Front Page Headlines
1974 refugee loss in court
Legal moves to compensate 1974 refugees from public purse.
- Uefa to visit in wake of match fixing claims and bomb attack
- Bicommunal sleuths: How car enthusiasts on both sides solved a car theft crime
- Violence in north: Big progress made in women reporting attacks against them
- Energy: Threat of East Med crisis is growing
Conference in the shadow of Erdogan’s threats
All eyes turned to Berlin today over Libya. Ankara sends warships, threatens Haftar, announces drilling between Crete and Libya and Greece draws its red lines.
- Evangelos Koufoudakis (interview): “A restart of the Cyprus Problem negotiations would be dangerous”
- New data: Children sexually abused in UK and occupied areas
- Foreign Office documents: (Former President) Vasiliou proud of bizonal (federation)
Since our country is fixed, why shouldn’t our football be too?
The fish always starts smelling at the head. Football holds up a mirror to the conflict of interest and corruption in our state. It’s true that the number of red files was drastically reduced in the past three years. To what extent are Parliament and Police to blame over the lack of serious legal framework?
- EU a Tower of Babel over Syria – France and Italy go to Berlin with their own agendas and Greece observes. “Haftarism” as a tool of understanding foreign policy misfires
- Russian station: Osadchiy’s… reach
- Gulenists: In search of european refuge
- Religious instruction: Schools are not for catechism
Foreign minister in diplomatic race
Nicosia asks for a more active participation of the European Union and looks to strengthening ties with the US. Nikos Christodoulides interviewed at “Phileleftheros”: We fortified the EEZ legally and politically.
- Berlin conference: Turkey’s faits accompli to be strong cards in its hand. Haftar pressures ahead of Berlin by “closing” oil export tap. UN pushes for ceasefire plan and full application of arms embargo. Erdogan blackmails European Union for support to his favored Sarraj. War with… maps.
- New faits accompli in the Cypriot EEZ: Major tension in the Beaufort scale. Ankara plays with fire and flirts with conflict. Deescalation only with significant trade offs for Turkey. Moves to cut off Greece and Cyprus in the sea. East Med Gas forum a check mate move.
- Erdogan gritted his teeeth: “Not a step back on Cyprus”
- How the F-16 factory ended up in Turkey
- Markos Drakos museum in Katydata
Cyprus under the USA’s microscope
Assitant Secretary of State Fannon comes bearing prompts for RoC to adapt to the measures of the East Med Act.
- Mitsotakis – Merkel: Triple message ahead of Berlin
- Editorial: Amidst crisis
- “Golden passports”: Brussels post caused alarm
- Libyan crisis: France stands next to Greece in difficult times
Stop foreign interference in Libya
- Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios mansion belongs to all
- Third Community forum for a joint homeland
- Voice of the Island a bridge for G/C and T/C communication
- From Iran to Libya and Cyprus in the middle…
- Erdogan remains dominant political personality
Eyes on Berlin
International conference on Libya taking place today amidst cautious optimism. Leaked conclusions draft asks for immediate ceasefire and unified government for the country. Five things we should know for Libya’s mysterious field marshall Khalifa Haftar.
- Italian FM: Important statement: EastMed construction project will fail
- Analysis: UNFICYP mandate will be renewed, but will be conditional
- Nikos Tornaritis (interview): The greatest reform would be the solution of the Cyprus Problem
Main News
Greece and Cyprus closely follow conference in Berlin over Libya
Alithia, Kathimerini, Simerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/ International Relations, External Security, Energy, EU Matters
All newspapers carry extensive coverage of the situation in Libya and the position of Turkey, Greece the EU and Cyprus, ahead of Sunday’s conference in Berlin.
Phileleftheros points out in an analysis that Turkey has created faits accompli in Libya which in turn has given her strong cards to play now that the international community is attempting to solve the issue. Turkey has proven, the analyst writes, that you have to be a part of the problem to then become part of the solution.
The journalist also writes that the conference’s agenda does not include any issues that concern Libya’s external relations, such as the MoU with Turkey on maritime borders, which is one of the reasons that mostly countries directly involved in the conflict were invited.
Phileleftheros also reports that major general Khalifa Haftar is putting pressure on the rest of the parts in the conference by blocking exports of oil from those ports under his army’s control.
Politis writes in an analysis that Greece is playing a dangerous game by basing its Libya’s policy solely on Turkey’s position and by not engaging sufficiently with the EU in order to play a more active role. The newspaper points out that Cyprus also failed to play a role, despite its historical ties with Libya and the fact that the island is also influenced by Turkey’s revisionist approach.
The newspaper also points out that recent developments have shown that Greece and Cyprus suffer from delusions of grandeur in their foreign policy. It is pointed out that regardless of the expectations in Greek Cypriot public opinion, Turkey is likely to exert even more influence in Libya in the future.
Politis also points out the competition within the EU of Germany and France, as well as the conflict of interest between France and Italy regarding Libya.
Kathimerini also reports on information coming from Athens that France will be supporting Greece and making sure that the results of the peace process do not affect Greek interests. The newspaper also points out that the French navy will take part in joint training with the Greek navy, as well as that the country has expressed its intention to be part of the East Med Gas Forum.
In a different piece in Kathimerini, it is reported that Ankara is looking for allies in the Mediterranean seeking to protect here interests in the field of energy and regarding the future of the Kurdish question. According to the report, Ankara is approaching the governments in Syria, Lebanon and Israel.
Simerini reports that Sunday’s conference will be taking place while Turkey continues to threaten with sending more troops to Libya and to increase its naval presence near the country. According to the newspaper, Turkey intends to prevent the ceasefire from taking root, while Greece invests in a win by Haftar which will cancel the Turkey- Libya MOU on maritime zones.
Government aims for greater involvement of EU and stronger relations with USA
Kathimerini, Phileleftheros
Energy, Regional/ International Relations, External Security, Negotiations Process, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Christodoulides has told Phileleftheros that Nicosia is aiming to strengthen relations with the US and to increase the involvement of the EU in Cyprus’ efforts to continue its drilling program. Christodoulides has told the newspaper that he will be having a series of meetings, starting from Monday’s meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, leading up to the visit of American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Cyprus.
Christodoulides told Phileleftheros that the government’s actions have shielded the country’s EEZ both legally and politically, and drew special attention to the tightening relations with the US, adding that there will be soon developments to announce. The US no longer sees bilateral relations as byproduct of relations with Turkey or the state of the negotiations, he added.
He also pointed out that the European Union should have a central role in the Eastern Mediterranean, since any negative developments affect the whole of the EU. The prospects of the region, he added, can greatly assist the European Union. He said that recent moves by the government are not only for the sake of public opinion, since it would be impossible to convince multiple countries in the region to cooperate with Cyprus if that were the case.
Regarding the signing of the deal for the EastMed pipeline is one of the options, and that it is the amount of natural gas found that will affect the final decisions. He reminded that the option of sending natural gas to Europe through Turkey is currently not feasible because of the political situation. Turkey, he said, has become a disruptive state, which is why the Cyprus Problem needs to be solved as soon as possible. However, he noted, there can’t be negotiations just for the sake of negotiations, adding that that the international community needs to call on Turkey to behave constructively.
Also, according to a report by the Brussels corrrespondent of Phileleftheros, Tayip Erdogan replied to European Council President’s references to Cyprus during their January 11th meeting by saying that he will not take a step back regarding drilling the Eastern Mediterranean.
In another development, US Assistant Secretary of State on Energy, Francis Fannon, will be visiting Nicosia and will have specific requests to make to the Cypriot government relating to the provisions of the East Med Act that was recently passed through Congress, Kathimerini reports.
According to the newspaper’s correspondent in the US, Fannon will discuss the Act’s provision for the creation of a US-East Med energy center to better coordinate cooperation with Greece, Cyprus and Israel. Also, he will except Nicosia to submit specific proposals on the infrastructure needed to carry natural gas from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe.
These proposals will find their way into the report that the US government is expected to submit to Congress regarding the next steps in energy cooperation in the region. This report will also assess the capability of Cyprus to be the location of a center for dealing with energy crises in the region.
Kathimerini also points out that the lifting of the arms embargo that is a part of the East Med Act is conditioned on Cyprus taking specific steps to combat money laundering and on Cyprus reducing the precense of Russian warships in its ports.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Our actions have shielded our maritime borders both legally and politically
>> The US is ready and willing to tighten relations with the Republic of Cyprus
>> US no longer sees bilateral relations as byproduct of relations with Turkey or the state of the negotiations
>> The EU should have a central role in the Eastern Mediterranean
>> The EU’s current involvement in the region is not enough
ENI and TOTAL to drill in the Cypriot EEZ in February after Egypt delay
Kathimerini
Energy, Regional/ International Relations, External Security
OVERVIEW
The ENI-TOTAL consortium that has been granted exploration rights in block 6 of the Cypriot EEZ will restart its work in February, Kathimerini reports. According to the newspaper, Nicosia is moving ahead with the drillings scheduled while tensions rise in the area. Kathimerini adds that eight exploratory or confirmatory drillings should be expected by the end of 2020, as well as a confirmatory drilling in “Aphrodite” and plot 12 during 2021.
The newspaper adds that ENI-TOTAL was planning to drill in January, but was delayed due to work that had to be carried out in Egypt. The government and the franco-italian consortium have agreed to start work in the location “Cronos” of plot 6 of the EEZ.
Kathimerini writes that Nicosia believes the provocative Turkish behaviour in the region will continue, without affecting its plans. Also the reporter cites information known to the government that the work carried out by “Yavuz” has had no positive results.
A steady flow of migrants continues to cross buffer zone without checks
Politis
Internal Security, Migration & Citizenship, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Politis reports on data on migration that have been provided to the House of Representatives by Interior Minister Nikos Nouris. According to the document, 7,761 persons asked for asylum in Cyprus in 2018, compared with 4,582 the previous year. The 60% of asylum seekers, it is noted, has passed into the government controlled areas through inefficiently patrolled areas of the buffer zone.
About 4,000 persons has crossed from the occupied areas in this way during the first 8 months of 2019. The report also points out that during August and September 2019 there was a reduction of people asking for asylum at the official checkpoints. However, the flow of people that crosses illegaly has remained constant.
A number of migrants that come first to the occupied areas are from Cameroon or Nigeria, since the residents of those countries can travel to Turkey without a visa. A significant number of migrants are also people from Pakistan and Bangladesh that work or study in the north, about half of the asylum seekers from Georgia that reach Cyprus, as well as a significant number of Syrians.
G/C refugee files suit against government for loss of compensation after 1974
Cyprus Mail
Human Rights, Property
OVERVIEW
The Cyprus Mail reports that former supreme court judge Demetrios Hadjihambis has filed a case in the administrative court, claiming that he should have been compensated by the state for the loss of use of his property in the north. The newspaper reports that he estimates that damages for the loss of use of his property in Famagusta run in the several hundrends of thousands. The case will be examined by the court on February 4th.
Hadjihambis claims that in a case of a national disaster such as the 1974 invasion, the state ought to have spread the burden across the entire population, and to not allow the damage to affect only the displaced. As long as the Cyprus Problem is unresolved, the former judge says, the state is oblidged to “distribute the loss of use as a public charche to all citizens”.
Cyprus Mail points out that Hadjihambis requests merely a statement by the court, which, however, would have immense consequences in case for future cases.
Conflict in the Turkish Cypriot right an opportunity for Akinci before elections
Kathimerini
Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Kathimerini‘s reporter on T/C affairs writes that the right wing in the north is in dissaray which bodes well for the possibility of Mustapha Akinci’s relections. The newspaper points out that recent mass protests against the mismanagament of the road network, which has caused in increase in traffic accident, is only a part of a social and political movement against the community’s political class.
The report also points out that the decision by the leaders of both the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Peoples’ Party (HP), Ersin Tatar and Kudret Ozersay, has created tensions in the governming alliance of the two parties. Sources of the newspaper speak of the possibility of snap “parliamentary” elections, or of an interim alliance of “prime minister” Tatar with other right wing parties.
This situation, the writer points out, increases the chances of the left wing candidates, which include Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhurman and current T/C leader Mustafa Akinci. It is further noted that while Erhurman can only rely on the support of part of his party, Akinci is expected to get the support of the wider social and political alliance of smaller parties, unions and organisations. This alliance has not been doing well in “legislative” elections, but it has succesfully elected Akinci and the mayor of Nicosia’s T/C sector, Mehmet Harmanci.
Third Community Forum is a new pro solution citizen movement
Haravgi
CBMs, Human Rights, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The creation of a new political movement has been announced in the north, Haravgi reports. The Third Community Forum aims to work against permanent partition and to work for reunification in a modern, democratic, pluralist and secular federration, beyond religious, linguistic, racial or national divides.
The names of the founding members include progressive journalists and personalities from the Turkish Cypriot community, including MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek.
Runite mini-marathon “reunites” Nicosia for second year in a row
Haravgi
CBMs
OVERVIEW
The Runite Nicosia mini-marathon has been held for a second year involving runners from all over Cyprus and from both sides, reports Haravgi. The 10 km race began and ended at the Home of Cooperation, and the runners passed from several well known spots on both sides of Nicosia. The runners were welcome to the finishing line by the Bicommunal Choir.
The event was supported in part by the embassy of the Netherlands in Cyprus and the ambassador herself participated. The Runite group has announced it will be organising more events during the year.
Bilingual news site Voice of Cyprus wants to bring communities closer
Haravgi
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Haravgi published a feature on news site Voice of Cyprus, which is bilingual and aims to cover the news in both communities. The website’s founder Mete Azigoglu talked to the newspaper about the challenges the team found when they started working on it in 2016.
Hatice Kerlo, who works for the website, stated that she’s happy to be working for a news site that informs each community of what happens in the other side.