Front Page Headlines
Cyprus justice under scrutiny
Proper procedures would have protected both suspect and police in Napa rape claim case.
- Greece’s EEZ dispute with Turkey stokes fears of tension for 2020
- EastMed pipeline: Changing priorities threaten viability of treasured project
(Anastasiades) “We are trying to avert the risk of confrontation”
Brief but revealing interview by the President of the Republic with Simerini. The synergy of interests between the US, EU and our countries is setting policies of deterrence.
- Position: The Corsairs of the Mediterranean (editorial on Turkey’s behaviour in the region)
- The Americans are establishing an educational security centre in Cyprus – Signatures expected upon the arrival of (US Secretary of State) Pompeo in Cyprus.
- EastMed: Mitsotakis is certain of the pipeline’s viability, (Energy Minister) Lakkotrypis has reservations
- Fanoula Argyrou: The ‘autonomy’ of the ‘two states’ and prehistory… (opinion piece)
- Andreas M. Vasiliou: Are there any leaders really? (opinion piece)
- Petros Th. Pantelides: Will Turkey manage to enforce in 2020 Ottoman law? (opinion piece)
- Clelia Tomboli-Theodoulou: The ‘Turkish problem’ (opinion piece)
- Nicos G. Sykas: From the innovation explosion to the EastMed pipeline (opinion piece)
- Christodoulos K. Giallourides: A year of geopolitical developments (opinion piece)
- Savvas Iacovides: Hitler, Gokalp, Erbakan, Davutoglu gave birth to Erdogan (opinion piece)
- Lazaros Mavros: EastMed angers the anti-Cypriot micro-Hellenism (opinion piece)
2020: Flaming challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean
President Anastasiades’ choices are limited until the so-called elections in the occupied areas. Observers do not rule out serious escalation in the Cypriot EEZ leading to developments. Athens’ absense from the dialogue with Libya shows the prevention weaknesses of Greek Diplomacy. The delusions: The Turkish-Russian recipe of understanding worked in Syria. Why not Libya too? Within LNA, the prospect of Haftar (and his sons) becoming the ‘new Sisi’, or better yet, a ‘new Qaddafi’ is a source of its delegitimisation. It would therefore be good for Nicosia and Athens not to view Haftar as an enemy of the Turks who will destroy Erdogan and let’s not be delusional.
- Spherical: Five reasons why I feel proud to be Cypriot
Hard game of poker by Erdogan
The Turkish president risks by flirting with regional war. Towards the creation of a naval base in Bogazi.
- After the Zappeion agreement, tough times lie ahead for the EastMed pipeline – Will Turkey stop issuing threats?
- Cavusoglu returns: A letter to the EU against Nicosia
- The US-Iran confrontation in uncharted waters
- The anti-colonial action of Costas Partasides
- Cyprus ahead of the new decade
- Stefanos Constantinides: Fluid situation (opinion piece)
Greece, Turkey start talks
Dendias: Political consultations between the foreign ministries start within the coming days.
- Main article: The fuse (editorial on the latest developments in the region)
- EastMed: Security clause and geopolitical changes
- Diplomacy: What will Trump and Mitsotakis discuss on Tuesday
- (DISY MP) Michalis Sofocleous: We must prove we rid ourselves (DISY) of arrogance
War fuze from the planet’s ‘warden’
Tensions rise in the Middle East after the assassination of Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani on the orders of US President Donald Trump. This move sets fire to the powder keg of the Middle East with unpredictable geostrategic consequences. The US are sending more troops to the Middle East, while Iraq and Iran threaten to retaliate.
- Geopolitical and PR games with the EastMed pipeline
- From Turkey to Germany and today, to the European Parliament
- Ankara tries to square the circle
Haftar declares “sacred war”
Tensions escalate in Libya ahead of the Turkish intervention. Haftar’s forces shot down a Turkish drone over Tripoli. Libya’s parliament annulled Saraj’s military agreement with Turkey.
- Analysis: Compromise for underwater wealth is the only solution
- Christos Panayiotides: Why I cross the Green Line and go to the occupied areas (opinion piece)
Main News
Important geopolitical developments expected this year
Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis, Sunday Mail
Regional/International Relations, Negotiations Process, Energy, External Security
OVERVIEW
The geopolitical situation in the region in the new year are among the most reported issues by the dailies.
Politis reports in an analysis that the first three months of the year will be defining as regards shaping balances in the region with Turkey proceeding unobstructed on the issue of Libya.
The ambitious EastMed pipeline agreement signed last week in Athens is more like a political proposal- reaction of the states of the region to Turkish revisionism rather than a viable commercial alternative to Europe’s energy security, it said.
On the Cyprus problem, the daily reports that nothing is expected before the elections in the occupied areas but foreign experts warn over a possible change in the Israeli leadership which could mean rekindling of relations with Ankara. Such a development could damage Cyprus’ diplomatic plans and might not allow the GC side to continue pushing for a bizonal bicommunal federal solution which Turkey does not want, the paper reported.
Sunday Mail citing veteran politician Nicos Rolandins, reports that this year might be worse even than 2019, with Cyprus potentially getting caught up in escalating tensions between neighbours Greece and Turkey over maritime jurisdictions.
Rolandis said the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Ankara and Tripoli delimiting their respective ‘maritime jurisdiction areas’ adds another layer of complexity in the already difficult situation.
At this juncture, a political settlement on Cyprus has become extremely difficult, if not improbable, he said, adding that solving the Cyprus problem would automatically also resolve the dispute on the island over hydrocarbons, since it’s already been agreed that the matter would be handled by the federal government.
Rolandis reiterated a proposal he floated years ago, which was well received by two TC leaders (Mehmet Ali Talat and MustafaAkinci), for a moratorium on gas exploration around Cyprus. That is to say, Cyprus and Turkey would cease exploratory activities for one year, giving politicians on the island some breathing space and time to make a big push for a settlement, the paper reports.
According to Phileleftheros, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is openly flirting with the possibility of war with countries of the region, after his decision to send troops to Libya.
The many fronts he has opened in Syria, Libya, Cypriot EEZ, Greece and the Kurds shape an explosive situation that could spiral out of control. If his expansionist plans succeed, he will dominate the region, if not, his regime will collapse, the daily said.
The construction of a naval base in Bogazi in the occupied areas is part of Turkey’s plans for upgraded presence and control of the region, Phileleftheros reports.
Kathimerini, citing sources in the TC community reports that TC leader Mustafa Akinci and Erdogan no longer speak to each other.
Aside from Ankara intervening in the TCs’ internal affairs, the paper reported, the TC leadership was also angered as regards the turn of events as regards the upcoming elections.
It added that Erdogan has hardened his stance as regards the TCs while delays in the release of funds are due to his personal veto.
The results of the elections will show how things will evolve, the paper reported.
Anastasiades: Regional cooperation aims at averting risk of confrontation
Simerini
Regional/International Relations, External Security
OVERVIEW
In an interview with Simerini and Sigma TV while in Athens earlier in the week for the signing of the EastMed agreement, President Nicos Anastasiades said Cyprus’ and Greece’s efforts to avert Turkey’s plans were continuous.
This includes actions to avert any risk of confrontation, he said, according to the daily.
“We seek peace, stability, cooperation through international law,” Anastasiades said.
He reitarted that the aim of the trilateral partnerships in the region turn against no one and that the aim is cooperation with everyone which, more or less has been achieved, except cooperation with Turkey.
Anastasiades also said that the US has a very important role to play as regards stability in the region arguing that the acceptance by US President Donald Trump of the East Med Act was proof of the country’s interest in security and stability in the region.
He said the US-Israel relations were well-known, while through the EastMed pipeline agreement, the interests of Israel, Greece, Cyprus but also Europe as a whole were linked. Thus the interconnected interests of the US and Europe in the region create some conditions which define policies of deterrence, he said according to the paper.
He also said further cooperation with the US did not mean any conflict with Russia with which Nicosia maintains very good relations.
In another article, Simerini citing diplomatic sources, reports that following the upcoming visit to Nicosia of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, expected soon, the final details will be sorted out for the lift of visa requirements for Cypriots visiting the US.
A top government source told the paper that this development is very important since only countries the US trusts blindly enjoy such a benefit arguing that this also signals a new era in the US-Cyprus relations.
The daily also reported that during Pompeo’s visit a bilateral agreement will be signed for the establishment of the ‘Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas and Port Security’ for the training of Cypriot officials on security and terrorism issues.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Cyprus’ & Greece’s efforts to avert Turkey’s plans including any risk of confrontation are continuous.
>> Through the trilateral partnerships in the region, Cyprus & Greece seek peace, stability, & cooperation without turning against anyone.
>> Believes the US has a very important role to play as regards security and stability in the region which is proved by the acceptance by Trump of the East Med Act.
>> The EastMed agreement links the interests of Israel, EU & US in the region and leads to policies of deterrence.
>> Better relations with the US does not mean worse relations with Russia.