trilateral would take place in vain and it would be a waste of money but this assessment was based on Cavusoglu’s stance which Talat failed to mention.
>> The GC side continues to be determined & has the political will to go to the meeting with a positive spirit and creative ideas in order to achieve ToR that will lead to a five-part conference in order for a new dialogue to begin.
>> Guterres’ main aim is to convene the tripartite to create conditions to move forward but he cannot exert pressure so the other side must show will.
Neophytou (DISY)
>> DISY backs Anastasiades’ efforts for the relaunch of substantive talks.
>> Only through dialogue leading to a BBF solution will the island be rid of the occupation.
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> The tripartite will be very decisive and that is why the GC side must convince itself of the need to reach the ToR & resume substantive negotiations.
>> Things became very difficult & complex.
Papadopoulos (DIKO)
>> Turkey, to agree to sit at the negotiations table, wants the GC side to make concessions on political equality.
Sizopoulos (EDEK)
>> Calls for caution & warns of significant risks and traps that lie ahead.
>> Turkey wants to buy time so that she can deal with other priorities at the moment.
Lillikas (Citizens Alliance)
>> The climate is far from conducive for effective negotiations on the Cyprob.
>> Anastasiades must be prepared for all scenarios so that the GC side is not taken by surprise.
Solidarity Movement
>> Does not believe there will be any progress but does not object to the trilateral, understanding the need for the efforts to continue.
ELAM
>> Does not expect any progress whatsoever.
>> Wants a unitary state solution.
DISY, CTP call for a BBF solution
Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that ruling DISY and TC Republican Turkish Party (CTP) called for a solution based on a bizonal bicomunal federation (BBF).
The leaders of the two parties, Averof Neophytou and Tufan Erhurman had a meeting on Wednesday at DISY headquarters to discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus problem and the forthcoming trilateral.
Neophytou said after the meeting that he and Erhurman reaffirmed their support to the leaders of the two communities ahead of the trilateral for the restart of a substantive dialogue based on a BBF as described by all resolutions and decisions of the Security Council, the paper reported.
KEY ACTORS
Neophytou (DISY)
>> DISY and CTP continue to support the two leaders to achieve progress to restart substantive dialogue based on a BBF as per UN resolutions.
Mogherini: EU will scale sanctions on Turkey up or down, depending on developments
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
EU Matters, Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
According to the papers, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini said on Wednesday that the trilateral was an opportunity for the next steps on the consultations for the solution to the Cyprus problem to be agreed on.
She was briefing the European Parliament plenary on the Foreign Affairs Council’s decision to adopt a framework for restrictive measures in response to Turkey’s drillings in the Eastern Mediterranean.
She said that from the very beginning when Turkey sent the first drillship in Cyprus, there was a common united European Union position on the matter including at the highest level, that of the European Council.
Mogherini said despite calls to the Turkish side for the need to de-escalate tensions, Turkey decided to continue its activities, which led to this week’s framework for restrictive measures.
“As always, we are taking a gradual and scalable approach – meaning that sanctions can be scaled up or down, depending on developments,” she said.
The goal remains to defuse tension and make clear that Cyprus’ sovereignty and sovereign rights should be respected in accordance with international law, she said.
At the same time, she said, it is urgent to resume substantive settlement talks aimed at the reunification of the island, aimed at a united Cyprus inside the EU and based on a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation.
KEY ACTORS
Mogherini (EU)
>> The trilateral is an opportunity for the next steps on the consultations for the solution to the Cyprob to be agreed on, while it is urgent for the talks to resume for the reunification of the island, inside the EU, based on a BBF.
>> Sanctions concerning Turkey’s unauthorised drilling activities will be scaled up or down, depending on developments.
>> The goal remains to defuse tension and make clear that Cyprus’ sovereignty & sovereign rights should be respected in accordance with international law.
Government mulls changes to Green Line Regulation to curb irregular migration
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
CBMs, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Interior Minister Constantinos Petrides told MPs on Wednesday that the government wants to change aspects of the Green Line Regulation to address the increased migration flows from the north.
The issue was discussed at the House institution committee in the presence also of the police leadership.
Petrides said after the meeting he had the opportunity to explain to deputies the measures being taken to better control migration but two thirds of migrants coming in cross from the north. He stressed the need to improve the procedures, whether they are judicial, or involve expulsion and return.
He added that the Green Line Regulation is an issue and it needed to be made more restrictive for third-country nationals to cross.
Petrides said migrants are taking advantage of the 90-day return period to claim asylum. MPs heard that the main problem was with the arrival of irregular migrants from Africa, and especially from countries such as Cameroon and Nigeria, who arrive by air in the north from Ankara.
Cyprus hosted a multinational exercise on risk management in the East Med
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that the large-scale multinational exercise dubbed Nemesis took place for the sixth consecutive year on Wednesday.
The exercise took place within Cyprus’ sea area, on board a simulated oil and gas platform with the participation of a large number of units and personnel from Cyprus, foreign countries and private companies.
The exercise was attended, by the ambassadors of Greece, France, Italy and Israel, military attachés of the US, Italy, France and Egypt, representatives of the hydrocarbon companies active in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and representatives of 15 state agencies.
Transport Minister Vassiliki Anastasiadou said the exercise provided the opportunity to increase Cyprus’ capacity to test the response to emergency situations on board merchant vessels and oil and gas platforms in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
She said Cyprus was doing a great job in maintaining high levels of risk management in its EEZ, which are essential for its energy activities.
Andreas Charalambidis, commander of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) explained the importance of being prepared to deal with the risks in hydrocarbon drilling on platforms operating in the Cypriot EEZ. He said there was great interest in this exercise from energy companies, as they rightly consider safety on their platforms to be of paramount importance.
It is our duty to provide safety for them, he said.
Probe into punishment of pupils for shouting national slogans
Alithia
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The paper reports that the education ministry is launching a probe into complaints by high school pupils that they were suspended from their Limassol school last month after shouting slogans at a rehearsal for the October 28 anniversary parade.
DIKO MP Pavlos Mylonas told the House education committee the pupils were suspended from school for shouting “Our borders are in Kyrenia” and “Isaac, Solomos I will never forget you.”
Mylonas said after the committee meeting that love for one’s country must not be criminalized and that the pupils have every right to struggle for their country.
EDEK MP Costis Efstathiou said that the pupils had the courage to shout slogans against the occupation.
ELAM MP Linos Papayiannis said there have been similar incidents on the occasion of the same anniversary also in Larnaca and Paphos and elsewhere in Limassol where pupils in t-shirts and holding Greek flags that shouted during the break from classes national slogans were treated as extremists and racists. He said the reactions came from a specific political space.
It is unthinkable in a Hellenic homeland, for anything that has to do with Greece and the nation to be considered as extreme, racism and dangerous, he said, according to the paper.