GCC Press Review 07 Dec 2019

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Almost half of Cyprus fell ill in November

Visits to GESY doctors exceeded half a million. Restrictions paid off. Requests for lab tests were slightly reduced last month. The HIO (Health Insurance Organisation) is promoting more measures to tackle abuse of the system. Budget breakdown by medical speciality.

  • They insist on The Hague (appeal to the ICJ)
  • Athens: Marching orders for the Libyan ambassador

Phileleftheros

Squandering of millions for RES (renewable energy sources)

Huge profits for the investors from the state commitment for (fixed rates for) 20 years. Energy ministry: The fixed tariff of 16,6 cents has contributed to serious shortages to the funds.

  • (The government) proceeds with determination at the International Court of Justice – (FM) “We are doing more we don’t announce”.
  • Remains of missing persons since 1964 were found at the Tekke garden
  • A British lawyer cried while hearing the torture (EOKA fighters suffered)
  • Military officers will be able to express themselves freely by law
  • Israeli commandos are exercising in Cyprus

Haravgi

Premiere for (new Finance Minister) Petrides with CyTA’s privatisation

The budget for 2020 is yet another budget that does not bring about growth, is anti-social, anti-popular and without any vision. The government, as the new finance minister announced yesterday in his speech, continues to focus on privatizing for-profit semi-government organizations, with CyTA as its priority.

  • The government ought to give clarifications on the “appeal to Τhe Hague”.
  • December 7, the day of Makarios’ return (after the coup). Honour and glory to our heroes.

Cyprus Mail

EEZ ‘deal’ widens rift

Greece to expel Libyan ambassador over Turkey-Libya sea boundaries.

  • Cyprus Mail Syria Symposium

Alithia

Greece-Turkey-Libya in the trenches

Athens deported al-Sarraj’s Libyan ambassador and welcomes the chairman of the parliament controlled by his opponents. Κ. Mitsotakis: Turkey is spreading in the Mediterranean using a void document that will not be implemented. Cavusoglu: We are ready for agreements in the East Med with everyone except the GCs. Libyan FM: If Athens had an ambassador to Tripoli we would reciprocate the Greek move.

  • Occupied Nicosia: CMP located remains of three GCs in the Tekke garden
  • Military officers: They will no longer require permission to speak publicly

Main News

FM: Appeal to the ICJ against Turkey not a PR stunt

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

OVERVIEW

Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Christodoulides defended on Friday the government’s decision to file unilaterally a case against Turkey at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague over her claims in the island’s exclusive economic zone and called on Turkey to accept the invitation to settle their differences, most dailies report.

All dailies also report that Greece announced on Friday she was expelling the Libyan ambassador after failing to present the agreement with Turkey signed on November 27 that maps out a sea boundary between the two countries close to the Greek island of Crete that angered the country.

Phileleftheros, Haravgi and Cyprus Mail, citing statements by the minister to CyBC and Astra radio stations, report that according to Christodoulides the appeal to the ICJ was not a PR move but a substantive one.

He also said it was the only choice the government had after Turkey refused to accept the mandatory procedure to be followed at the ICJ and receive a note verbale sent by Cyprus last month to the Turkish embassy in Athens for an agreement for the two sides to go to court to delimit their sea zones in the north and northwest of the island. After there was no response, the note was sent by fax, he said.

He admitted that without Turkey giving her consent, the case could not proceed but expressed hope that things might change along the way.

Christodoulides said that since Turkey is constantly declaring her actions are based on international law, and since she does not want to enter into a bilateral procedure with the Republic of Cyprus since she does not recognise it, this was an opportunity for the two sides to resolve their differences a the ICJ.

He added that Nicosia is taking several actions at this level which are not made public.

DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos welcomed the government’s move arguing that the party has always believed that international law was Cyprus’ most powerful weapon. He said that most probably Turkey would not cooperate but Cyprus ought to take this step, regardless.

According to Haravgi, AKEL said that if this move by the government is truly not a PR stunt, then it ought to clarify some issues, arguing that there cannot be a unilateral appeal to the ICJ while Turkey is not expected to agree to such a procedure before the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The party also called on Christodoulides to clarify what exactly is the expected outcome from this move and where does the assessment that Turkey would finally agree to such a procedure, came from.

Politis, citing diplomatic sources, reports that voices calling for a joint appeal to the ICJ from all countries in the region against Turkey raises two issues; one is that Israel and Syria have not ratified the Convention on the Law of the Sea just as Turkey, meaning there is no recognition by those countries of the jurisdiction of the ICJ. The second issue that arises is that there is no conflict and disagreement between these countries at bilateral or multilateral level and such an appeal could potentially create problems, the same sources said according to the paper.

Politis and Alithia report that the Turkey-Libya agreement will be discussed by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday and the European Council on Thursday.

KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>>
The appeal to the ICJ against Turkey is not a PR stunt but a substantive move.
>>
Since Turkey is declaring all her actions are within international law so now is her chance to settle her differences with Cyprus at the ICJ.
>> Filing unilaterally a case to the ICJ was the only choice the RoC had after Turkey’s refusal to respond to calls to settle the matter bilaterally.

Papadopoulos (DIKO)
>>
Does not believe Turkey will respond to the ICJ call but the RoC was correct to file a case since international law is Cyprus’ most powerful weapon.

AKEL
>> If the appeal is not a PR stunt, then the government must clarify what exactly is the expected outcome from this move and where does the assessment that Turkey would agree to such a procedure, came from.
>> It is not likely Turkey will agree to such a procedure before the solution of the Cyprob.


Elderly GCs in Strovilia now considered residents of north by Turkish army

Phileleftheros
External Security, Human Rights, Territory

OVERVIEW

The daily reports that five elderly GCs living in three houses in the Strovilia area where the Turkish army advanced recently are now considered by the occupation regime as residents of the pseudo-state while they are forced to show their IDs daily just to go to their homes.

Citing a reportage by Alpha TV, the paper reports that the five GCs did not want to speak on camera fearing consequences by the Turkish soldiers. A person who knows the situation said that recently Turkish soldiers searched their homes and forbade them to hold hunting guns or anything considered suspicious, while they cannot reach their homes unless they show their IDs.

The same person told the television station that these elderly people have chosen to remain in their homes in 1974 so that they would not lose them.

The paper also cites sources saying that the so-called government was also considering start taxing them but no actions have been taken so far.

It also reports that the occupation army has recently completed works in its facilities there thus establishing its presence in the area in which it has been gradually advancing since 1976.

Strovilia is part of the Dherynia municipality and within the British Bases. In 1974 the Turkish army advanced up to the residences but over the years, and due to the absence of the National Guard from the area due to this was bases area, the Turkish soldiers advanced and today those homes are considered as part of the ‘TRNC’, the paper reported.

The daily also recalled that in all its relevant resolutions the UN Security Council is calling on the occupation authorities to restore the military status quo in Strovilia to the way it was prior to June 30, 2000. This, according to the daily was the date when the Turkish army had done the most substantive step for the annexation of the area.


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