Front Page Headlines
Still value in passport plan
Scope for investments needs to broaden and people involved need to intend to stay on the island.
Abolition of resolutions on the pseudo-state and risk of losing natural gas (opinion piece)
Lute’s meetings yesterday dealt with only the procedural aspects and… forgot the Terms of Reference.
- Position: The diplomacy of the sons-in-law (Editorial on the relations between Turkey and the US)
- Turkish propaganda: Now they also introduced the ‘Blue Motherland’ manifesto
- Nikos Katsourides: Realism does not mean surrender (opinion piece)
- Savvas Iacovides: When even a mouse can bite a cat (opinion piece)
Cypriots carry arms but without any checks
We surpass even Iraq on gun possession. Cyprus is steadily in the top ten worldwide when it comes to distribution of guns. Stolen military or hunting guns have been used in illegal activities such as armed robberies or homicides. Inadequate checks on the mental health of those possessing guns such as hunters and reservists. Incidents such as that with the 62-year-old in Akropolis and the murder of a woman a few years ago in Strovolos with the use of a G3 rifle, beyond that there’s widespread gun possession in Cyprus, are a reminder of how the state fails to effectively check the mental health of those carrying guns.
- Interview: Cemal Ozyigit – TCs don’t do only what Turkey says.
- Chronicle: Islamisation of the landscape – The conversion of churches to mosques in 16th century Nicosia (Free supplement given with Sunday’s Politis).
Christodoulides goes to Pompeo
The Turkish provocations in Cypriot seas brought before the American foreign minister. Meeting tomorrow in Washington, briefing also on the trilateral cooperations.
- Turkish attempts to convince about the confederation
- Andros Kyprianou: We must be convincing we want a solution
- Efforts for the abolition of the veto in the EU
- Turkish danger through Viktor Orban
- Kenan Evren’s Turkish coup in 1983
- Nicos Charalambous: The Cyprus problem is a pan-national issue
- Linos-Alexandros Sicilianos: The ECHR is the most effective mechanism
- Stefanos Constantinides: Erdogan at the White House (opinion piece)
- Michalis Egnatiou: Everything put on ice until the elections (opinion piece)
- Christos Iacovou: Bizonal federation and public opinion (opinion piece)
Political leaders in an election marathon
Averof (Neophytou) and Nicolas (Papadopoulos) are turning to the base, while Andros (Kyprianou) is trying to find a serious proposal on the economy.
- Nikos Christodoulides: Five-party meeting Crans Montana-style within December
- Trilateral: Two roads leading to Berlin
- Ankara: Looking for allies and compromises
- Tylliria bombings: The remains of Giorgos Ikosaris have been identified
- Pointless visit by Erdogan to the US – Washington is troubled.
All eyes on November 25
UNSG special envoy Jane Holl Lute held contacts yesterday with the two leaders in Cyprus, Mustafa Akinci in the morning, Nicos Anastasiades in the evening, with the aim of preparation ahead of the trilateral meeting in Berlin on November 25. With restrained optimism, all eyes are on that meeting since the restart of the negotiations procedure will also depend on its results.
- Giorgos Loukaides: Negativism before the trilateral does not help developments
- Niyazi Kizilyurek: The solution must guide our moves
- Turkey-US: In what and how much Trump and Erdogan have similarities
The final test of intentions
Jane Holl Lute: Meetings yesterday with the two leaders on the aftermath of the Guterres report ahead of the Berlin trilateral. The contacts of the special envoy with the leaders are without a second round and whatever is pending it will be discussed with the UN Secretary-General himself in Berlin on November 25.
- A different interview with Andros Kyprianou: From my parents, I inherited a lot of ‘wealth’
- Analysis: Political walls hold natural gas a hostage
- Article-Intervention: Christos P. Panayiotides: Building a federal governance system
Main News
Christodoulides: The trilateral could lead to an informal five-party meeting
Kathimerini
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations, Energy, External Security
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said that a five-party meeting could take place in December but this would depend on the results of the trilateral.
In an interview with the daily, Christodoulides said that the trilateral could lead to a five-party meeting within December given that an informal meeting like the one in Crans-Montana is also the wish of the UN Secretary-General.
This, however, will depend on the results of the trilateral.
He expressed the conviction that given that there is a basis which is the result of the August 9 meeting between the two leaders, Lute’s contacts and the will by all sides to participate constructively at the trilateral, positive results are possible.
Christodoulides reiterated the position that there is no issue of a change to the solution basis. Such a possibility is out of the question and it is especially positive that the Security Council has a clear position on this issue, he said.
On Turkey’s activities in the Cypriot maritime area, Christodoulides said that for the negotiations process to have positive results, the right climate must prevail that would reinforce the substantive negotiations and the sought goal.
As regards the energy issue, he said the solution of the Cyprus problem would allow for serious consideration of cooperation concerning the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey. He added that Turkey excluded herself from regional cooperation through her stance and behaviour.
On the lift of the arms embargo on Cyprus by the US which has been included in two bills currently before the UN Congress, Christodoulides pointed out that for the Republic of Cyprus, the lift of the embargo is mainly symbolic. He said that its existence is not in line with the US-Cyprus bilateral relations nor Cyprus’ role in the region or its capacity as an EU member state.
It is more of a political importance to us, he said, according to the daily.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Believes the trilateral, depending on its results, could lead to a five-party meeting since this is also what the UNSG wants.
>> Believes the trilateral could yield positive results if the understanding between the two leaders last August is taken into consideration, the results of Lute’s contacts but also since all sides said they would participate constructively.
>> Changing the solution basis is out of the question & welcomes the clear position of the SC on the issue.
>> Turkey should review her activities off Cyprus since for the negotiations process to have positive results, the right climate must prevail.
>> Solution of the Cyprob would allow for serious consideration for cooperation concerning the East Med and Turkey that excluded herself from regional cooperation through her stance and behaviour.
>> The lift of the UN arms embargo on Cyprus is mainly symbolic since this prohibition does not reflect US-Cyprus bilateral relations & is not in line with Cyprus’ role in the region or its capacity as an EU member state.
Leaders explain their positions in letters to the UN
Alithia, Haravgi, Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Sunday Mail
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that UN Special envoy Jane Holl Lute held meetings on Saturday with the two leaders.
Alithia reported that there was no second round as regards Lute’s contacts and that all pending issues would be discussed with the UN Secretary-General in Berlin.
Kathimerini also reports on the content of the letters the two leaders submitted last month at the request of the Security Council with the actions they have taken aimed at reaching a viable and comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.
In his letter, President Nicos Anastasiades said for substantial negotiations to resume there was need for an environment that will allow constructive discussions in the same spirit and conditions that characterised all previous negotiating rounds. Toward that end, he called on the UN Secretary-General, his Good Offices mission on Cyprus and the permanent members of the Secretary Council to adopt an assertive stance to convince Turkey to terminate its unlawful activities.
Anastasiades’ note has three sections with the first one focusing on efforts of the GC side for the restart of the peace process and on the various proposals submitted by him including for confidence-building measures (CBMs).
The second part is on the factors that prevent the restart of the peace process and the insistence by the Turkish side on proposals concerning governance which would lead to a non-functioning state. It also refers to the Turkish provocations in the Cypriot EEZ, Varosha and in the buffer zone and on Turkey’s position that there cannot be a settlement based on the established parameters.
Anastasiades also refers to his note that since the appointment of UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute, he has been committed to contributing constructively to her efforts for an agreement on the Terms of Reference. He also pointed out that the trilateral was his suggestion.
He also pointed out that the aim of reaching an agreement on the terms is to pave the way forward for resuming the negotiating process and therefore inserting provisions of not ruling out possible solutions of the Cyprus Problem that run contrary to the UN Security Council Resolutions should be avoided.
Anastasiades also pointed out that an obstacle in agreeing on the ToR was insistence to interpret political equality as a veto of the TC community in all decisions of all federal institutions. Beyond the fact that such interpretation is not and could not be extracted from the agreed definition of political equality, “I must recall that it is the existence of a much more restricted such right of veto that created the constitutional crisis in Cyprus in the first place. I must also stress that such a provision in the settlement would not only render the state dysfunctional, but it would defeat the purpose of reunification altogether,” he notes.
He also said he was absolutely convinced that the suggestion by the UNSG in his six-point package, to grant a positive vote in specific bodies where the vital interests of each community or constituent state might be affected provided that there exists an effective deadlock-resolving mechanism, is the only formula that can lead to a breakthrough on this issue.
He said that embedding separatist and deadlock-inducing decision-making mechanisms in the settlement will make it non-viable. The convergences already achieved on effective participation, amount to the most far-reaching power-sharing arrangements in existence, anywhere, he added.
Kathimerini reports that, in his note, Mustafa Akinci refers to actions to support a viable solution, CBMs, and actions aimed at avoiding tensions as regards hydrocarbons.
As regards the ToR, Akinci mentions that it was very important for the TC side that the ToR are dealt with in such a way so that there are no doubts or leave no room for misinterpretations.
For that reason, the TC side has suggested the inclusion among other things of a renewed commitment on the established parameter of political equality which is crucial in shedding light to the honesty of the two sides on their commitment to previous convergences, especially the principle of effective participation.
Akinci also said that he was willing to discuss Anastasiades’ proposal on decentralised federation if the two sides are in a position to agree on a commitment to the three main elements concerning the substance.
So far, however, Anastasiades only referred to the principle of decentralization but avoids mentioning which specific competencies he suggests remaining to the federal government, Akinci said, according to the daily.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Calls on Guterres and the SC to convince Turkey to terminate its unlawful activities to allow for substantial negotiations to resume in an environment that will allow constructive discussions.
>> Inserting to the ToR provisions that do not rule out possible Cyprob solutions not in line with the SC resolutions should be avoided.
>> Insistence to interpret political equality as a veto of the TC community in all decisions of all federal institutions is one of the things hindering an agreement on the ToR since it is not on line with the agreed definition of political equality while it would render the state dysfunctional & beat the purpose of reunification.
>> Believes Guterres’ suggestion in his six-point package to grant a positive vote in specific bodies where the vital interests of each community or constituent state might be affected provided that there exists an effective deadlock-resolving mechanism, is the only formula that can lead to a breakthrough on this issue.
>> Embedding separatist and deadlock-inducing decision-making mechanisms in the settlement will make it non-viable whereas the convergences already achieved on effective participation amount to the most far-reaching power sharing arrangements in existence, anywhere.
Akinci
>> It is crucial to the TC side that the agreement on the ToR leaves no room for misinterpretations & that is why it has suggested the inclusion of a renewed commitment on the established parameter of political equality which would reveal how honest the two sides are on their commitment to previous convergences, especially the principle of effective participation.
>> Willing to discuss Anastasiades’ proposal on decentralised federation if the two sides are in a position to agree on a commitment on the three main elements concerning its substance but the GC leader avoids mentioning which specific competencies he suggests to remain to the federal government.
More than six in ten say they could accept a BBF as a Cyprob solution
Kathimerini
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that 72,4% rejects the idea of a two-state solution in Cyprus while 65% said they could accept a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) either because they are in favour of such a solution or because it is necessary, according to the results of the latest European Social Survey (ESS).
The survey showed that 72,4% of respondents were against a two-state solution; 13,9% were in favour while 13,7% were neither for nor against, but could tolerate it if it were necessary.
The survey further revealed that 57,2% of respondents said they were in favour of a unitary state while 27,4% said they were against it and 15,4 % said they were neither for nor against it but could agree to it if it was necessary.
As regards the BBF, which is negotiated by the Cypriot government as the basis of the Cyprus problem solution, 27% said they were in favour while 38,1% said they were not for or against it though they could accept it if was deemed necessary. Another 35% said they were against this form of a solution.
The survey also said that 50,8% said they were against the status quo with only 18% stating they were in favour, while 31.2% said they were neither for nor against it, though they could tolerate it if necessary.
The sample size used was around 800 people aged 15 and over and covered all urban and rural areas of Cyprus between October 2018 and April 2019.