Front Page Headlines
(Party) leaders debate for appearances
Averof Neofytou (DISY) and Antros Kyprianou (AKEL) cross swords. Non perfoming loans, reforms and corruption at the center of the debate. The two leaders will have to prove the usefulness of the debate.
- Found agreement about halloumi
Bomb at the foundations of the Parliament
Antiquities Department demands the cancellation of tenders for the new building. Violation of the law, dangers for the ancient ruins and waste of public funds.
- Works for support of historical “Spitfire” coffee shop
- Fanon goes to Erdoğan: Message from USA to Turkey to cooperate
- New strategy from the Commission: The EU removes Turkey from its map…
- Çavusoglu threatens EU with counter-sanctions
- At least one dead, 157 wounded: Airplane cut in two in Turkey
- Government gilded the pill: Halloumi: 5 cents increase on milk, quota remains stable at 20%
AKEL suggests controls on CFA (Cyprus Football Association) and terms of office
Eight suggestions by AKEL for dismantling the system. Creation of mechanism to face lack of punishment. Law proposal on (defining) incompatibility for CFA officials.
- The President reduced quota for milk
- 11,000 tons of lateritic ore, dangerous for health, moved to Skouriotissa
- Security through energy… The USA see energy trade despite political clouds!
Halloumi PDO ‘up to the EU’
Meeting at the Presidential Palace agrees that issues need to be clarified to take next steps.
- Plane breaks up during Istanbul landing
- Senior US official calls for end to provocative actions in East Med
- Cyprus: Green Line landmark shored up for safety
A completely different Cyprus, the Cyprus of the solution
Solving the Cyprus Problem will completely change current situation and prospects. A Prio Cyprus center report expects the creation of new bigger markets, the creation of about 10,000 new jobs and multiple other economic benefits.
- Istanbul: Airplane cut in two during its landing
- American assistant secretary: Avoid provocative actions in the region
- Meeting at Presidential Palace: Found (finally?) an agreement on halloumi
- “Disturbance” after 45 years about Istanbul street in Larnaca’s Turkish neighborhood. What the mayor says.
Main News
Fannon says energy can bring broader regional political cooperation
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Economy, External Security, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon has called on all parties in the Eastern Mediterranean to refrain from provocative actions that could create more instability to the region, according to report by the dailies on Fannon’s visit to Nicosia.
Cyprus Mail reports that Fannon was addressing the inaugural meeting of the 3+1 technical group in Nicosia along with Cypriot Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis. Politis points out that Fannon did not mention Turkey by name in his statement. Phileleftheros cites information that Fannon will bring the same message to Ankara during the US official’s meetings there.
The mandate of the technical groups is to highlight specific energy prospects and propose ways for their implementation in the areas of energy infrastructure, storage and cyber security, Cyprus Mail reports. Wednesday’s meeting focused on emergency preparedness and response mechanisms for offshore oil and gas operations.
After completing his visit to Cyprus on Thursday, Fannon will be travelling to Ankara and Cairo for contacts, the newspapers report.
Phileleftheros reports that Fannon is expected to tell Turkish President Tayipp Erdoğan what he has said publically in Nicosia. The newspaper notes that Fannon will meet Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday morning before he leaves for Turkey
In his statements, Fannon added that the 3+1 construct (tripartite regional agreement between Cyprus, Israel and Greece with the support of the US) is an important vehicle to facilitate cooperation among states.
He also said that energy resources can be a catalyst for broader cooperation, and that the US views energy development of the region as a means for broader political stability and prosperity. Cyprus has an important role to play in this new energy corridor that is being developed, he stressed. He added that there might be “political clouds” in the relations between the country of the region, but the US believes there is still economic potential.
Fannon also repeated the support of the US to the efforts by the Republic of Cyprus to develop resources found in its EEZ, adding that the revenues could be used for the benefit of both communities in the context of an overall settlement.
Lakkotrypis said that Cyprus would like to see all neighbouring countries participate in these efforts. He pointed out that “with one notable exception, we are witnessing all countries of the region adhering to the well-established principles of international law”. He expressed the hope that the messages being sent by the partners of Cyprus “will be finally taken into account” by Turkey.
In a related development, Mevlut Çavusoglu commented on the EU’s decision to add two Turkish nationals in its list of sanctions for the first time, Phileleftheros reports. Çavusoglu said during a meeting with ambassadors of EU member states in Ankara that if the existence of the Turkish Cypriots continues to be ignored, Turkey will take a step for every negative step taken by the EU.
He warned that this would bring an increase of tensions in the region, and that what all sides should be doing is to take measures to decrease these tensions. He also said the natural gas issue in the Eastern Mediterranean is not one in which Turkey and the EU are in opposition, but a regional issue. He added that if the EU remains neutral, all parties can work together towards a mechanism that guarantees the equal rights of the T/Cs.
Phileleftheros also reports on Wednesday’s presentation by the European Commission of its proposal for the EU’s revamped accession process concerning the countries of the Western Balkans. The newspaper points out that the new proposal mentions other countries in the Western Balkans as possible members but not Turkey. Phileleftheros cites European sources that say this is an indication that the accession process of Turkey is currently considered uncertain.
In another related development, Cyprus Mail reports citing the Cyprus News Agency that French aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” has sailed through block 8 of the EEZ of Cyprus, close to Turkish drillship “Yavuz”, escorted by six vessels and continued its course.
KEY ACTORS
Fannon (USA as. Sec. on energy)
>> All parties in the East Med should refrain from provocative actions that create more instability
>> 3+1 construct (Cyprus, Israel, Greece plus US) is an important vehicle to facilitate cooperation
>> Energy resources a catalyst for broader cooperation and energy development of region a means for broader political stability
>> Cyprus has an important role to play in the development of this new energy corridor
Çavusoglu (Turkish FM)
>> Turkey will take measures responding to every negative step by the EU that ignores rights of the T/Cs
>> Tensions will increase, that’s why we have to work together to overcome them
>> If the EU remains neutral, all parties can work together towards a mechanism that guarantees the equal rights of the T/Cs
Spitfire cafe on Nicosia’s buffer zone undergoing support work
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The municipality of Nicosia has decided to work on shoring up the building of the old Spitfire cafe, which is located at Paphos Gate and is currently right on the ceasefire line dividing the city, Cyprus Mail and Phileleftheros report.
Both newspapers publish photos of the works which show the crews working on clearing the building of overgrowth under the supervision of members of UNFICYP, as well as in the presence of persons belonging either to the T/C “police” or the Turkish military.
Politis reports that the Municipality had informed UNFICYP ahead of time. However on Wednesday, “policemen” appeared asking for the works to stop causing momentary tensions. The work continued after the intercession of UNFICYP, with the T/C “policemen” asking for branches and earth that had been removed to be returned to the T/C side.
The Nicosia Municipality has said that the works are being carried out because the building has become unstable and dangerous over the years. The works were deemed particularly necessary due to the recent increase in rain and the collapse of other buildings in the walled city. The road passing through the Paphos Gate opening in the walls and next to Spitfire is used by pedestrians and vehicles on a daily basis.
New PRIO Cyprus report highlights economic dividend of a federal solution
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Economy, CBMs
OVERVIEW
A new report by the PRIO Cyprus research center on the “peace dividend” of a possible federal solution is front page news in Alithia.
The report points out that the economic potential of the island is being held back by a range of factors that are being amplified by the division, and that the county is lagging behind in comparison to other countries in the region.
A solution would boost average GDP pper capita by between 6,800 to 11,000 euro, and the overall GDP would increase by between 11 billion euro to 17.4 billion euro after 20 years.
The report also points out that the competitiveness of both the G/C and the T/C economies is suffering because of high and volatile energy costs, poor public transport and weak governance amplified by the lack of checks and balances as a result of the Cyprus Problem.
According to the report a solution would open up Cyprus to 650 billion euros from the Turkish market, especially in markets such as tourism, professional services, shipping and – over the longer term – higher education.
A solution would also attract EU funds for the upgrading of ports, airports and other infrastructure the authors of the report note.
Also, the capability for faster and more lucrative exploitation of natural gas would increase at a time where the opportunities are being reduced due to the rapid increase of competition from renewable energy sources.
Larnaca mayor dismisses internet outcry over name of Istanbul street
Alithia
Property, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Alithia reports on an internet controversy regarding a picture posted on social media which shows the street sign for Istanbul street, one of the T/C sector of Larnaca.
The newspaper points out that “after 45 years some ‘discovered’” the existence of the street and that the issue was covered by several news websites.
In a statement, Larnaca mayor Andreas Viras said that the names of the streets in the Turkish sector of the city have remained unchanged due to state policy, and noted that the municipality has no jurisdiction on the issue. The only change that had been made, he said, was the replacement of the old signs with signs in the Greek script, which was done for practical reasons. In his statement he also wondered why there are no complaints over other street names such as Piale Pasha.
Viras also recalled that about two years ago, members of ELAM had removed a street sign for Ankara Street and had asked the municipality to change the name. The reply was the return of the sign to its former location. Viras added that this is the proper response if we want to be called the Republic of Cyprus and not just the Greek Cypriot side.
Alithia explains that street names have remained unchanged in all T/C neighborhoods of Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos, as they were named by T/C inhabitants who had a right to seperate municipalities according to the 1960 constitution. The newspaper also points out that the RoC, as the legal state, is bound to protect the original names, and makes a comparison with the north’s practice of changing names of villages and locations.
KEY ACTORS
Andreas Viras (Larnaca mayor)
>> T/C neighborhood street names not a municipality issue, but jurisdiction of the state
>> Names should be respected since we are the legal RoC, not just the G/C community
Internal agreement over halloumi quotas before push at EU level
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Economy, EU Matters, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that the government has decided to allow an increase of the price of milk by 5 cents (for halloumi producers) in return for maintaining current milk quotas for halloumi, in an effort to bridge differences and proceed with Cyprus’ application for “halloumi/ hellim” to be granted Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status by the EU.
The decision was taken after a meeting at the Presidential Palace incolving cattle farmers, milk and halloumi producers and the ministries for Commerce, Agriculture and Foreign Affairs. Halloumi producers are reported to have admitted in front of the President that they had been giving fake data regarding the amount of sheep and goat milk used.
According to the newspaper, the decision to keep the percentage of sheep milks at 20% without an increase to 25% as suggested by the Ministry of Agriculture, practically prevents any discussion of increasing the percentage to 51% by 2024. Haravgi points out that in effect this constitutes a reduction of the quotas from the agreed 25%.
The increase of the quota by 2024 is included as a commitment of the government in the application that has been submitted to the Commission for PDO status.
Agriculture Minister Kostas Kadis stated that he will be requesting a meeting with the European Commissioners for Agriculture and Health to assess the situation and speed up the process.
Kadis added that the progress of the application is not dependent on the Cypriot government but by the Commission’s assesment and proposals that had been made to overcome issues that had come up. He pointed out that some of these proposals were not satisfactory for the government and that there had been disagreements even between two of the Commission’s Directorates General.
The application currently examined by the EU is the result of an agreement a few years ago between President Anastasiades, T/C leader Mustafa Akıncı and then European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker. According to earlier reports, there had been disagreements involving the G/Cs, the T/Cs and the EU regarding the application.