Front Page Headlines
They know nothing of the spy van
The government is being evasive basically admitting total ignorance. (AKEL leader) Andros Kyprianou calls for explanations raising a number of questions. Police were checking the company’s offices and the van until late last night. The van was expected to be taken to the police headquarters.
- He is calling for new commitments – Non-optimistic assessments by the UNSG.
- Life in Kormakitis (article on young couples that decided to resettle in their occupied village)
- Excuse for pseudo-truancy – Rallies against the (establishment of the) pseudo-state. Some (pupils) went to the crossings but most of them went to the cafeterias.
They are rushing at the last minute
The government is cornered as regards natural gas for electricity production following EU decisions. They are terminating funding and we risk finding ourselves outside (funding opportunities) after 15 years of efforts.
- Guterres’ appeal to the two leaders – Report to the Security Council.
- They protested against the pseudo-state in the rain – Three rallies in Nicosia.
- In the occupied areas, Turkey is showing its teeth to Akinci
- Homer’s Odyssey in the Cypriot dialect
This time is different, Guterres says
The UN Secretary-General is sending dramatic messages to the Cypriots, their leaders, but also all stakeholders through his report to the Security Council. “The people of Cyprus deserve to know that this time it will be different,” Antonio Guterres says urging all sides involved “to consider constructively the six-point framework I proposed on June 30, 2017.”
- AKEL General Secretary: There is no time to waste
- The memories of occupied municipalities and communities met
‘Prospects uncertain’
Guterres: people of Cyprus deserve to know that this time it’s different.
- Students protest UDI – Hundreds of students protested in various groups on Friday against the anniversary of the 1983 Unilateral Declaration of Independence the breakaway TC state in the north. Dozens of right-wing protesters, mainly Elam members, marched under Greek flags towards the Ledra Street crossing chanting ‘politicians, liars, traitors!’
Guterres is ‘diplomatically angry’ and disappointed
While Lute is meeting today the two leaders, the UNSG’s report to the SC records his disappointment. He is talking of a “complex situation” concerning the Terms of Reference, lambasts both sides on “unhelpful rhetoric which has further reinforced scepticism” and sends a double-reading message that “the people of Cyprus deserve to know that this time it is different.”
- Nicosia: The new drilling by Fatih is an extreme act of contempt of legality
- Pseudo-state anniversary: Student marches condemning but also celebrations in the occupied areas
- They do not let a GC woman leave the occupied areas with her child – She married a Turk.
Main News
Guterres: This time it is different & the people deserve to know
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, CBMs, Energy
OVERVIEW
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns that this could be the last chance as regards efforts for a solution, the papers report on Saturday.
Referring to the draft of Guterres’ report on his Good Offices Mission in Cyprus, the papers report that the UNSG said that the people of Cyprus deserve to know that this time it is different and urges again the leaders, the guarantor powers and other interested parties to make productive use of the coming period.
“In this context, I would reiterate my call on the parties to constructively consider the framework of six points that I offered on 30 June 2017,” Guterres said in his report.
The report was accompanied by the notes the two leaders submitted on the request of the Security Council in its last resolution on the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate.
The report provides an update on the activities carried out by the UNSG’s Good Offices Mission and an update on the consultations conducted by Lute, on Guterres’ behalf.
Guterres stressed that while efforts continued during this reporting period towards reaching an agreement on the Terms of Reference, the backdrop to these efforts has been an increasingly complex situation, with rising tensions in and along the buffer zone, in particular along the northern ceasefire line, as well as over the possible opening of Varosha and over hydrocarbons exploration around Cyprus.
He said the agreement on the Terms of Reference is still pending but that his Good Offices remained available to support the parties in their efforts.
On Varosha, he recalled that the Security Council’s decision last October that no actions should be taken in relation to Varosha that are not in accordance with its resolutions, including resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992). He said he would continue to monitor developments closely.
Guterres also said he was closely monitoring recent developments related to hydrocarbons in and around Cyprus with growing concern and urged all relevant parties to exercise restraint. He reiterated his call for serious efforts to be made to avoid any further escalation and to defuse tensions.
He also said that at a time when the prospects for resumed negotiations remain uncertain, the Technical Committees can be an important vehicle for bringing the two communities closer together, implementing practical and impactful bi-communal initiatives and mobilizing support for increased dialogue. Guterres said he has noted further signs of revitalization of the Technical Committees and hopes to see more progress in the period ahead while underscoring the importance of their work and the positive impact of confidence-building measures for trust-building between the two communities.
Only genuine progress made towards a return to the negotiation table, including through an agreement on the Terms of Reference, will mark a path to a comprehensive settlement and reassure Cypriots as well as the international community that prospects for the process truly remain alive, he said.
The UNSG also said that public perception surveys have again demonstrated that the desire for a solution amongst the two communities continues to prevail, but that trust remains low.
“People are sceptical about the prospects for successful talks,” he said, adding that despite repeated calls on the two leaders to better inform the two communities about the contours of a settlement and to improve the overall conditions and atmosphere for the process, the climate has deteriorated further due to increased tensions in and around Cyprus and due to the sides disagreeing over the terms of reference, prolonging the stalemate.
“Neither side has made sufficient effort to avoid unhelpful rhetoric which has further reinforced scepticism amongst the public,” Guterres said.
As regards the Technical Committees, Politis reported that Guterres mentions the work carried out by the Committee on Cultural Heritage which it has produced over time the biggest work and that it seems to has found the mechanisms and ways to continue unhindered despite the many difficulties it deals with. He also refers to the exchange of artworks and audiovisual material earlier this year that was facilitated by the Committee on Culture as per the two leaders’ agreement last February.
Guterres also referred to the important action by the Committee on Crime concerning 246 requests for crimes and criminal activities between the two sides and pointed out to the positive work of the ‘Imagine’ project run by the Committee on Education with the participation of many pupils and schools.
Corresponding references are made in relation with the Technical Committee on Humanitarian Issues and specifically a programme which involved 40 children with autism from both sides and noted that for the first time since 2016 the Committee on Gender Equality convened, which is an area of particular interest for Guterres, Politis reported.
Phileleftheros reports that this seems to be the final appeal by Guterres to all sides.
Politis reported that Guterres’ references do not leave much room for optimism since he finds that the prospect of the resumption of the talks is uncertain.
KEY ACTORS
Guterres (UN)
>> Believes Cypriots deserve to know that this time things will be different.
>> Urges all sides to make productive use of the coming period & constructively consider the framework of six points he suggested on June 30, 2017.
>> Things are becoming increasingly complex with rising tensions in and along the buffer zone, over the possible opening of Varosha & hydrocarbons exploration around Cyprus.
>> Notes that the agreement on the ToR is still pending but his Good Offices remain available to support the parties in their efforts.
>> Will continue to monitor developments closely on Varosha and recalls the SC’s latest decision that no actions should be taken in relation to the town that is not in accordance with its resolutions.
>> Urges all sides to exercise restraint, avoid any further escalation & defuse tensions on the issue of hydrocarbons which he is closely monitoring.
>> While prospects for resumed negotiations remain uncertain, the technical committees can bring the two communities closer together by implementing practical and impactful bi-communal initiatives & mobilising support for increased dialogue.
>> Stresses the importance of the work of the technical committees & the positive impact of CBMs for trust-building & hopes to see more progress.
>> Believes that only genuine progress made towards a return to the negotiation table, including an agreement on the ToR will mark a path to a comprehensive settlement & reassure Cypriots and international community that prospects for the process truly remain alive.
>> Finds that neither side has made sufficient effort to avoid unhelpful rhetoric which has further reinforced scepticism amongst the public despite repeated calls on the two leaders to better inform their communities about the contours of a settlement & improve the overall conditions and atmosphere for the process.
RoC: Turkey’s claims she protects TCs’ rights are hypocritical
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Regional/International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Following reports that Turkish drillship Fatih has returned to the island and has started operations off Karpasia, the government condemned Turkey’s latest attempt to conduct illegal drilling within Cyprus’ maritime zones, the dailies report.
In a written announcement, the government said that any claim by Turkey that the drilling is carried out after ‘licensing’ by the so-called ‘TRNC’ to the Turkish petroleum company (TPAO) has no legal basis and any drilling activities carried out on behalf or for the benefit of the illegal secessionist regime are illegal and void just as the pseudo-state is illegal and baseless, according to relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The government said that the announced drilling within the eastern exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and Cyprus’ continental shelf, very close to the territorial sea, at 12.4 nautical miles off the coast of Karpasia, “violates the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and international customary law.”
It also condemned the reported illegal seismic investigations by the Oruc Reis research vessel in a large area in the western EEZ / continental shelf of Cyprus, which, it said, is in violation of its sovereign rights.
According to the government the fact that the new illegal actions were announced on the same day the EU’s sanctions framework came into force against persons and companies involved in Turkey’s unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean was an act of “extreme and provocative contempt” of international and European law, as well as repeated calls by the international community for an end to these actions and to respect the sovereignty and exclusive sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus.
The government also said it was hypocritical of Turkey to claim to be defending the rights of the TCs, while at the same time claiming 44 per cent of the Cyprus EEZ / continental shelf against the legitimate rights of the entire Cypriot people.
It added that the interests of the TCs would be better safeguarded by the overall settlement of the Cyprus problem, rather than by conducting illegal activities, namely 10 days before the scheduled meeting of the two leaders and the UN Secretary-General.
“We urge Turkey once again to put an end to all its illegal activities and to withdraw all drilling and seismic vessels from the maritime zones of Cyprus,” it said.
Recalling the framework of sanctions that have been put into effect by the EU which targets natural and legal persons involved in these activities, the government also called on individuals and companies to terminate any co-operation or assistance in any illegal activities.
KEY ACTORS
Republic of Cyprus
>> Condemns Turkey’s latest attempt to conduct illegal drilling & the illegal seismic investigations in violation of the RoC’s sovereign rights.
>> Turkey’s claims that the drilling is carried out after ‘licensing’ by the north has no legal basis as the pseudo-state is illegal and baseless as per relevant UN SC resolutions.
>> The fact that the new illegal actions were announced on the same day the EU’s sanctions framework came into force is an act of extreme and provocative contempt of international & European law & of calls by the international community for an end to these actions.
>> Turkey’s claims that she is defending the rights of the TCs are hypocritical given that she claims 44 per cent of the Cyprus EEZ / continental shelf at the expense of the rights of all Cypriots.
>> The interests of the TCs will be safeguarded by the solution of the Cyprob & not by illegal drilling activities especially 10 days before the Berlin trilateral.
>> Urges Turkey to stop all its illegal activities in the maritime zones of Cyprus & individuals and companies to terminate any co-operation or assistance in any illegal activities.