Front Page Headlines
Barking state going to the dogs
They threw Petrana for the second time in the mouths of Rottweilers. Shoddiness and amateurism during the investigation and substantiation of the offences. Petrana’s blood was found in the dogs’ cage but court could not figure out how it got there.
- Foreign Affairs Council: Verbal support against Turkey
- Each to his gas: Cypriot dribble to the Israeli tricks
- Discussion of state budget: Carols with the approval a given – Given the opportunity, Averof highlighted GESY’s problems.
Ankara is pushing to the limits
The Turkey-Libya memorandum at the high-level council. Nicosia and Athens do not reciprocate Turkey’s provocations.
- The election period in Israel is putting pressure on the ‘Aphrodite’ (gas field)
All hat and no cattle
A massive issue arises from the Anastasiades-DISY government energy policy. Beyond stalling and despite the fanfare over trilateral cooperation, it did not reach a co-exploitation agreement with Israel. As a result, the Israelis object to the development of Aphodite gas field through a letter to the consortium Noble Energy, Shell and Delek Drilling.
- (High Representative Josep) Borrell: “I did not say the memorandum between Libya and Turkey was illegal…”
- Police-National Guard patrols in the Green Line – They started on a trial basis… while there is no response by the EU Commission. Concerns by Maronites over the changes to the regulation.
- (Andros Kyprianou) “Come, let’s change the policies” (Discussion on state budget)
Turkey-Libya deal ‘a concern’
Cyprus secures EU support as Erdogan lashes out, pledges more drilling in area.
- First day of budget debate delves into the Cyprob
Turkey facing new Euro-sanctions
Greece asked from the Foreign Affairs Council a stern condemnation of the Turkey-Libya memorandums as the creation of a sanctions framework if Ankara and the Tripoli government do not comply. Nikos Dendias: We found wide support. Cyprus, France, Italy and the Netherlands strongly supported the Greek positions. Josep Borrell: The Turkey-Libya cooperation memorandum is causing serious concern to the EU. Solidarity with Greece and Cyprus. Turkey: The expel of Libya’s ambassador is a sign of Athens’ weakness and incompetency. Five new drillings. Libya’s parliament does not recognise the Erdogan-Sarraj agreement.
- Giorgos Lakkotrypis: The development of ‘Aphrodite’ proceeds smoothly
- Budget 2020: Parliament in election mode
Main News
EU 28 express major concerns over Turkey-Libya agreement
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The EU foreign ministers expressed concerns over the agreement between Turkey and Libya, the dailies report on Tuesday.
The issue is to be discussed by the EU leaders later in the week.
According to the dailies, following a meeting of the EU 28 foreign ministers, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said the matter was discussed “and it was clear from our discussion that this document raises major concerns.”
“We expressed our solidarity and our support to Greece and Cyprus and will continue doing that,” Borrell said. Replying to a question, he clarified he did not say the memorandum in question was illegal and that any agreement needed to be in line with international law.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, according to the papers called for a sanctions framework against Turkey in the case she and Libya do not pay heed to the calls against the agreement and said that Greece would do what it takes to defend her sovereignty and sovereign rights.
He also said after the meeting that Cyprus, Italy, France and the Netherlands strongly supported Greece.
During the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides condemned the deal between Turkey and Libya “allegedly attempting to delimit maritime zones between them,” stressing that the memorandum, inter alia, violates international law and has no legal basis at all.
He also said that this development, coupled with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on military cooperation, raises concerns also in other states in the wider region, while undermining the efforts of the international community to create suitable conditions to allow for a summit dedicated to finding a political solution to the Libyan problem.
Earlier in the day President Nicos Anastasiades said Cyprus should not follow the course of action of provocation sought by Turkey and called for restraint but that Turkey’s plans should not be overlooked and the necessary steps should be taken in the framework of international law.
It was later announced that Anastasiades
had a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council,
Charles Michel, with whom he discussed a series of issues that will be discussed
during the European Council Summit that will take place on December 12 and 13
in Brussels. Government Spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said the two men
discussed about the illegal actions undertaken by Turkey as well as the recent
MoU signed between Libya and Turkey contrary to the international law, an issue
that the European Council will address, as Koushos noted.
Anastasiades also invited the President of the European Council to visit Cyprus
at the beginning of 2020.
Most dailies also report on the reaction by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Greece’s expulsion of the Libyan envoy which he said was an “international scandal” and that Greece would pay the price for its actions internationally.
He also said Turkey and Libya could carry out joint exploration operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and that Turkey would procure a new drilling ship to continue activities in the region.
Politis reports that Greece and Cyprus secured a verbal support once more against Turkish provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Phileleftheros reports that Ankara is adding fuel to the fire through a daily barrage of statements and actions against Athens and Nicosia.
KEY ACTORS
Borrell (EU)
>> The Turkey-Libya agreement raises major concerns but not saying it is illegal.
>> Any agreement must be in line with international law.
>> EU FMs express solidarity & support to Greece and Cyprus.
Dendias (Greece)
>> Wants the EU to put together a sanctions framework against Turkey in the case she and Libya proceed to the implementation of their agreement.
>> Greece would do what it takes to defend her sovereignty & sovereign rights.
Christodoulides (Cyprus)
>> Condemns Turkey and Libya’s agreement on the alleged attempt to delimit maritime zones between them which is against international law & has no legal basis at all.
>> The two countries’ agreements including a MoU on military cooperation undermine efforts of the international community to help find a political solution to the Libyan problem.
Anastasiades (Cyprus)
>> Calls for restraint arguing Cyprus should not follow the course of action of provocation sought by Turkey but on the other hand, the necessary steps should be taken in the framework of international law.
Erdogan (Turkey)
>> Believes Greece’s expulsion of the Libyan envoy is international scandal” for which she would pay the price internationally.
Leaders cancel attendance at UN event
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis online
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci on Tuesday cancelled their appearance at a UN event that is taking place later in the day, Cyprus Mail, Politis and Phileleftheros‘ online versions reported.
According to the three news portals, Anastasiades announced he was not going to attend the Tuesday evening’s reception due to a busy schedule, despite an announcement on Monday he was going.
He was followed shortly afterwards by Akinci whose office issued an announcement saying he was not participating because of a change in his schedule.
The dailies reported on Tuesday that the two leaders, Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci would attend a UN event on Tuesday at the Ledra Palace hotel in Nicosia.
The event will be hosted by UNFICYP chief Elizabeth Spehar to mark the end of the year. Along with the two leaders, politicians, diplomats, and other personalities from both communities were invited, the papers reported.
Police and NG start patrols in old Nicosia
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
Internal Security, CBMs, EU Matters, Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
The dailies report the announced patrols in the old part of Nicosia have started with some welcoming and others lambasting the measure with ministers linking the measure with the intended changes to the Green Line Regulation code of implementation.
Cyprus Mail reports that armed police in convoys of patrol cars and motorcycles poured into the narrow streets of Nicosia’s old city over the weekend as onlookers registered surprise at the scale of the beefed-up security presence.
According to the daily, while much opinion on social media has been critical of the new measures, businesses in the old city largely welcomed the increased police patrols on Monday, although many said it would be better if there were more visible patrols done on foot.
Haravgi reports that members of the police, the Special Antiterrorist Squad of Emergency Response Unit (MMAD) and National Guard will patrol on foot the Paphos Gate area up to Ayios Antonios area, while there will be patrols around Nicosia in general.
It also reports that the interior and justice ministers directly linked patrols in the Nicosia old town with the amendments the government is trying to implement concerning the Green Line.
Interior Minister Nikos Nouris linked irregular migration with the crime rate arguing it was a very big problem. He told the paper the trial period of the patrols along the Green Line and the old part of the town that will end at the end of January, also aims to tackle clashes observed between members of various groups down town but also irregular migration.
He refuted claims that the measure would militarise the issue and that all indicated procedures will be followed when persons are arrested for crossing illegally to the government-controlled areas.
He also said that there has not been a response yet by the European Commission on the cabinet decision on the measure and that is why the government applies measures that do not astray from the Green Line regulation.
The justice minister told the paper the measure is aimed at better monitoring the green line without violating international conventions.
The daily also reported that the Maronite community expressed concerns over the announced changes to the Green Line Regulation code of implementation mainly over the prohibition to third-country nationals, holders of temporary residency permits issued by the Republic of Cyprus to cross to and from the north.
The community’s representative, Yiannakis Mousas, told the paper that if the intended changes affect the elderly that need domestic workers, then there will be a big problem since around 40 persons living in Kormakitis need the help of domestic workers. Mousas said he did not know more of this announced measure as no more details were given but in case it appears along the way to affect the community he would seek a meeting with the competent minister, the paper reported.
Different approach between Cyprus & Israel over Aphrodite/Yishai fields issue
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis on Monday said the outcome of talks between Cyprus and Israel over the dispute regarding the offshore border with Israel’s Yishai gas field would not affect development of the island’s Aphrodite gas field.
The statement came after local media cited a report by Israeli business news portal Globes, that said that the country’s Energy Ministry director general Udi Adiri told consortium Shell, Noble Energy and Delek Drilling they cannot develop the Cypriot reservoir until the border dispute with Israel’s Yishai licence is settled. Adiri told the consortium the Aphrodite-Yishai field is a cross-border natural gas reservoir, and as such Israel and Cyprus have held several years of negotiations for the purpose of reaching a bilateral agreement regarding its exploitation.
Lakkotrypis said that the development of the Aphrodite reserve is going on as planned while as regards the special agreement with Israel, there is a set procedure that is being followed for some time and will continue to be followed.
The development of Aphrodite and the procedure for a special agreement, are not linked as far as the Cypriot side is concerned, Lakkotrypis said according to the papers.
“Either with or without an agreement, if it is proven that natural gas from Israel’s side is pumped by our side, the Republic of Cyprus will of course compensate the Israeli side accordingly,” Lakkotrypis said.
Phileleftheros, citing diplomatic sources, reported that the specific move is believed to follow pressure from the licensee of the Yishai to Israel’s government pointing out that the country is in an election period.
According to Politis, the letter by the Israeli official to the consortium troubled and annoyed the Cypriot government.
Haravgi reports that this issue reveals that the government was focusing on PR stunts but forgot to do the most basic as it has not even agreed and signed a cooperation agreement with Israel. As a result, a serious problem arises with the development and exploitation of the Aphrodite filed, the paper said.
Dherynia mayor under fire for seeking UN help on municipal mergers
Alithia
Governance & Power Sharing, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The paper reports that Dherynia mayor Andros Karayiannis is under fire by everyone, even his party, AKEL, over his decision to take his disagreement with the proposed merger of his town with Ayia Napa and Paralimni to UN Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar.
Karayiannis said he sent Spehar a letter last week over his disagreement with Dherynia’s merger with other municipalities in the area.
His move stirred reactions from parties.
Citing statements by party representatives to Alpha TV, the paper reports that AKEL too, which is Karayiannis’ party, said it was a wrong move.
Chistos Christophides told the television station on behalf of AKEL that Karayiannis is an excellent mayor and he can understand why he felt compelled to address Spehar since she had expressed during a past visit interest in the future of UN supported programmes ran by the community but that the mayor did a “wrong move.”
DISY too expressed its opposition to the move with DIKO’s Chrysis Pantelides arguing that Karayiannis had made a fool of himself. The DIKO member said it was an unacceptable move that undermines the institution of the interior minister since the issue solely concerns the Republic of Cyprus, the daily reported.
Political leaders repeat themselves at House plenum debate on budget
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Political leaders took the opportunity during discussion at the House plenum of the state budget for next year, to express their opinion among other things, also on the Cyprus problem, each repeating their well-known positions, most dailies report.
Phileleftheros reports that political leaders repeated themselves, each reiterating their party’s positions on the Cyprus problem.
The majority of parties attacked the way Nicos Anastasiades is handling the Cyprus problem with only ruling DISY supporting the government. Everyone agreed that, first and foremost, Turkey is the one that bears responsibility for the dead end but they also recorded mistakes made by the GC side, the paper reported.
Cyprus Mail reports that parliament kicked off the three-day discussion on the state budget, which as is customary, delved into the Cyprus problem, among others, as the opposition sought to score political points against an administration that has suffered quite a few blows in the past year across the board.
According to Alithia, everyone was in an election-campaign mood at the House plenum with political leaders seizing the opportunity to repeat their positions on all issues; Cyprus problem, economy, society, corruption etc. In other words, we had the familiar pointless long speeches with repetitions of the same-old positions, the paper said.