Front Page Headlines
The van is being scanned for possible targets
Search in the vehicles’ servers and companies for surveillance traces. Averof Neophytou: No relation with the van and its owner, contacts only with Shahak Avni. WiSpear: There was no use of the van in Cyprus, authorities were informed of the tests that were carried out.
- Akinci: First by far
- Cavusoglu: He ‘told off’ (EP President) David Sassoli
- Enough is enough, urgent measures are in order – Ministerial meeting today on the migration issue. Parliament has been briefed and is standing by.
Throwing a monkey wrench into the sanctions
Sassoli ‘drilled a hole’ to the EU decisions and met Cavusoglu. Serious political foul-play by the President of the European Parliament.
- Guterres’ stance determines the trilateral
- They are playing again with the issue of Famagusta
- The migration issue is turning into a crisis – The government is pushing for measures.
- Renos Lysiotis donated mementoes of the EOKA struggle – The fighter’s life treasure to the Struggle Museum.
The solution is primarily an issue of the GCs and TCs
The TC leader finds Turkey’s support and contribution in efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem and of the other guarantors but also of the EU, EU and of the international community unavoidable, if necessary. “However”, Akinci points out, “first and foremost it is the TCs and GCs that must want the solution and it is they who should make efforts towards that direction.”
- Tatar: We will not return Varosha to the GCs
- Cyprus calls for European solidarity on the increased migrant influx
MPs briefed on migration rise
Ministers, MPs discuss ways of curbing irregular migration influx.
- Cyprus complains after EasyJet lost luggage ends up at airport in north
We sell technology products – We have no relations with the government
What does the company owning the spy van say? WiSpear Systems Limited makes clear that it has not sold or rented any intelligence system to the Cypriot authorities. The same said a government source to Alithia. Averof (Neophytou) I met Shahak Avni and not Tal Dilian. Hurriyet: The Israeli spy van surveillances were covering also the occupied areas.
- I am going to the trilateral for a federal solution – Mustafa Akinci responds to his critics with references to the Cyprus problem. The TC leader admits he has disagreements with Ankara on the Cyprus problem. A poll presents him as the favourite by far. Erhurman: Anastasiades suggested a parliamentary system instead of a presidential one.
- They are too much to bear! – SOS by the government on the migrants.
Main News
UN: Guterres was clear in his positions in latest report
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing, Property
OVERVIEW
Nicosia now waits to see how UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will approach the Cyprus problem procedure with the UN arguing Guterres has been very clear in his positions, the dailies report.
Developments in the north were prominent in GC papers on Thursday mainly TC leader Mustafa Akinci’s response to his detractors in the north and the latest poll showing he is still in the lead ahead of next year’s elections.
Phileleftheros and Haravgi citing statements by Guterres’ spokesperson Stephane Dujarric report that he said that the UNSG is working with the parties to try to find a settlement.
In response to questions on the announcement by the Secretary of State of the US regarding the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, Dujarric said that the UN position remains unchanged and expressed regret about the decision and the announcement of the United States.
Asked whether the Secretary-General also expresses the same regret for Russia’s actions in Crimea or Turkey’s settlements in the northern part of Cyprus, where it stations troops occupying the land there, Dujarric said the issues should be dealt with separately.
On Cyprus, he said that the Secretary-General has been very clear in his position. “There was a report on his good offices just recently and he is also working with the parties to try to find a settlement.”
Haravgi also reports that the Russian foreign ministry welcomed Guterres’ intention of meeting the two leaders in Berlin next week and stressed that more active involvement by all permanent members of the Security Council to support the talks process, would help bring progress towards the desired outcome.
Phileleftheros reports that Guterres’ latest report was not that clear. Citing sources within the GC side, the daily reports everything will depend on the way Guterres will approach the situation.
The daily reported that a positive scenario would be an announcement after the meeting which would be the basis for the following meetings on the Cyprus problem without a timeframe for a meeting also with the participation of the guarantors. A negative scenario would be the end of the dinner Guterres will host for the two leaders without a joint statement and vagueness on the continuation of the talks, the paper said.
In the meantime, the dailies also report that Akinci responded to his detractors in the north saying among other things that despite what some say, first and foremost, it is the TCs and GCs that must want the solution.
The dailies also cite the latest poll by CMIRS in the north showing Akinci continues by far to be the most popular choice for next year’s elections with 38,6 per cent, followed by Ersin Tatar with 17,9 per cent and Tufan Erhurman coming third with 15,8 per cent. Kudret Ozersay’s percentage is 7,5 per cent.
KEY ACTORS
Dujarric (UNSG’s spokesperson)
>> Guterres has been very clear in his position on the Cyprob in his latest report & he is working with the parties to try to find a settlement.
Russian foreign ministry
>> Welcomes Guterres’ initiate to meet the two leaders.
>> A more active involvement by all permanent members of the SC to support the talks process would help bring progress towards the desired outcome.
Akinci
>> First and foremost, it is the TCs & GCs that must want the solution despite what some say.
EP President raises illegal activities off Cyprus in meeting with Turkish FM
Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Energy
OVERVIEW
According to the dailies, European Parliament President David Sassoli who met on Wednesday with Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Brussels took the opportunity to raise Turkey’s illegal activities off Cyprus.
But by receiving Cavusoglu he broke the agreement on no high-level meetings with Turkish officials, Phileleftheros reported.
According to the dailies, Sassoli said after the meeting in a written statement the EU stands in full solidarity with Cyprus, regarding the respect of its sovereignty and sovereign rights in accordance with international law.
He said he had a sincere exchange with Cavusoglu and reiterated the EU’s strong condemnation of the Turkish military intervention in northeast Syria and raised the issue of Turkey’s continued illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to Phileleftheros and Politis, Cavusoglu however, accused Sassoli of hypocrisy arguing that he did not dare bring up the issues of Cyprus and Syria during their meeting.
This is another example of the dishonesty and hypocrisy of the EU, he said, according to the dailies.
According to Phileleftheros, that ran the story as its main item, Sassoli did a political wrong by meeting Cavusoglu despite the unanimous EU decisions calling among other things for the postponement of high-level political dialogue with Turkish officials for as long as Turkey continues her illegal activities in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone (EEZ). According to the daily, this was an attempt by Sassoli to drill a hole to the political sanctions agreed by the EU28.
Citing sources, Phileleftheros reports that Sassoli received Cavusoglu in his office for about an hour. The daily reports that Sassoli followed the protocol observed in official meetings which should not have taken place until Turkey ends her illegal activities in Cyprus’ sea area. No other EU official had a meeting with Cavusoglu who was in Brussels for a NATO meeting.
Sassoli’s meeting with Cavusoglu does not change anything as regards the EU sanctions on Turkey but the unacceptable stance by the President of the European Parliament could be indicative of the level of difficulty of the whole effort especially when an elected official of an EU institutional organ circumvents the decisions of the member states and abolishes any notion of solidarity, the daily said.
The paper also said that Sassoli’s announcement after the meeting was aimed at sugarcoating the pill for Nicosia but allowed Cavusoglu to lambast the EU official.
KEY ACTORS
Sassoli (EU)
>> EU stands in full solidarity with Cyprus, regarding the respect of its sovereignty and sovereign rights in accordance with international law.
Cavusoglu (Turkey)
>> The fact that Sassoli never raised the issues of Syria & Cyprus during the meeting despite his announcement that he did, is another example of the EU’s dishonesty and hypocrisy.
Government to introduce bills aimed at tackling migration crisis
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs, External Security, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that the government will soon announce a package of bills concerning among other things a change in the Green Line Regulations to tackle the increasing influx of irregular migrants with MPs blaming also Turkey for the situation.
Interior Minister Constantinos Petrides warned on Wednesday following a closed-door meeting at the House ethics committee that due to the abuse of the anomaly created by the occupation, the situation would evolve into a full-blown crisis if it was not addressed.
The meeting also attended the ministers of defence, justice, labour, the chief of the secret service (KYP), the permanent secretary of the foreign ministry, a representative of the police, the head of the asylum service and representatives of the European Commission to Cyprus.
Petrides said the situation is evolving in such a way that Cyprus is not able to handle it alone, adding that Cyprus no longer expects European solidarity but rather demands it.
Admitting there were no easy solutions, he said, all the ministries and agencies involved were taking steps to address the situation more effectively. He also pointed out that the social welfare system faces an enormous challenge and that multiple resources would be needed to make the situation manageable.
Petrides said there was failure to agree on a revision of the Dublin Regulation on equal burden-sharing by member states and that there was need to revise agreements with third countries and the need to ensure peaceful conditions in the Middle East.
Most MPs called for EU support and blamed Turkey for the situation with EDEK deputy Elena Lymbouri saying that the migratory flows were part of Turkey’s plans to change Cyprus’ demographics.
Head of the committee, DISY MP Zacharias Zachariou, said that Turkey is at the root of the problem as migrants travel from there to the north and then on to the government-controlled areas.
Alithia reports that at the meeting it was discussed that the situation posed national, social, health, financial and security risks.
It is believed that Turkey which is behind most migrant arrivals to the island, is also sending to Cyprus even jihadis, the paper reported. It added that MPs heard that there are also risks for human trafficking mainly with women as victims with police saying there have been already such cases.
Cyprus Mail, citing the latest figures by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) released this week, reported that as of spring 2019, Cyprus had been receiving on average about 1,500 asylum applications per million inhabitants each month which is more than twice as many as Malta (close to 700) and about three times as many as Greece (over 450). According to the study, 515,825 asylum applications have been lodged in the EU+ during the first nine months of 2019, up by 10 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.
KEY ACTORS
Petrides (Interior Minister)
>> The abuse of the anomaly created by the occupation will lead to full-blown migration crisis if it was not addressed.
>> Cyprus demands European solidarity as it is not able to handle the situation alone.
>> Since EU member states failed to agree on a revision of the Dublin Regulation on equal burden sharing, agreements with third countries must be revised but also ensure peaceful conditions in the Middle East.
EPP condemns Turkey’s activities off Cyprus
Alithia, Phileleftheros
EU Matters, Energy
OVERVIEW
According to the dailies the European People’s Party Congress (EPP) unanimously adopted an emergency resolution concerning the Cyprus problem and Turkey’s illegal actions in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.
President Nicos Anastasiades also attends the EPP summit in Zagreb which was to vote its new chairman and vice chairs. DISY leader Averof Neophytou is a candidate for one of the positions of EPP’s vice chair.
In the resolution, the EPP reiterates its support for a comprehensive, sustainable and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and EU law, values and principles, including the principle of subsidiarity.
The EPP stressed that there should be no deviation from the framework of negotiations based on a bi-zonal, bicommunal federal model, draws attention to the Guterres Framework and the UNSG’s call for the resumption of negotiations based on the understandings reached in 2017 in Crans Montana. To this end, the EPP “denounces any purported alternative solution proposed by Turkey for the creation of two states on the island of Cyprus.”
The EPP resolution also condemns Turkey’s recent actions and statements “that continue to undermine efforts to resume the Cyprus talks as well as good neighbourly relations between the EU and Turkey.”
It also said it fully supports the European Council’s efforts to prevent and put an end to Turkey’s illegal activities, while expressing its full support for Cyprus’ energy exploration programme.
The group also condemned “the provocative attempts by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership to bring Varosha under its own administration” and called for the return of the closed-off town to its lawful inhabitants and the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the High Level Agreement of 1979 reached between the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the TC leader.
Civil Aviation requests explanations from Easy Jet over luggage delivery blunder
Cyprus Mail
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that the Civil Aviation department has complained to EasyJet air carrier over the delivery of the lost luggage of a passenger to the airport in Tymbou rather than to those of Paphos or Larnaca.
The transport ministry said in a written statement that the Civil Aviation has sought explanations from the airline in question and asked for the case to be looked into to avoid similar incidents in the future since such actions are contrary to European and international regulations.
The ministry, which did not name the airline, said that the Cyprus Civil Aviation authorities cannot in any way interfere with the process of handling and dispatching luggage from other countries to the Republic of Cyprus, and that the luggage in question ended up at the illegal airport in Tymbou following arrangements made by the airline the passenger was travelling with.
The announcement concerns the case of GC actress Paola Hadjilambri travelling from the US to Paphos via stops in Berlin and Budapest and who lost her luggage, only to be notified last Monday by Tymbou airport that she could go north and pick it up from there, the daily reports.