Front Page Headlines
G/Cs enclaved in T/C electoral battle
They are hassled with residency restrictions since last October. The Foreign Ministry has already made demarches to the United Nations asking for explanations. Children of enclaved as well as primary and secondary school teachers in Rizokarpaso mainly affected.
- Mosaic tiles of a history of joint cohabitation: The art that unites us – Anastasiades – Akinci at a joint event last night
- Health issues: Cooperation reinforced
- Halloumi: Trademark back to Cyprus (in UK)
US technocrats in Nicosia
Assistant secretary Fanon arrives tonight with a strong team – Deepening of 3+1 cooperation for drillings. Message of American deputy secretary will be model of cooperation.
- 219 art works handed over: From Famagusta to Ledra Palace
- Backstabbing from EU for international trucks: Adjustments send more than 100 companies away from Cyprus – Tough battle expected in Brussels
- Intercession to merchants brought back halloumi trademark
- Nicosia irritated by UNSG
- Moscow and Ankara in opposite camps (in Syria)
They sacrifice 20,000 trees for a quarry!
Fierce reactions from villages in the area. They adjoin areas of outstanding natural beauty. Species of birds and particularly vultures will be affected.
- Art and culture unite (people)
- Anastasiades and Akıncı discussed coronavirus. Suspicious incident in “Paidon” (hospital) in Greece
Halloumi gaffe rectified in UK
UK returns Cyprus’ halloumi trademark.
- Returned art “a symbol of peace”
- Leaders promise to work together to prevent spread of coronavirus
Government launches counter-offensive
(Gov spokesperson) Kyriakos Koushios replies point by point to opposition’s daily censures over presidential jet trips. As part of its nihilistic criticism, AKEL also saw bestowal of gun permit to the Saudi, even a terminal for luxury jets in Larnaca and Paphos airports! Emphatic denial. (Opinion) The opposition’s “witch hunt” – Written by the director of the President’s office, Petros Demetriou.
- Anastasiades and Akıncı met yesterday and agreed: Hotline for cooperation for coronavirus
- National wealth: Republic of Cyprus recovers halloumi trademark
- From sea and land: Another 92 irregular migrants arrived yesterday
- Death of Turkish soldiers in Idlib divides the two friends: Erdoğan warns Putin and they accuse each other
Main News
Leaders attend art event and agree on coronavirus
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs, Internal Security, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies are devoting extensive coverage to the opening on Monday at Ledra Palace of an exhibition of artwork and audiovisual recordings exchanged by the two sides as a confidence building measure. President Anastasiades and T/C leader Mustafa Akıncı were present.
They had earlier been briefed by the members of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health regarding measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus in Cyprus.
Cyprus Mail reports that the art exhibition in Ledra Palace is a result of an agreement between the two leaders last February, which has seen the T/Cs return paintings by G/C artists and the G/Cs return audiovisual recordings of T/C artists.
The 219 paintings (only 60 were displayed) had been believed lost or stolen and are works of well known G/C painters such as George Pol. Georgiou, Stass Paraschos, Michail Kassialos, Stelios Votsis, Michalis Hadjidemetriou, George Kotsonis, Lefteris Economou as well as Greek painters. The works were found in houses and public buildings in the city of Famagusta after 1974.
The audiovisual material that had been archived by the CyBC covers the period between 1955 and 1963 and includes recordings of social, cultural and sporting events, as well as recordings of T/C musicians and artists that worked in the public broadcaster or took part in its programs.
In statements reported by the dailies, G/C co-chair of the Technical Committee on Culture, Androulla Vassiliou, said that Monday’s event sends a message of hope. “It’s very symbolic because we reinforced the beautiful idea that there can be cooperation and friendship between G/Cs and T/Cs. Giving back works of art is a symbol of peace” she said.
T/C co-chair Kani Kanol spoke of a landmark event “which will hopefully help shape future talks between the leaders”.
The exhibition’s curator, Yiannis Toumazis, said that the collection includes never before seen paintings and that the committee on culture was not aware of the extent of the material they were dealing with.
After the exhibition ends on February 8th, the Ministry of Education and Culture will hand the paintings back to their owners. However, there are plans for an exhibition of all 219 paintings at the SPEL art gallery in Nicosia.
Regarding the coronavirus, the Cyprus Mail reports that the two leaders agreed on stepping up cooperation. A UN statement says that the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health took note that all necessary precautions have been taken by both sides in accordance with WHO guidelines. The two sides agreed to remain in close contact and to exchange information, as well as provide assistance were necessary, the announcement adds.
In a statement after the meeting, Anastrasiades said that the moral lesson of the situation is that “despite the differences we may have, or the different views on a number of issues, we cannot ingore the danger or the events, over which who is strong or weak does not count, and they push us to unite forces and act together”.
Cyprus Mail also reports that authorities at the RoC’s two airports are supposed to scan passengers who started their trips in China, while in the occupied areas the T/C administration said it would install thermal cameras at Tymbou airport to detect passengers running a fever.
KEY ACTORS
UN in Cyprus
>> The Technical Committee on Health notes that all precautions have been taken by both sides
>> Sides agree to remain in close contact, exchange information and provide assistance where necessary
Anastasiades
>> The moral lesson is that despite different views, we cannot ignore dangers and events that push us to unite forces
Enclaved residency status affected by T/C new guideline
Politis
Human Rights, CBMs, Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
Politis reports that a significant number of young G/Cs that have decided to move back to the occupied areas have been facing issues with their residency papers with the T/C administration since October.
According to the newspaper, the problem occurred four months ago due to changes in the “migration law”, which reduces the amount of consecutive days people that do not have a “TRNC” identity card can stay in the north.
Politis points out that the “law” was originally meant to affect citizens from third countries and Turkish citizens, but has also affected G/Cs chosing to return with the support of the RoC government or persons that grew up as enclaved in the north and have decided to return. Also affected are those enclaved that had applief for a “TRNC” identity card and are expecting a reply. The issue concerns 50 to 60 people, the newspaper notes.
The newspaper also adds that because of the upcoming elections for the T/C leadership, the “authorities” will have difficulties in taking swift action. The majority of the enclaved have not been affected, the newspaper adds.
FM Christodoulides said on 107,6 Politis radio station that the government is aware of the problem and has communicated with the United Nations. He also said that there have been cases where G/Cs were asked to pay fines by the T/C “authorities” when crossing to the north.
Politis reports that the situation is unclear regarding what exactly the new “regulation” entails. Sources have told the newspaper that while in the past people could stay for 90 continuous days in the north, that is no longer the case. Some people have been told that they have to stay for 45 days in the south before returning to the north where they can stay for 45 days, an issue that also affects teachers working in Rizokarpaso.
The newspaper cites unofficial information that the original intention was to exempt the affected G/Cs from the new “regulation”, but that that has not happened.
Minister concerned about validity of RoC addresses of 5,500 T/Cs
Phileleftheros
Human Rights, Migration & Citizenship, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Minister for the Interior Nikos Nouris said during a meeting of the Parliament’s committee for internal affairs that he has concerns over the fact that 5,500 out of 17,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the government controlled areas have given an incomplete address, Phileleftheros reports.
In its main body, the story mainly focuses on whether citizens should be automatically added to the vote roll. The story’s title focuses on Nouris’s mention that some Turkish Cypriot citizens have submitted incomplete addressses.
Nouris was replying to MP questions regarding the mechanism for automatic registration to the vote roll of all citizens that have not been registered thus far. Nouris said that if the measure for automatic registration had been adopted, then 102,000 citizens would have been added to the roll call.
The minister explained that 85,000 of these would be G/Cs and 17,000 would be T/Cs. He added that at the same time, about 11,500 citizens from this total (6,000 G/Cs and 5,500 T/Cs) have registered an incomplete address.
Nouris pointed out that before adopting a policy for automatic registration, all inconcistencies such as this need to be clarified. He also said that the Ministry has to verify the addresses of the citizens not yet addeed to the vote roll. He pointed out that by adding 102,000 voters that might not be able to vote, the state runs the danger of helping increase abstention rates.
US assistant secretary on energy arrives in Cyprus
Phileleftheros
Energy, Regional/ International Relations, External Relations
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros extensively covers the upcoming visit to Cyprus of US assistant secretary of state on energy Francis Fannon. According to the newspaper, the visit has two aims.
Firstly, to deepen the 3+1 cooperations (among the tripartite cooperations and the US) which is why he will be coming with a team of high ranking officials. Secondly, Fannon wants to send the message (mainly to Turkey according to Phileleftheros) that the model of cooperation promoted by Cyprus, Greece and Israel should be adopted by other countries in the region.
Phileleftheros also cites information that Fannon will send this message during his meetings with Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides and Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis.
Fannon’s team arrives in Cyprus on Tuesday evening and will have contacts on Wednesday. He will be joined by two permanent secretaries dealing with coast guard issues and the environment. In meetings on Wednesday they will discuss drilling security and environmental protection with Cypriot officials.
Phileleftheros also reports that FM Christodoulides openly stated that the government is not satisfied with the UNSG’s reaction to Turkey’s provocations against the Republic of Cyprus.
Christodoulides also admitted that it would be difficult for the UNSG to accuse Turkey through a public statement or through his report, as this would make the situation in the Cyprus Problem more difficult.
The newspaper notes that Christodoulides’s statements on the CyBC come after the message sent by President Anastasiades to UNSG Antonio Guterres through Jane Holl Lute.
The Foreign Minister also said that he expects an informal five party meeting after the election in the occupied areas and that the UNFICYP resolution speaks of a resumption, and not a restarting of talks.
In another development, Greek Foreign Ministry Nikos Dendias stated that the country’s position is that it would be prepared to jointly appeal to the International Court in The Hague with Turkey only over the issue of the disagreement over the continental shelf, and not over EEZ delineation or other issues, Phileleftheros reports.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> We are not satisfied with the UN’s position on Eastern Mediterranean as the UN should have been clearer
>> Admittedly, I wasn’t expecting Guterres to publically criticise Turkey because he needs to safeguard process
Dendias (Greek FM)
>> We would go to The Hague with Turkey only seek decision on continental shelf disagreements, not over other issues
Halloumi trademark regained in UK, next stop the EU
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Economy, CBMs, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The dailies report extensively on the decision of the UK Intellectual Property Office to re-register the “halloumi” trademark to Cyprus, following an application submitted by the Ministry of Commerce in May.
Cyprus Mail recalls that the initial loss of the trademark was caused by mishandling of the application by the Ministry of Commerce. “The re-registration of the ‘halloumi’ brand in the UK corrects a serious mistake made by the commerce ministry and ensures Cyprus’ exports continue to ruse regardless of Brexit developments”, Ministry of Commerce Yiorgos Lakkotrypis said on Monday.
Lakkotrypis also added that it is very important to register “halloumi/ hellim” as an EU Protected Designation of Origin product. He also said that all the interested parties will be taking part in a meeting in the Presidential Palace on Wednesday in order to discuss the next steps.
The paper recalls that producers have reacted against Cyprus’ PDO application due to the proportions of sheep and goat milk to cow milk put forward in the application. Sources have told the paper that the European Commission has made clear to Cyprus that there can be no changes in the application.
KEY ACTORS
Lakkotrypis (Commerce Minister)
>> The re-registration corrects a serious mistake made by the ministry
>> Meeting at Presidency on Wednesday will focus on registering halloumi/ hellim as an EU Protected Designation of Origin product