Front Page Headlines
Thirty years of inaction over Akamas’ protection
Current and former (governments) are responsible for the danger the forest is in. Since 1989 when the white zones have been imposed, dozens of decisions were taken but none of them was implemented. Inaction was the result of electioneering choices but also pressure by owners of big properties.
- Cyprus problem: They decisively disagree
- They were not touched by ‘Memories’
- US-Turkey: Much ado without any result
She has circled Cyprus
Ankara, with drillships and Navtex messages, is sabotaging the Berlin trilateral. Talks under provocations at land and sea.
- The first TC doctor to join GESY – A general physician in Pyla.
Lawlessness-tolerance are destroying Akamas
The continuous tolerance exhibited at the expense of the environment, impunity and the government’s inability to truly protect Akamas are daily ‘burning’ and destroying the peninsula. Akamas’ arson and the destruction of 70 hectares was yet another link to the long chain of the disastrous mania.
- ‘Conflict’ 10 days before Berlin
- AKEL: Event to condemn the pseudo state
- Bicommunal mobilisation ahead of the trilateral demanding reunification and peace
BoC backs down on new charges
Bank will offer online training to the elderly after backlash.
Second chance
The Bank of Cyprus suspended the introduction of new fees and charges. Panicos Nicolaou: Main focus of our actions in relation to charges in the near future is training our customers in digital service and informing them on ways to avoid charges. Already, 75per cent of our transactions are carried out through digital channels.
- Cyprus problem: Akinci’s address and Anastasiades’ response
- Okan Dagli: The first TC doctor to join GESY
- Ersin Tatar: Our aim is to open Varosha by the end of 2020
- Erdogan: We will protect the TCs’ rights – Turkey will buy both the S400s and the Patriots.
- Federica Mogherini: “I confirm that the EU stands united in solidarity with Cyprus”
Main News
Anastasiades: TCs ought to also respect GCs’ legitimate rights
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Energy
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades called on the TC side to also respect the legitimate rights of GCs instead of just focusing on their own, the papers report on Friday.
According to the dailies, Anastasiades, in response to the address by TC leader Mustafa Akinci on Thursday for the 36th anniversary since the unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) in the north, said that he would have been pleased if the constructive stance of the TC side was not focused only on the legitimate rights of the TC community, but, also showed the necessary respect for the legitimate rights of the GC community, and in particular those that have been violated as a result of the illegal invasion and continued occupation since 1974.
In a written statement, Anastasiades said that invoking the safeguarding of the legitimate rights of the TC community did not mean that unprecedented conditions of international law could be created or provisions for one community to prevail over the other.
He also said that the GC side proved it respects the concerns of the TC community by accepting political equality, but that adherence to claims that create privileges not met in the constitution of any other country member of the UN or the EU was not a guarantee of legitimate rights, but a democratic paradox that would eventually lead to a dysfunctional and unsustainable solution.
On the energy issue, Anastasiades pointed out that the Republic of Cyprus and its sovereign rights are not under negotiation and urged Akinci to respect the convergences reached between former leaders Demetris Christoflas and Mehmet Ali Talat, which were reaffirmed during the dialogue between them.
He said his counterproposal to Akinci’s proposal on setting up a committee for the co-management of natural gas, fully safeguards the rights of the TC community.
He also reiterated his determination to go to the trilateral in Berlin with political will for the adoption of the Terms of Reference for the resumption of talks as per the understanding reached in his meeting with Akinci on August 9.
Akinci said in his address he would go to the tripartite meeting on November 25 in Berlin “for the establishment of a future in which we will have political equality, security and freedom.”
He said the TC side would go there with a constructive manner and claim its legitimate rights to the end.
On the hydrocarbons issue, Akinci reiterated that it has caused tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean in recent years, while the exclusion of the TCs and Turkey from the energy equation was not helping to defuse this tension. Akinci also said that the proposal he had made to the GC side for the establishment of a committee for the co-management of natural gas aimed at defusing tension and which was a win-win situation was still on the table.
Some of the papers also report that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that no one, especially Europe had the right to make TCs prisoners to the GCs’ games.
He also said that the GC side does not match Turkey’s efforts for a just, viable solution to the Cyprus problem.
Politis reports that yesterday clearly showed that Anastasiades and Akinci are not prepared to satisfy each other’s demands since each of them despite declaring their determination ahead of the trilateral, they put forth different goals.
Phileleftheros reports that Akinci engaged in a blame game while he does not believe the pseudo state is an obstacle to a federal solution.
Haravgi reports this was a new attack by the Presidential Palace on Akinci just days before the trilateral.
Phileleftheros, in another article, reports that Ankara has launched games of tactic ahead of the Berlin meeting by surrounding Cyprus with her research and drilling vessels while TC ‘prime minister’ Ersin Tatar announced the opening of Varosha next year.
Citing government sources the daily reported that all this is part of the Turkish side’s way of putting pressure on the GC side and cause Nicosia’s reaction so that Ankara can blame the GCs in the case of a new failure in Berlin.
The same sources did not rule out actions or statements on Friday during festivities in the north to mark the UDI aimed at escalating tension even more. The government however is closely monitoring Ankara’s moves but is not willing to play along, the daily reported.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Would like for the TCs to show constructive stance not just by focusing on their legitimate rights but also showing respect for those of the GC community especially the ones violated by the invasion and continued occupation.
>> The invocation by TCs of safeguarding of their legitimate rights does not justify unprecedented conditions of international law or for one community to prevail over the other.
>> Acceptance by the GC side of TC political equality is a proof of respect for the TC community’s concerns but agreeing to claims that create privileges not met anywhere else is a democratic paradox that would eventually lead to a dysfunctional and unsustainable solution.
>> The RoC’s sovereign rights as regards hydrocarbons are not under negotiation.
>> Urges Akinci to respect the convergences reached between Christofias & Talat which they both reaffirmed.
>> Believes the GC side’s counterproposal on natural gas fully safeguards the rights of the TC community.
>> Determined to go to the trilateral with political will for the adoption of the ToR based on the understanding of the August 9 meeting.
Akinci
>> Pledges to go to the tripartite a constructive manner & claim the TCs’ legitimate rights to the end for the establishment of a future where everyone will enjoy political equality, security & freedom.
>> Exclusion of the TCs and Turkey from the energy equation in the East Med is not helping to defuse tension.
>> The TC side’s proposal on natural gas that aims at defusing tension is still on the table.
Erdogan (Turkey)
>> Warns that no one, especially Europe has the right to make TCs prisoners to the GCs’ games.
>> The GC side does not match Turkey’s efforts for a just, viable solution to the Cyprob.
GC side condemns UDI
Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
According to the papers a series of events are to take place on Friday against the anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) in the north marked on November 15.
Political parties and organisations issued statements condemning the UDI while a number of event are set to take place in all districts.
AKEL is organising an event on Friday evening at the Orfeas roadblock near the Famagusta Gate and called on members of the public to join.
Om Friday morning pupils and students were to attend the annual anti-UDI events organised in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta by student organisations.
Ruling DISY said in a statement that the only solution is the co-existence of the two communities within a framework of bizonal bicommunal federal solution based on UN resolutions that are the maximum guarantee for TCs’ rights.
The party said it was about time all those ideas Turkey has been promoting during the past 45 years that are outside this framework to be cast aside and called on the TCs not encourage Turkey’s positions on the preservation of the guarantees system.
AKEL, among other things, said it was sending greetings of friendship and brotherhood to the TCs resisting the occupation, settlement, chauvinism and Ankara’s suffocating embrace and who defend the existence and character of their community, and the prospect of reunification of the common homeland.
KEY ACTORS
DISY
>> The only solution is the co-existence of the two communities within a framework of a BBF solution based on UN resolutions that are the maximum guarantee for TCs’ rights.
>> Calls on TCs not encourage Turkey’s positions on the preservation of the guarantees system arguing that all those ideas Turkey has been promoting during the past 45 years that are outside the BBF solution framework should be cast aside.
AKEL
>> Sends greetings of friendship and brotherhood to the TCs who resist the occupation, settlement of the north, Ankara’s suffocating embrace & who defend the existence and character of their community, and the prospect of reunification of the island as a common homeland.
Bicommunal rally ahead of Berlin meeting
Haravgi
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
According to the daily, the Peace Generation United by Hope platform is organizing next Friday a bicommunal rally ahead of the November 25 Berlin meeting between the two leaders and the UN Secretary-General.
The event’s main slogan is “Solution, reunification, peace, now!” both in Greek and Turkish.
The group said they demand from the two leaders to rise to the occasion and take decisions for the continuation of the procedure from where it left off with the aim of reaching an agreement the soonest possible.
The leaders ought to convince the UNSG of their commitment to the UN decisions and resolutions for a bizonal, bicommunal federation based on the Guterres Framework, they said.
The platform calls on everyone to join regardless of their political affiliation to demand unity and jointly act for peace and the reunification of the country.
The group is organizing marches to the office
of Mustafa Akinci and to the Presidential Palace where they will hand over
declarations to the two leaders.
First TC doctor joins GESY
Alithia, Phileleftheros
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Okan Dagli is the first TC to register as a family physician (GP) in GESY.
Citing an interview of Dagli with the voiceoftheisland news portal, the dailies report that the doctor, who has registered with the Medical Association since 2013, asked to join GESY last August but was told he needed to have a professional address in the government-controlled area.
So, in cooperation with the TC community leader of Pyla, he set up his practice at the local head’s office and has so far 220 patients on his list which is growing.
Dagli told Phileleftheros that his list includes TCs and GCs mainly from Pyla but also British and Chinese nationals and persons from other countries too.
Among his patients are also TCs who work in the government-controlled area and are GESY beneficiaries.
Dagli, who also has a practice in Famagusta, said he goes to his Pyla practice twice per week.
He said he took the decision to register with GESY since there was need for a TC GP as many TCs who work in the south and are beneficiaries of the health scheme needed a doctor.
Disappointment over lack of interest from pupils in occupied villages exhibition
Politis
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The paper reports that members of community councils of occupied areas expressed their disappointment by the lack of interest from many pupils during an event in Limassol on the occupied villages.
The event ‘Memories of Occupied Land’ took place on Thursday at the Limassol municipal gardens. It was organised by the education ministry, occupied communities, the press and information office and the Limassol municipality. It was visited by hundreds of pupils who had the opportunity to walk around the various stalls and learn about the occupied areas through photographs, traditional costumes and culinary products of each area.
According to the daily, however, very few pupils showed interest in the exhibition since most of them preferred to wander around the garden instead.
The event was attended by Education Minister Costas Hambiaouris who said that this was an opportunity for the youth and the wider public to learn about the history, tradition and customs of these villages.
Morphou municipal councilor Maro Kei, told Politis she was disappointed the pupils did not express interest in learning more about the occupied areas arguing that this was due to that they have no experience living in those villages and feel no connection.
She also said that the pupils do not know Cyprus’ history and that for the country to have a future, the Cyprus problem needs to be solved so that the island would be reunified.
Lapithos’ Mayor Neoptolemos Kotsapas too said very few pupils expressed interest in the exhibition, mainly those whose family comes from the area.
He said the current political situation did not please anyone, while he was against a two-state solution.
Women unite against gender-based violence
Phileleftheros
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that the Network Against violence Against Women was established to fight any form of gender-based violence.
Among the members are also Turkish Cypriot women, the daily reported.
The group’s members include MPs, journalists, academics, educators, lawyers, psychologists, doctors, workers, victims and their relatives, sociologists, social workers, members of women’s and human rights organisations.
Among other things, they call for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention and the European Union Directives on Victims of Violence, criminalisation of verbal, physical, psychological and economic violence against women, and more support to victims of violence.