GCC Press Review 28 Jan 2020

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Papastavrou considers giving names

This is what he supposedly said to the chief of Police yesterday. He asks for witness protection before disclosing evidence. He says they were asked for money to buy off players, referees and titles.

  • Migration: New policy
  • Turkey: Homeless in the cold

Phileleftheros

We have evidence, UEFA said

Papastavrou drops bombshell about underworld in football – He was called to (police) Headquarters, didn’t give testimony. Questioners asked for more evidence from the Federation (UEFA) and will receive it.

  • They rush for new measures for migrant flows – Closed reception centers, rapid examination of applications, help from EU countries. A 325% increase of illegal migrants. 89% from occupied areas.
  • Election” campaign on the Cyprus Problem in the occupied areas
  • An increase of 70% in political asylum applications

Haravgi

Omonoia shows a red card to fixed games

25.000 euro reward to whoever speaks. The file is complete and goes to UEFA. Lack of trust towards the state and the CFA (Cyprus Football Association).

Cyprus Mail

Turkey link to Cyprus hacking

Hackers acting in Turkey’s interests believed to be behind recent spate of cyberattacks.

Alithia

Block also on mock students – workers

To face the huge issue of illegal migration. (Interior minister) Nouris: Soon the new migration policy will be at Cabinet of Ministers. The problem is particularly serious, the percentage of migrants to Cyprus reaches 3.8% while other first line EU countries have percentages under 1%.

Main News

Government to present new policy on migration

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Politis
Migration & Citizenship, Internal Security, EU Matters, Human Rights

OVERVIEW

The dailies present the specifics of the government’s new migration policy, which is being prepared by new Interior Minister Nikos Nouris.

Phileleftheros reports, citing sources, that the new migration policy will be based on three parameters: speeding up deliberations on asylum applications, the creation of closed reception centers where asylum seekers will be held until there is a decision on their application and coordination with specific EU member states over redistributing migrants.

Cyprus Mail cites media reports that the closed reception centres will host migrants filing for political asylum where their applications will be processed within 15 days. If they are rejected, Frontex will arrange for the return to their home countries.

Politis recalls the former Interior Minister’s plans to increase checks at checkpoints, and points out that so far the government has not informed the European Commission of the changes it intends to make to the government’s code for the application of the Green Line Regulation.

Alithia, which had published information on the Interior Ministry’s inentions in its Monday edition, adds that Nouris also aims to block entry by migrants arriving on the island on spurious student visas. According to information cited by the newspaper, the Interior Ministry will be coordinating with the Ministries for Education and Labour on the issue.

Alithia adds that the Interior Ministry is aware of the number of migrants that have enrolled in universities and colleges but did not end up studying in them and sought asylum or work instead. The newspaper points out that several colleges are expected to react since they survive solely by following such policies.

Phileleftheros cites Asylum Services data according to which the number of migrants arriving illegaly to the country increased by 325% in 2019 as compared to 2018. It also points out that 80% of these migrants arrive through the occupied areas.

Phileleftheros also notes that the state policy for refugees from Syria will not change, since they are considered a vulnerable group.

Nouris has asked European Asylum Support Office for assistance in creating new structures and processes, as well as for guidance by European officials in Cyprus. The Kokkinotrimithia migrant camp will be expanded in size.

In statements after Monday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers, Nouris said that his proposal will soon be presented to the rest of the ministers, Cyprus Mail reports. The new migration policy, he said, aims to curb migrant flows “in a rational way and always within the framework of human rights”. Nouris added that “at the moment the problem is not refugees but economic migrants who are increasing”.

He pointed out that the number of migrants in Cyprus corresponds to 3.8% of the population, compared to frontline states such as Greece and Italy that have less than 1%.

Cyprus Mail cites a statement from the Interior Ministry which refers to Nouris’s discussions last week with EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson during an informal meeting of EU ministers for justice and internal affairs. Nouris is reported to have asked that the new EU policy include provisions for setting up a unitary list of safe countries, the activation of Frontex as a mechanism for the return of migrants to third countries and also an EU iniative for readmission agreements with non-EU states.

KEY ACTORS
Nouris (Interior minister)
>>
The problem at the moment is not refugees but the increase of economic migrants


Hackers acting in Turkey’s interest attacked Cyprus, Greece, Iraq

Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
External Security, Internal Security, Regional/ International Relations

OVERVIEW

Hackers believed to have been working for the interests of the Turkish government were behind a recent spate of cyberattacks targeting governments in Europe and the Middle East – including Cyprus – Cyprus Mail reports citing a Monday report by Reuters news agency.

According to the report, which cites information obtained by three senior Western security officials (two British, one from the US), the hackers have attacked at least 30 organisations, including government ministries, embassies and security services, companies and other groups.

The attacks on Cyprus, Greece and Iraq identified by Reuters occurred in late 2018 or early 2019. They involved intercepting internet traffic to victim websites, potentially enabling hackers to obtain illicit access to networks of government bodies and other organisations.

Reuters adds that victims include Cypriot and Greek government email services and the Iraqi government, citing public internet records. The senior Western security officials that talked to Reuters said that the activity bears the hallmarks of a state-backed cyber espionage operation conducted to advance Turkish interests.

The elements that lead to this conclusion are the identities and the locations of the victims, which included governments and countries geopolitically significant to Turkey. The attacks were also similiar to previous attacks that used infrastructure registred in Turkey. The officials also cite information containted in confidential intelligence assessments.

The Cypriot government responded to a request for comment with a statement pointing that “relevant agencies were immediately aware of the attacks and moved to contain them” and declined to further comment for reasons of national security.

Turkish officials did not respond directly to questions on the issue but said that Turkey was itself frequently a victim of cyberattacks. Greek officials said that they were not aware of evidence that their email systems had been compromised. The Iraqi government did not respond.


Restoration work on Nicosia’s Venetian walls has begun

Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
CBMs

OVERVIEW

The cost for the restoration of the collapsed sections of Nicosia’s Venetian walls will cost up to 500,000 euro, Cyprus Mail reports citing statements by the G/C head of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, Takis Hadjidimitriou. Work began last week, following the estimation of the cost of the repairs by the Technical Committee.

Hadjidimitriou told Cyprus Mail that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci visited the area to speak to the workers. All the restoration work is expected to be completed before the end of the first half of 2020.

Segments of the Venetian Walls collapsed last year at two different points, both in the occupied areas: across from the Ledra Palace hotel and near Akinci’s office at the Mula Bastion.

The restoration will cost around 300,000 euro, three times more than the initial estimate of 100,000. The amount will be drawn from savings in the budget of other projects. Additional work will be done to remove vegetation from the northern part of the old city’s walls, which is particulary vulnerable due to limited exposure to the sun. Hadjidimitriou said that this work will cost 160,000 euro which brings the total costs up to 460,000.

In related news, Cyprus Mail reports that the Cypriot government will renew for four more years a programme providing funds for revamping areas adjacent to the buffer zone in the municipalities of Nicosia and Ayios Dometios. The newspaper cites a statement by Interior Minister Nouris on Monday, who said that the scheme will have a budget of 11 million euros.


DIKO and Citizens’ Alliance blame UK for UNFICYP draft report

Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, External Security, Internal Security, CBMs

OVERVIEW

Phileleftheros reports on Monday’s statements by DIKO and Citizens’ Alliance over references in the recent UNFICYP draft report regarding the need for cooperation – even without recognition – between the two sides.

DIKO said that the draft which was prepared by the UK (as the penholder on Security Council resolutions on Cyprus) is an atempt to turn occupation into a de facto situation where two entities directly interact with each other without the involvement of the UN. The draft also moves towards the gradual downgrading of the Republic of Cyprus and upgrading of the pseudostate, DIKO adds. DIKO believes that the government is to blame for assigning wide responsibilities to the bicommunal technical committees, to the point that they have replaced state institutions.

Citizens’ Alliance says in a statement that the UK is once again working against the Greek Cypriot national interest, and that it attempts to bring back a demand from the past that had been rejected. It adds that the G/C side is being asked to aknowledge the existence of another state entity, even if not recognised. This would lead to the taiwanisation of the north, the party points out. The party believes that Brexit should be used as a tool to remove the British Bases from Cyprus.

KEY ACTORS
DIKO
>>
The proposal would result in downgrading of the RoC and upgrading of the north
>> The government is to blame for assigning wide ranging responsibilites to the technical committees

Citizens’ Alliance
>>
We are asked to aknowledge the existence of an unrecognised state entity and this could lead to taiwanisation
>> We should be using Brexit as a tool to remove the British Bases


Erhurman sets five party meeting on CyProb as priority if elected

Alithia, Haravgi, Politis, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing

OVERVIEW

Several dailies focus on statements by the main candidates for the leadership of the Turkish Cypriots, pointing out that T/C leader Mustafa Akinci, UBP leader Ersin Tatar, HP leader Kudret Ozersay and CTP leader Tufan Erhurman have chosen to focus on the Cyprus Problem. Politis especially draws attention to a statement by the north’s “finance minister” that the result of the elections does not depend on personalities but on “the vision and the position of each of them for the future of the TRNC”.

The newspaper reports that Erhurman has started touring villages and cities in the occupied areas and that he has already stated that his priority, should he be elected, will be to work for the convening of a five party meeting (with the two Cypriot sides and the three guarantor powers) on the Cyprus Problem as soon as possible.

Alithia reports that Erhurman also said that a five party meeting should be properly prepared, that the negotiations should resume from where they stopped and that no time should be wasted in restarting the process from zero. The CTP leader criticised Akinci indirectly, saying that the T/C side should be active as opposed to its lack of initiative in the past two years. Erhurman also said he supports opening Varosha, in conjuction with the opening of the Nicosia International Airport.

Politis reports that Akinci clarified he will announce whether he will be a candidate at the beginning of February. Also, according to the newspaper, Akinci has stated that upon his reelection the work for a five party meeting will immediately begin.

In statements from London, Ozersay said that Brexit could be an opportunity for the north to increase its cooperation with Britain. Politis assesses this statement as indicative of Ozersay’s intention to focus his campaign on the options for opening up the north to international contacts.

Politis also reports that Tatar’s rhetoric for the past few days has been focusing on the status of UNFICYP, and his opinion that the way that the peacekeeping force operates should change since the Turkish Cypriots should also be consulted.

In other news, the dailies report citing Afrika, religious radio station Diyanet Radio, which is supported by the Turkish Religious Issues Directorate, has started transmitting in the north.

KEY ACTORS
Erhurman (CTP)
>>
First priority if elected will be to work for convening of five party meeting
>> T/C side should be more active, not like in the past two years

Akinci
>> Upon my reelection work for five party meeting will begin
>> Will announce decisions on candidacy in the first week of February


French Ambassador in Athens calls Turkey-Libya MoU a bogus deal

Phileleftheros
Regional/ International Relations, External Security, Energy

OVERVIEW

French ambassador to Athens Patrick Maisonnave described the Turkey – Libya agreement on maritime zones delineation as bogus, Phileleftheros reports. The statements were made on Monday during a visit to the French helicopter carrier “Dixmude” which is docked at the port of Piraeus.

Maisonnave said that Paris is interested in the development of Franco-Greek cooperation in defence and referred to upcoming agreements between the two countries.

Regarding Libya, Maisonnave said that Turkey, despite being a NATO ally, takes on iniatives that contravene international law. He added that the Turkey – Libya MoU is a “bogus deal” that goes against the rights og Cyprus and Greece.

KEY ACTORS
Maisonnave (French ambassador in Athens)
>>
Turkey – Libya MoU is bogus deal that infringes on sovereign rights of Cyprus and Greece


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