Front Page Headlines
A step before the final agreement with PASIN (private hospitals’ association)
Yesterday was an important day for GESY but today is crucial. Cabinet rubber stamped the € 70m in guarantees for hospital owners. The HIO (Health Insurance Organisation) will try today to get the final ‘Yes’ for the second phase (of GESY).
- Concerns over the Berlin summit – Greece is a spectator.
Coordination in Cairo
The seven countries shake hands and form an alliance for the commercial management of natural gas. The aim is the creation of an international organisation for the Eastern Mediterranean reserves.
- Nicosia received the invoice for UNFICYP – Not a cent from Turkey.
- Family of GCs claims one million in damages from TC politician – Maria Thomaides explains to Phileleftheros why.
- Ankara found a ‘Turkish minority’ also in Libya – All eyes are on Berlin.
Deceit of borrowers by KEDIPES
KEDIPES (Cyprus Asset Management Company) secretly inserted a provision in the contracts it signed with borrowers for the Estia scheme which leads to the establishment of the old overcharges! The fine print in the contracts says that borrowers must withdraw ‘any lawsuits/demands’ in connection with the loan which will be included in Estia or any other loan they have under KEDIPES.
- The skeleton possibly belongs to a TC missing person
- The film ‘Flowers and Bullets’ is a cultural memorial for all those who lost their lives
- Conversion of the Hadjigeorgakis Mansion leads to loss of historic memory
- ‘Isolated’ Turkey goes to Berlin
Private hospitals can now join GESY
Cabinet approves proposal to provide €70m in guarantees.
The last obstacle is out of the way – Full speed ahead for full-blown GESY
Cabinet satisfied the clinic owners by approving €70m to cover possible shortcomings in inpatient care to be introduced in June. Satisfaction by PASIN, but the EU position which is expected soon, is a thorny issue…
- US: Islands have both EEZs and continental shelf
- Justice: The lawsuit (procedure) against Fikri Ataoglu (starts) in February
- Confusion over the truce in Libya – Awkward response from Germany over Greece’s exclusion from the Berlin Summit
Main News
‘UNFICYP report is out officially but leaves out important issues’
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Regional/International Relations, Energy
OVERVIEW
The papers report that UNSG Antonio Guterres’ report on UNFICYP has circulated as an official document, but there are several omissions such as that Turkey refuses to pay her share of contributions to the peacekeeping force’s budget.
Phileleftheros reports that according to the report, in the paragraphs concerning the financial aspects, it is mentioned that the UNFICYP’s budget between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020 is $50,8m (€45,6m) including voluntary contributions which equal to one third of the net cost of the peacekeeping force amounting to $17,1m (€15,3m) paid by the government of Cyprus, and Greece’s voluntary contribution of $6,5m (€5,8m). Until December 19, 2019, unpaid contributions were at $17,9m (€16,1m).
Despite that the report mentions unpaid contributions, it does not mention that this concerns Turkey which refuses to pay her share. On the other hand, Cyprus and Greece cover around half of UNFICYP’s annual budget, the daily reported.
According to Politis, failure to mention the Turkish drone base in Lefkoniko and Turkey’s intention of creating a naval base in Bogazi, cause concerns, the paper reported.
It also said the report does not blame Turkey for her illegal and provocative actions in the Cypriot EEZ, while, even though there is reference to a deficit in the UNFICYP budget to the tune of $18m, there is no mention that Turkey has not paid her own contrition.
There are no mentions to visits by Turkish ministers in the closed-off town of Varosha while as regards Strovilia, the only issue for which it holds Turkey responsible, is the construction of a new checkpoint. But there are important references both on Varosha and the Ledra street crossing, the daily reported.
Haravgi, Politis and Phileleftheros also report that UNSG Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar has started contacts in the US ahead of the vote by the UN Security Council later in the month on the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate.
Spehar on Thursday will meet with US Senator Robert Menendez while the UN Security Council will meet with the countries sending troops to UNFICYP.
On Wednesday, Spehar met in Washington with the co-chairs of the US Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues Carolyn Maloney and Costas Bilirakis. The two representatives expressed the view that the UNSC members ought to support the peace efforts in Cyprus. They also said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acts as an obstacle to peace in the region and called for an end to actions that escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, the daily reported.
Spehar will brief on January 20 the UNSC which is expected on January 30 to renew the UNFICYP mandate for another six months.
Phileleftheros also reports on reactions by political parties to the report.
DIKO said the report has very negative references that lead to a gradual downgrade of the Republic of Cyprus. The call by Guterres on the two sides to intensify efforts for direct contact at military level is an especially dangerous element, the party said since the National Guard will be forced to come into direct contact with the occupation army and the so-called TC security forces.
EDEK points out that the report, once again, keeps equal distances and fails to include important problems caused by the Turkish side that put peace and security in the region at risk.
The party said the report fails to condemn, as it ought, the fact that Turkey, with her stance on the hydrocarbons issue violates the right of the Republic of Cyprus to exercise her sovereign rights.
KEY ACTORS
Maloney-Bilirakis (US Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues)
>> The UNSC ought to support the peace efforts in Cyprus.
>> Call for an end to actions that escalate tensions in the East Med.
>> Erdogan puts obstacles to peace in the region.
DIKO
>> Some references in Guterres’ report are very negative since they gradually lead to the downgrade of the RoC.
>> Guterres’ call on the two sides to intensify efforts for direct contact at military level is an especially dangerous element, since it forces the NG to come into direct contact with the occupation army and the so-called TC security forces.
EDEK
>> Guterres’ report, once again, keeps equal distances & fails to include important problems caused by the Turkish side that put peace and security in the region at risk.
>> The report fails to condemn, as it ought, the fact that Turkey’s stance on the hydrocarbons issue violates the RoC’s right to exercise its sovereign rights.
US: Islands have same rights as mainland to an EEZ/continental shelf
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that the US State Department said islands have the same rights as mainland regions to an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, disagreeing with Turkey’s position on the matter.
Citing statements to the Athens News Agency (ANA), by a spokesman of the US State Department, Alithia, Cyprus Mail and Phileleftheros report that according to the US, Ankara’s claims on the matter were contrary to international law.
On the agreement on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea signed last November by Turkey and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya the spokesperson said: “Decisions that fail to take into account the interests of all the interested states are unhelpful [and] provocative,” adding that Ankara’s claims are contrary to international law, which stipulates that islands have the same rights as mainland regions to an EEZ and continental shelf.
“Greece has overlapping maritime claims in the area that is included in the Turkey-Libya memorandum,” the state department spokesperson said, adding that it is a standing US policy to encourage states to resolve their problems in a peaceful way and in accordance with international law.
Cyprus Mail reports that the statement by the US official is a reply also to claims by Ankara concerning Greece and Cyprus.
The daily reports that following reactions to the agreement by Greece, since it ignored Crete, but also by Cyprus, Turkish foreign ministry sources had argued that the Greek islands and the western part of Cyprus should not be given a continental shelf /EEZ but only territorial waters.
The dailies also report on the refusal by Germany to invite Greece to participate in the conference to be held in Berlin on Sunday by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a bid to help resolve the conflict in Libya.
According to Politis Greece remained a spectator.
Alithia reports that following reactions from Athens over her exclusion from the summit, EU spokesman Peter Stano said Greece will be represented by the bloc’s High Representative Josep Borrell.
Cyprus Mail reports that the fact that Turkey was invited but not Greece, stirred strong reactions in Athens and Nicosia, mainly due to that Ankara, despite her provocative actions in the region participates in such procedures as a key player.
Haravgi reports that ‘isolated’ Turkey gets to go to Berlin but Greece that is an ally found a closed door.
KEY ACTORS
US State Department
>> Decisions such as the Turkey-Libya accord that fail to take into account the interests of all affected states are unhelpful & provocative.
>> International law says islands have the same rights as mainland regions to an EEZ & continental shelf which is contrary to what Ankara says.
>> States need to resolve their problems in a peaceful way & in accordance with international law.
Cyprus part of important energy forum along with six regional partners
Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Energy, Regional/International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The papers report that Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis will attend the third ministerial meeting of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) in Cairo on Thursday during which he will sign the Foundation Charter of the Forum along with his counterparts from Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestine.
Within this context, Cabinet on Wednesday authorised Lakkotrypis to negotiate the upgrade of the Foundation Charter to the level of an international organisation, in cooperation with the foreign ministry and the Legal Service.
Lakkotrypis said on Wednesday that deliberations on Thursday would focus on the Foundation Charter of EMGF, which once completed, would be sent to the EU for its own comments, since three of the seven signatories are also members of the EU.
He also said that one of the main goals of the EMGF is to create a platform for energy dialogue between countries, whether they are producers, transit countries or consumers, in order to find the best ways to exploit and utilise the natural gas of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Thursday’s discussions would be at political level, following Wednesday’s technical discussions.
He also said that, inevitably, they would also discuss the recent developments in the region.
The seven ministers are expected to also approve
a Joint Declaration. The forum will also
be attended by representatives from the European Commission, the US, and the
World Bank.
Phileleftheros reports that today’s meeting
marks the beginning of dialogue between the countries of the region over the commercial
exploitation of the East Med natural gas through cooperation.
Optimists even see the creation of an organisation like OPEC (The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) that sometimes also acts as a cartel as regards oil prices, the daily reported.
It also said the seven countries’ summit also sends strong political messages to Turkey that is trying through any means to destabilise the area and create a crisis through her claims on Mediterranean gas.
Lawsuit against TC political leader over use of GC property postponed
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Property, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that the hearing for the lawsuit filed by the Thomaides family at the Famagusta district court against the head of TC Democratic Party Fikri Ataoglu over the illegal use of their property in the north, was postponed for next month.
The hearing at the Famagusta district court was set for Wednesday but was postponed for next month on the request of the applicants due to the illness of their lawyer. The judge agreed to adjourn the case until February 12.
The Thomaides family from Famagusta filed a lawsuit against Ataoglu, his wife, and daughter, for illegal use of their property in occupied Famagusta since 2005. They claim €1m in damages. They also seek a court order allowing them, as legal owners, to enjoy free possession of their property.
The property in question was registered under the family’s company, Thomaides Group (Holdings) LTD.
The case concerns three plots of immovable property located in Engomi in occupied Famagusta estimated at €1,5m.
One of the applicants, Maria Thomaides, told Phileleftheros that that property was transferred by her late father to her and her mother and is an extension of the space that her father’s snack factory sits on, which is now illegally considered property of the pseudo-state.
Thomaides told the daily the plant was one of the first in Cyprus to use state-of-the-art equipment to produce snacks, adding that the factory still produces potato crisps which are being exported to Turkey.
She said the service of the lawsuit was carried out a year ago through an email sent to the ‘tourism ministry’ but there was no response by Ataoglu, who, transferred that property to his wife and daughter, the daily reported. Ataoglu was ‘tourism minister’ at the time.
The founder of the company, Michalis Thomaides was one of the most prominent businessmen of Famagusta and among the first to export agricultural produce, especially potatoes and citrus fruit. He had two factories, one in Dherynia and one in Famagusta. He died in 1967 in the crash of a Cyprus Airways aircraft in the sea area of Rhodes island, leaving behind his wife and two young children. His third child was born a month after his death.
Thomaides said her family lost everything after the invasion and had to start all over as refugees, according to the paper.
Remains found at Pervolia beach believed to be TC man missing since 1963-’64 events
Haravgi
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The paper reports that the remains found recently in a beach in Pervolia in Larnaca are believed to belong to a TC man who has been missing since the 1963-’64 bicommunal troubles.
According to the daily local residents confirm police assessments that the remains possibly concern a person missing since that period. Pervolia residents refer to a well-known incident in the community on a TC man murdered by GCs during the 1960’s and dumped in a ditch in the area where the remains were recently found.
They said the man was brutally murdered on the Meneou to Pervolia road and his body was thrown in a ditch near the beach.
The remains were found in the sand, some last December and some earlier this month from passers-by. It is believed the recent bad weather and rough seas revealed the remains.
Police have already notified the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), the daily reports.
Police looking for three suspects after man’s car gets stolen after attack in Pyla
Alithia, Haravgi, Politis
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
According to the papers police are looking for the whereabouts of three men, believed to be TCs, after a 24-year-old man from Nicosia reported that they beat him up and stole his car and other possessions totalling €25,000.
The incident took place in Pyla on Tuesday afternoon where the 24-year-old met the suspects after one of them expressed interest in buying his car, which was advertised on a website.
The 24-year-old old told police the three men said they wanted to test the car and drove it to a remote area where they beat him, took his wallet and mobile phone and drove away in his car.