GCC Press Review 06 Dec 2019

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Hague referral (placed) on the altar to tactics

Government recognises the difficulties in appealing. Government wants to keep the appeal low (on the agenda). Parties ask for immediate and stricter measures and the delineation of the EEZ with Greece.

  • Britain: A Brexit full of paradoxes

Phileleftheros

Looking for the invisible hand

State trapped for 20 years by tampered plans on renewable energy subsidies. The cabinet of ministers approved a plan in 2008, it was approved by the EU and then the ministry implemented a different plan.

  • Remains of six Greek missing returned home
  • Delineation through The Hague: Nicosia appeals to pressure Turkey towards deal
  • Memorandum with Libya approved: Erdogan annoyed with France
  • 3 MPs “christened”: DISY goes to Parliament benches with new roster
  • Letter from Derynia to Spehar regarding (municipality) mergers

Haravgi

Mobilisation for Libya – Turkey memorandum

Deal was approved by Turkish National Assembly. Cyprus appeals to Hague court. AKEL proposal to ask the Hague International Court for a legal opinion.

  • Plans for refugees (displaced) in disuse and inaccessible
  • Mogherini points to negotiations in reply to Cypriot MEPs’ question on Famagusta

Cyprus Mail

‘We will use all legal weapons’

President confirms Cyprus to petition The Hague to safeguard rights

  • Cyprus: RES rates ‘biggest scandal of our time’
  • Europe: Erdogan says Nato should support him

Alithia

See you at The Hague

Cyprus moves against Turkey for its illegal actions in the Cypriot EEZ. Anastasiades: Appealing to the International Court is intended to protect sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus. Positive reactions from parties.

  • He ignores everyone and moves ahead! – Erdogan undeterred regarding deal with Libya: Turkish National Assembly approved deal with Libya, but it remains doubtful whether it will be approved by Libya’s parliament.
  • Occupied areas: CTP to contest “presidential elections” with Erhurman
  • Accusations in Parliament: “Ghost-committee” behind “major scandal”

Main News

Nicosia aims to pressure Turkey through Hague proposal process

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/ International Relations, Negotiations Process, External Security, Economy, Energy

OVERVIEW

The Republıc of Cyprus’s appeal to the International Court at The Hague is mainly intended to pressure Turkey towards an agreement on the delineation of Exclusive Economic Zones, Phileleftheros reports, while Politis reports that the government originally intended to keep the issue low on the agenda and that the appeal is a tactical move that will strengthen Nicosia’s legal arguments.

Phileleftheros cites information that the proposal for Cyprus and Turkey to appeal to the International Court of Justice came after Ankara’s refusal to negotiate with Nicosia on EEZ delineation. The newspaper adds that after Turkey refused to aknowledge Cyprus’s note verbal which was sent through Turkey’s embassy in Athens, the Cypriot government decided to move unilaterally, hoping that the court could force Turkey to come to the table.

According to President Anastasiades, quoted by Phileleftheros, the fact that the fax sent to the Turkish embassy in Athens was received, gives the government the right to appeal to the International Court.

Politis reports that the current situation does not permit anyone to be particularly hopeful that the government’s appeal will be seriously considered by the International Court. According to the newspaper, the added value of this move is to present the Cypriot side’s argument that it is ready to apply international law in order to solve the dispute with Turkey. However, it is not likely that this move will help end the disagreement at this stage, the newspaper adds.

Politis also lays out the process by which the International Court functions, pointing out that for the Court to hear a complaint submitted unilaterally both countries need to recognise its jurisdiction, which Turkey doesn’t. Otherwise the two countries need to appeal together, which will not happen as long as Turkey doesn’t recognise the Cypriot government. Other options include asking for the UN’s General Assembly or Security Council to request the ICJ’s legal opinion, but no one can guarantee a positive outcome, Politis notes.

Cyprus Mail refers to Greece’s appeal against Turkey in 1976, over the Aegean Sea continental shelf, asking the court to declare that the Greek islands were entitled to their lawful portion of continental shelf. The International Court found that it had no jurisdiction to deal with the case.

President Anastasiades pointed out that “We have said that we will use every legal weapon, every international forum, every international organisation, to protect the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and recourse to The Hague has that very purpose” according to the Cyprus Mail. He added that there is proof that the appeal sent by fax was received, “so that gives (Cyprus) the right to recourse”.

Meanwhile, during Thursday’s 7th Cyprus Energy Symposium in Nicosia, Anastasiades laid out the government’s plans for energy for the coming year, mentioning that ENI – Total and ExxonMobil – Qatar Petroleum have multiple drills planned. He also referred to the planned construction of the necessary infrastrcucture for the import of liquified natural gas (LNG) and pointed out the potential created by the construction of the EuroAsia Interconnector, which will connect the electricity grids of Israel, Cyprus and Greece.

Phileleftheros also quotes Israeli ambassador Sammy Revel, who also gave a speech at the conference, stating that his country follows closely and with serious concerns Turkey’s actions. He added that Cyprus, Israel and Greece are closely cooperating on energy (with the participation of the USA) and that they should extend their cooperation regarding the environment and climate change. He pointed out that there are a lot of opportunities for cooperation in innovation and tourism.

Greek Cypriot political parties were positive regarding the appeal to the Hague, with AKEL asking for further clarifications, according to the media. DISY stated that the government’s decision falls within the need to protect the country’s sovereign rights. AKEL’s secretary general Antros Kyprianou said that there are dangers if the appeal is not properly prepared and added that for the party to make a serious statement on the issue they would need more information by the government. He added that there can be no unilateral petition. DIKO stated that the move to appeal to The Hague is a correct move that will prove that Turkey contravenes international law.

KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> We will use every legal weapon to protect the RoC’s sovereign rights and that is the aim of the recourse
>> There is proof that our request was received by fax, which gives us right to recourse

Revel (Israeli ambassador)
>> Israel follows turkish actions closely and with concerns

DISY
>> The government’s decision is consistent with need to protect sovereign rights

Kyprianou
>> AKEL will comment when it has more information from government >> An appeal brings risks if not properly prepared

DIKO
>> The move is correct as it will prove that Turkey contravenes international law


Libya MoU approved by Turkish parliament – Turkey argues it’s compatible with international law

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Politis, Phileleftheros
Regional/ International Relations, Economy, Energy

OVERVIEW

Turkish President Tayip Erdogan has expressed his frustration with France and Germany after they asked for an explanation regarding the memorandum with Libya, Phileleftheros reports quoting statements made to Turkish journalists that have been translated by the Cyprus News Agency.

Erdogan is quoted as saying that Greece, Egypt, the Greek Cypriots and Israel are displeased and are urging the EU to react. He added that France and Germany also reacted, and that France insisted despite his clarifications. Erdogan said that his reply was (regarding Cyprus) to ask with what right France reacts when the guarantors are Turkey, Greece and the UK. Regarding the deal with Libya, Erdogan said that the arguments that it contavenes international law are “stupid”.

Turkish foreign ministry official Cagatay Erciyes is quoted as saying during Thursday’s session of the National Assembly’s foreign relations parliamentary committee, that the agreement with Libya was made based on the principle of “equal distribution”, according to which islands have no automatic rights to a continental shelf and an exclusive economic zone. Erciyes stated that this principle does not contravene international law.

Greek Cypriot media report also on the approval of the Libya deal by the Turkish National Assembly. In another development, Phileleftheros reports that the Greek government demanded from the Libyan ambassador in Athens to provide a copy of the deal with Turkey, even after the Turkish National Assembly publicised the maps and the text ahead of the vote in the plenary.

Cyprus Mail reports that the agreement provides that after it is approved by the legislatures of both countries it will be sumbitted to the United Nations.

Haravgi reports that on Friday Commissioners Margaritis Shinas and Ilva Johansson will be flying from Athens to Ankara for contacts regarding the EU – Turkey migration deal.

KEY ACTORS
Erdogan
>> France has no place in reacting concerning Cyprus as it is not a guarantor power

Erciyes (Foreign ministry official)
>> Memorandum based on principle of “equal distribution” in international law, according ot which islands have no automatic rights to a continental shelf


CTP to contest elections with its own candidate – Reports say it’s Erhurman

Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing

OVERVIEW

The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhurman will be the party’s candidate for the Turkish Cypriot leadership in the “presidential” election in April, Greek Cypriot media report, citing a story by Turkish Cypriot news website Haber Kibris.

According to Cyprus News Agency reports that the media cites, CTP has decided to claim the Turkish Cypriot leadership with its own candidate. An official announcement by CTP on Thursday points out that for now the party’s organs have not decided on the name, which will be decided in the next few days and announced on December 14th.

Greek Cypriot media opted to stress the report by Haber Kibris – which cites party sources – that Erhurman will be the candidate.


Mogherini points to negotiations and resolution 550 when asked about Famagusta by MEPs

Haravgi
Negotiations Process, Territory

OVERVIEW

Former High Representative for External Relations of the EU Federica Mogherini has said that Security Council resolution 550 on the fenced off city of Varosha is the guide for the case of Famagusta, Haravgi reports. She was replying to a joint question submitted by all the Cypriot MEPs.

Mogherini pointed out the need to restart substantive negotiations for the reunification of the island, aiming for “a united Cyprus inside the EU, on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation”. She added that the EU has repeatedly underlined that Turkey needs to commit itself on the solution of the public issue, particularly regarding its external dimension.


Derynia mayor stresses that community should be autonomous ahead of solution

Phileleftheros
CBMs, Territory

OVERVIEW

The mayor of Derynia, Andros Karayiannis, has sent a letter to the UNSG’s special representative in Cyprus, Elisabeth Spehar, informing her of the municipality’s disagreement with its merger with Agia Napa, Phileleftheros reports.

In a statement to the newspaper, Karayiannis pointed out that Derynia needs to remain autonomous in order to continue playing a central law in the contact between the two communities, and pointed out that the inhabitants will not turn their back to Famagusta.

The municipality of Derynia lies just south of occupied Famagusta and the enclosed district of Varosha, and is the location of the newest checkpoint connecting the two sides. The government’s proposal for the merger of municipalities and communities has Derynia joining Agia Napa and Sotira.

Karayiannis stated that his municipality feels dissapointed and betrayed by the government and former Minister for the Interior, due to the fact that the municipality’s arguments were not taken into account despite the fact that they were submitted well ahead of time. He pointed out that the municipality’s position is that Derynia should remain autonomous, perhaps by being merged with some communities close to it. Karayiannis also pointed out that the case of Athienou has similar unique characteristics since it is also next to the buffer zone, but in this case these characteristics were taken into account.

The mayor pointed out that Derynia should be seen as a natural continuation of the city of Famagusta, adding that the section of the municipality which is currently occupied was initially populated by people working in the city. He added that the municipality is preparing studies on the possible merger options which will be presented to citizens.


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