Front Page Headlines
Averof (Neophytou) and DISY in the van cadre
Information on relations with the owner of a company producing malware. The whole company building in Larnaca is under confiscation for the police investigations. A non-governmental organisation has been reporting since last May and was asking for explanations on the relations with the owner of a company producing malware.
- Service terms: Ceiling only for the president
- Dilemma over natural gas (import)
Health schemes under another name
Especially for semi-governmental organisations, they will be covering services not offered by GESY. The government backed down and satisfied trade unions. Four-tier contribution system for GESY.
- Lift of embargo on arms and visa – Promoted by the two FMs (Cyprus & US).
- References by Ozersay to Akinci over the trilateral
Tell us who the van was spying on
The government spokesman tried to shift the blame on the enormous scandal on the spy van with misleading information. Evidence, however, leave him exposed. AKEL demands full transparency and the president invited Andros Kyprianou at the Presidential Palace on Friday to discuss the issue in the presence of the competent minister and the police chief.
- What does the foreign minister say about (US announcement on Israeli) settlers?
AKEL calling for ‘spy van’ arrests
President to meet party leader on Friday to discuss issue.
President calling Andros: Come to the Presidential Palace on Friday
Nicos Anastasiades intervenes in the espionage issue from abroad. The president will meet the AKEL leader in two days to discuss the espionage issue in the presence of the justice minister and the police chief. Alithia reveals all details on the reasons the Israeli chairman of the Jewish synagogues in Cyprus was given permission to carry arms.
- Explosive dimensions! – The migration issue is becoming the number one danger Cyprus is facing. 515,825 asylum applications in the EU during the first nine months. Based on the population ratio, Cyprus tops the list.
- Kudret Ozersay: Nothing will come from the trilateral
- Energean wants to bring to us natural gas – It has filed applications.
Main News
AKEL: Turkey should say so if she does not accept the Guterres Framework
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The dailies on Wednesday report that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said the latest statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who has said that there must be clarifications first on the issue of political equality before the talks can begin, were unacceptable and hamper efforts for the resumption of the talks.
He said what Cavusoglu refers to, is covered by the Guterres Framework that clearly refers to political equality, effective participation of the TC community in governance and makes clear that they will have a positive vote but not on every issue.
“If Turkey disagrees with the UNSG’s Framework should say so and assume her responsibilities for any problems that will arise as regards efforts for the resumption of the talks,” Kyprianou said.
The papers also report that Finland’s Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto told the Cyprus News Agency that the Finnish EU Presidency and the Finnish government’ s position is that there is no other process to resolve the Cyprus problem besides the UN-led process. He also said that if the upcoming meeting in Berlin leads to a revival of the negotiations, it would be extremely positive.
The dailies focused more on discussion in the north on the Cyprus problem and the trilateral next week between the two leaders and the UN Secretary-General.
Politis, citing sources that spoke to TC leader Mustafa Akinci in recent days, reported that the TC leader is focused on having the issue of political equality and positive vote clarified to avoid any misinterpretations. The same source said that if Anastasiades and Akinci find common ground on this issue, this will pave the way for an agreement on the Terms of Reference, at least from the TC side.
According to the daily, the TC side is preparing ahead of the trilateral with Akinci holding meetings with parties aimed at preparing their positions on every possible scenario.
Phileleftheros, Haravgi and Alithia report on TC ‘foreign minister’ Kudret Ozersay’s statements on the expected results of the trilateral and that he does not expect anything out of that meeting.
The dailies also report that Ozersay criticized Anastasiades that he has not embraced the federal solution and sees it as a concession, since in his note to the UN said that the GCs, by agreeing to a federal solution, made a historic concession.
Phileleftheros also reports that the military exercises Nikoforos and Taurus that were to take place in the south and north respectively have been cancelled. According to the daily, Akinci’s spokesman Baris Burcu said the Taurus exercise was cancelled after the decision of the Republic not to carry out the National Guard’s exercise Nikiforos.
KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Finds Cavusoglu’s statements that hamper efforts for the resumption of talks, unacceptable.
>> Political equality is already covered by the GF that clearly refers to the issue, as well as effective participation of the TC community in governance & that they will have a positive vote but not on every issue.
>> Calls on Turkey to admit if she disagrees with the GF & be ready to assume her responsibilities for any problems that may arise in efforts for the resumption of the talks.
Haavisto (Finland)
>> Finland believes there is no other process to resolve the Cyprob other than that led by the UN.
>> Finds a possible revival of the negotiations, as extremely positive.
Ozersay
>> He does not expect anything out of the trilateral.
>> Anastasiades’ note to the UN that says that by agreeing to a federal solution GCs made a historic concession is proof he has not embraced the federal solution & sees it as a concession.
FM: Questioning by Turkey of RoC delimitation agreements a challenge to all countries in region
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations, Energy, External Security
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides expressed his satisfaction over the outcome of his meeting in Washington with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The minister said there was a clear commitment on both sides to strengthen cooperation in various sectors such as areas such as security, economy, and day-to-day issues such as abolishing entry visas for Cypriot nationals visiting the US.
Christodoulides also said that taking into account the present situation, but also general developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, there is a clear commitment by the US on their interest in the region, their presence there, but also their cooperation with all states in the region, based on a positive agenda.
He also characterised the US support towards resuming talks for a Cyprus settlement as important.
On questions regarding the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Christodoulides said the general impression was that Erdogan had prevailed. He pointed out however that taking into account the talks he had with Pompeo and other US officials, it seems there are many open and difficult issues concerning US-Turkey relations but also regional developments.
The dailies also report that Christodoulides, addressing the conference ‘Southeast Europe & East Med: New strategies – new perspectives’ in Washington, said that any challenge or provocation to the delimitation agreements Cyprus has signed is a challenge to all countries in the region but also to rule-based international order.
He also said Cyprus is a defender of international law, including the Law of the Sea, and referred to “the invitation we have repeatedly extended to Turkey, expressing our readiness to start negotiations on the delimitation of our maritime zones.”
Phileleftheros, citing sources, reported that on the visa issue there is political commitment by the US while the necessary documents have been promoted aimed at changing the existing status.
As regards the arms embargo, the daily reports that, at an initial stage, cooperation programmes will be initiated between the National Guard and the US National Guard which will bypass restrictions placed by the embargo. This move shows the intent by the US to carry on with the full abolition of the arms embargo, the daily reported.
Haravgi asks what Christodoulides thinks about the US decision to legalise Israeli expansionism in Palestine. Cyprus needs to side with international law, the paper said.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Satisfied from result of his meeting with Pompeo & commitment by the US to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
>> Finds US support towards resumption of talks as important.
>> Any challenge or provocation to Cyprus’ delimitation agreements is a challenge to all countries in the region & rule-based international order.
>> Cyprus is a defender of international law.
>> The invitation Cyprus extended to Turkey for negotiations on the delimitation of their maritime zones is still on the table.
Anastasiades to meet AKEL leader over surveillance van saga
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Politis
External Security
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that President Nicos Anastasiades has invited AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou to the Presidential Palace on Friday to discuss the issue of the surveillance van owned by an Israeli ex-intelligence officer whose company is based in Larnaca after persistent criticism by the main opposition party of the government over the matter.
According to Politis, information and statements by AKEL on a businessman who had contacts with a political leader, point out that the person in question seems to be DISY leader Averof Neophytou. The businessman, however, is not the owner of the van but Avraham Avni Shahak, who owns a number of companies in Cyprus and who was given permission to carry arms by Cabinet.
Politis, citing WikiLeaks, reports that that businessman had sent an email in 2013 to Italian company Hacking Team, from which also Cyprus’ intelligence service KYP had purchased services in the past, expressing interest in technology concerning Skype.
Alithia, also citing WikiLeaks and reports by Omega TV, names the owner of the van, Tal Dilian, as the person involved in the scandal concerning Hacking Team.
The daily also reports that according to Omega TV, employees of Dilian’s company were arrested in 2013 after exiting the National Guard General Staff. During questioning, it emerged that they had been invited by a top brass National Guard officer to provide a service for which no further information was given. The case had closed at the time, Alithia reported.
Politis reports that the spy van is just the tip of the iceberg since Cyprus is being used by Israeli companies as their base for developing surveillance technology. According to the paper, the building housing Dilian’s company in Larnaca is also used by other companies developing and selling surveillance technologies at steep prices all over the world.
Remand for young hunters after damaging military outpost
Phileleftheros
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
According to the paper two men aged 19 and 23 were remanded on Tuesday for two days after damaging a National Guard outpost in Pachyammos following the refusal by soldiers to let them enter the buffer zone so that they could enter the Kokkina area.
The incident took place on Monday evening. They two men, who were believed to be drunk at the time, went to the National Guard outpost holding hunting rifles and asked the soldiers to open the gate leading to the buffer zone and the Kokkina enclave. When the soldiers refused and asked them to leave, they started hitting the outposts’ glass windows and the walls causing damage estimated at €300. They left the scene but police later located them and arrested them.
Kyrenia municipality to set up office for peaceful return after solution
Alithia, Haravgi
Human Rights, Property
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Kyrenia municipality announced it will set up an office to draw up a strategy for the final and peaceful return of refugees to their town when this will be made possible.
The Office for Peaceful Return will be tasked with preparing a scientific plan and actions paving the way for the peaceful return of refugees.
Kyrenia mayor Rita Komodiki said that the office will be created according to the laws of the Republic of Cyprus, international and European law and in cooperation with the municipal council and in line with its decisions.
She said the municipality, taking into consideration the conclusions of the latest symposium it has organised on the peaceful return following a solution, will submit specific suggestions for practical actions to other occupied municipalities and communities and then to the political leadership on the goal of a peaceful return of all displaced persons to their homes and properties.