Front Page Headlines
UEFA’s most explosive championship
Suspension of the championship, bombs, red folders and constant meetings. Lifting of phone privacy restrictions seen as drug that cures all ails. Championship up in the air while referees complain about police’s inactivity.
- Clerides on spat with Lottides: Unecessary noise from Odysseas (Michaelides) – Demand for prosecution of commissioner (Lottides) falls flat
- Intervention over Kornesios mansion: Do not touch until 2069
- Yavuz at plot 8
- Three demands to Haftar (by Greece)
- ELAM: Vindictive amendment
Fuel (price) catches fire
An addition of up to 6 cents per liter due to failure to cover benchmarks in European directive. EU’s target (for renewables usage in transport) was 10%, we are at 5% and expected to reach 7,3% by the end of 2020.
- Karousos asked for 3 rather than 10 years target: 20 million euros for 5,000 bus stop in three years
- Haftar’s appearance was a surprise: Athens seeks a role in Libya and gives warnings
- Proposal with commitments to government: American collossus wants Larnaka port and marina
- Natural gas defines the political game
- His hideaway at Katydata becomes a museum: The night of Markos Drakos’ sacrifice
Stables of Augueas overflowed
“Corrupt referees and football personalities”. Criminal elements present in football. All games in KOP championship suspended.
- Yavuz begins “Lefkosa 1” drilling
- UNSG: Green Line regulation should be fully implemented
- Nicosia Municipality quiet over Kornesios mansion
Attack halts league games
All football fixtures called off indefinitely after bombing of referee’s car.
- Turkey announces new drilling, dismisses East Med Gas Forum
They blew up football’s carcass
- Despite being excluded from Berlin, Greece wedged itself into Libya developments: It bound an alliance with Haftar – Clear statement by Haftar on Libya – Turkey deal and commitment over maritime zone delineation being invalid
- New invasion in the EEZ: Yavuz starts drilling on the edge of plot 8
- 2019: More than 12 million crossings from and to occupied areas
Main News
Turkey reacts to East Med Gas Forum by announcing new Yavuz drill in Cypriot EEZ
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, External Security, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Turkey announced on Friday that a new drilling will begin in an area which Ankara claims is a part of the Turkish Cypriot EEZ, and which is on the edge of plot 8 of the Republic of Cyprus’s EEZ, all the major newspapers report. The decision was announced by Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez on Friday, adding that drilling ship Yavuz would depart for its destination – dubbed “Lefkosa 1” – on Friday. Turkey has announced that drilling will take place between now and May 24th.
Politis reports that this is the first time that Turkey intends to drill in the EEZ south of the island, in areas that Ankara claims belong to the Turkish Cypriots. The newspaper also adds that Italian company ENI and French company TOTAL have been scheduled to drill later this year in a different spot in the same plot. The spot selected by Turkey, Politis reports, lies on the border with plot 12 which contains the Aphrodite gas field.
In a statement the Turkish Foreign Ministry called the recent signing of the East Med Gas Forum an attempt by several countries to cut Turkey out of the energy game in the region, adding that if the intentions were pure, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots would have been invited.
A report in Phileleftheros points out that the gas reserves in the EEZs of Cyprus and Israel are a key factor in regional stability, as seen through the signing of the East Med Gas Forum by Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestine, the expressed desire France for further involvement, the presence of the USA as an observer and the funding of the EU.
The newspaper cites statements by Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis on CyBC. Lakkotrypis stated that the EMGF will be funded by the EU with 500,000 for its first two years, and that a study presente during the signing suggest the creation of an LNG plant in Cyprus. Lakkotrypis also repeated that the agreement does not shut its door to Turkey, but that it’s Turkey’s actions that come into conflict with the mutual respect shown by the countries. Greek Energy Minister Kostis Hadjidakis said to the Cyprus News Agency that the signing is a message against anachronistic policies. President Anastasiades tweeted the the creation of the EMFG strengthens cooperation and joint quest for peace and stability.
An AKEL spokesperson expressed the party’s concerns over the presence of the USA as a permanent observer during the signing of the EMFG, Phileleftheros reports. AKEL pointed out that American interests have always been “synonymous with destabilisation and interventions”. AKEL MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek also stated that it would be a mistake for the RoC to become a part of the geopolitical tussle in the region, and that the country should use the dynamics to solve the Cyprus Problem and become a bridge for peace in the region.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> EMFG creation strengthens cooperation and joint quest for peace and stability
Lakkotrypis
>> The new organisation will be funded by the EU with half a million euro for the first two years
>> The agreement does not shut out any country
AKEL spokesperson
>> The involvement of the US causes concerns as the country always causes destabilisation when its interests are concerned
Hadjidakis (Greek energy minister)
>> Signing a message to countries in the region to abandon reactionary ideas and cooperate on the basis of international law.
Turkish Foreign Ministry
>> EMFG is an attempt to leave Turkey out of the energy game in the region
Khalifa Haftar visits Athens as Greece seeks role in Libya ahead of conference
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/ International Relations, External Security, EU Matters, Energy
OVERVIEW
Greece has expressed its support for east Libya strongman major general Khalifa Haftar, in an attempt to exert influence over the Libya peace process despite not having been invited to the Berlin conference, Phileleftheros reports. Haftar had a long meeting with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and FM Nikos Dendias.
According to Greek government sources, Mitsotakis underlined the need for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of foreign troops. Haftar is reported to have commented that the MOU on maritime zones signed by the Sarraj government and Ankara is invalid, and to have expressed his desire to agree on EEZ delineation with Greece. Also according to a summary prepared by the Greek government, Haftar referred to the negative external interventions in his country, making a specific reference to Turkey, asking for the Libyans to decide on the future in national conference.
Politis reports on statements by Dendias, who said that Greece was pleased to see Haftar agree with all its position. He added that Greece is ready to assist the maintainance of the peace after a possible deal by sending Greek troops as part of a European contingent. Politis also reports on the reaction of the German government regarding information that Turkey pressured Berlin not to invite Greece to the conference. Haravgi reports that a spokesperson for chancellor Merkel pointed out that the participation of Greece was never an issue as the country does not directly infuence the parties in Libya.
In another development, the Cypriot House of Representatives adopted a resolution condemning Turkey for sending arms and soldiers to Libya, and expressing support to Greece and Egypt.
Haravgi reports that the situation in Libya is one of the main topics of discussion in Monday’s Council of Foreign Relations in Brussels. The newspaper cites a report by CNA regarding an unofficial briefing by Council officials. In that briefing, the official was asked to comment on Greece’s reaction to not being invited to the Berlin conference and on the Greek prime minister’s statement on the possibility of a veto. The official replied that the EU was not the one who sent the invitations.
KEY ACTORS
Khalifa Haftar
>> We are here to discuss about peace
Dendias
>> Greece ready to take part in a European force overseeing ceasefire
Merkel spokeperson
>> Greece was not invited not because of pressure by Turkey, but because it doesn’t directly influence the warring parties
More than 12 million crossings between north and south made in 2019
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that 12,206,563 crossings were made from north to south and from south to north in 2019, citing data published by Turkish Cypriot newspaper Havadis. Phileleftheros notes that the Turkish Cypriot daily points out the need for new crossings in Nicosia.
Havadis also refers to statements by the mayor of the T/C sector of Nicosia, Mehmet Harmanci, who has said that him and G/C mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis will discuss the issue once more.
Islamisation of the north destroys heritage, Christodoulidis states in medieval studies conference
Cyprus Mail
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulidis referred to the gradual islamisation of the north through the conversion of Christian churches into moqsues and the building of huge new mosques, during an International Conference on Byzantine and Medieval Studies in Nicosia, the Cyprus Mail reports.
Christodoulides referred to evidence that at least 74 churches have been converted and that over 520 churches, monasteries and cemeteries have been plundered and looted.
Car thieves caught in the north thanks to cooperation of G/Cs and T/Cs
Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Three persons from the north were arrested by the Turkish Cypriot “police” for stealing the car of a Greek Cypriot man, Phileleftheros reports. Haravgi reports that stolen Lancer Evolution was found with the help of T/C friends of the owner who are also fans of racing. The Turkish Cypriots were informed of the robbery through a post on social media and assisted the “police” in locating the thieves.
The 24 year old Greek Cypriot had gone to Pyla on Tuesday in order to sell his car to a man he had met online. There the “buyer” and another two men proceeded to steal the man’s car, mobile phone and wallet. The three men were arrested on the same day. On Friday they appeared before a “court” and were further detained.
AKEL points out that Guterres has asked an end to negative rhetoric by the sides
Haravgi
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing, Energy
OVERVIEW
Haravgi reports on a statement by AKEL which comments on UNSG’s recent report regarding the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate. In its statement, the party points out that UNSG Antonio Guterres points out that the absense of negotiations since 2017 does not mean that the status quo will remain unchanged.
AKEL draws attention to the UNSG’s reference to the fact that the two leaders reiterated their support on political equality and that they agreed that new negotiations will pick up where the discussion on the Guterres Framework from June 30th 2017 stopped. The party especially underlines the fact that the UNSG calls the two leaders to improve public discource and prepare their people for a solution.
AKEL also regrets the fact that the UNSG does not make specific references to the hydrocarbons issues and simply refers to energy as an incentive for a solution. The party is also stating its concern over the UNSG’s reference to the Green Line Regulation and its incomplete implementation.