Front Page Headlines
Debate: they each had a rabbit in their hats
Averof on loan of company tied to AKEL – Andros on EEZ partition. Company thought to be associated with AKEL “got off the hook” for 25 million euro non performing loan. Leader of the ruling party made no comment about information on EEZ partition.
- USA – Turkey: They “froze” secret intelligence program
- Halloumi: File not to be withdrawn
They partitioned the EEZ too
Party clash threw another heavy shadow on handling of Turkish threats. Andros points out information from credible source, government categorically denies.
- He put a dilemma for solution to the T/Cs: Quintet closed with Akıncı candidacy
- Sheep-and-goat farmers concerned and warn: Halloumi chaos after the Presidential Palace meeting
- They (Christodoulidis – Fannon) exchanged opinions before he went to Ankara
Ultimatum for 2,300 main residences
Letters for last chance (debt) restructuring. Second batch of 1,115 letters after March 31st. Bank of Cyprus: 1,833 applications for Estia plan.
- EEZ partition after Anastasiades request?
- Akıncı: Solution, or the north will be dragged into a structure more dependent on Ankara
- New demands from cheese producers for halloumi – They ask that the 20% quota be included in the file. The application anticipates 51% goat or sheep milk or a mix.
House drama over bad loans
Shouting match breaks out at committee over politicians’ debts.
- Main party leaders clash in TV debate
- AG defends suspension of case against former deputy police chief
Bold statements from Mustafa Akıncı: He proclaimed a fight against annexation by Turkey
- Statement: Same position by Guterres on illegal Turkish actions in Cypriot EEZ
- Debate: “Cypriot EEZ partition a figment of Andros’ imagination”
Main News
Kyprianou claims President considered partition of Cypriot EEZ
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Economy, External Security, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
All dailies report on the claim by AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou that President Anastasiades seriously considered the option of partitioning the Cypriot EEZ, and that the President had also commissioned his close associates to prepare a study on the issue.
The statement was made during a televised debate involving Kyprianou and governing DISY leader Averof Neophytou.
Cyprus Mail reports that the statement was a response to a journalist’s question, who said he had information that Anastasiades had considered this option.
Kyprianou responded that he had received similar information but that he could not comment publically. After the debate, the AKEL leader told journalists that he recalls statements made before and after the 2018 presidential elections which referred to the possibility of two seperate EEZs and a two-state solution. “Many attribute these to the president of the republic” he added.
Government spokesperson Kyriakos Koushios said in a written statement that this idea was a figment of someone’s imagination.
Politis reports that a source from the Foreign Ministry has confirmed to the newspaper that close associates to the President had been tasked with preparing a study on dividing the EEZ of the country between the two communities. In an opinion column, Politis also notes that Neophytou avoided taking a position Kyprianou’s claim regarding the partition of the EEZ.
Phileleftheros points out that the discussion of this issue during the debate is putting the President under pressure, additional to the pressure already felt from Ankara’s actions. The newspaper also points out that Kyprianou did not give more specifics on the issue despite being asked twice, and wonders why Kyprianou didn’t bring this issue up when he met with Anastasiades a week ago.
Cyprus Mail also points out that regarding the Cyprus Problem, both Kyprianou and Neophytou agreed on the need to focus on the talks for a solution, and that Turkey would stop drilling in the country’s EEZ once the leaders of the communities restarted negotiations.
The two leaders disagreed on who is to blame for the current impasse. Neophytou blamed Turkey’s provocative attitude and said that G/Cs are not responsible for today’s situation. He insisted that the G/Cs should remain committed to the bizonal bicommunal federation. When asked if the President had discussed the two-states option with him, Neophytou simply said that it would be a disaster if the G/C sent the message to the international community that it is abandoning the aim for federation.
Kyprianou said that Turkey’s interference is a given, but stressed that the main reasons for the current situation are the lack of communication between the leaders of the two communities and the lack of a comprehensive strategy by the government. He added that AKEL would support the govevernment if negotiations were moving in the right direction.
The two party leaders also discussed at length issues such as non performing loans of politically exposed persons, the country’s problem with corruption, whether AKEL had gotten preferential treatment over loans of a company associated with the party, and the citizenship investment scheme, including the most recent scandal regarding a Saudi businessman.
Both leaders were asked whether they intend to run for President in the 2023 elections. Kyprianou said he is not interested, adding that he believes the next candidate should be much younger than himself. Neophytou declined to answer and said that right now it’s more important to face challenges such as the Cyprus Problem, the economy and planned reforms. The presidential elections questions should reserved for the highly ambitious, he added.
KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL SG)
>> Aware of information that the President considered partitioning EEZ but cannot speak publically
>> There were a lot of statements before and after 2018 elections on ideas of partition, many of which were attributed to the President
>> Turkey does cause problems with its interference, but the main reasons for the stalemate are lack of communication between the community leaders and government’s lack of a comprehensive strategy
>> AKEL will support government’s efforts if substantive negotiations move to right direction
Koushios (gov. spokes.)
>> This story is the figment of someone’s imagination
Neophytou (DISY)
>> CyProb stagnation is not due to the G/C side but due to Turkish behaviour
>> The G/Cs need to remain commited to a federal solution
>> (When asked if President discussed two-state solution with him) It would be a mistake to give the international community signals that we are abandoning federation
Guterres reiterates position over Turkish drilling – Fannon goes to Ankara
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Economy, External Security, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on statements by Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson of the UNSG Antonio Guterres, who was asked to respond to comments by Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides on the UN’s perceived lack of reaction over Turkish illegal activities in the Cypriot EEZ.
Cyprus Mail reports that Haq said that the UNSG is closely monitoring the developments in the Cypriot EEZ with concern. He repeated a statement on the position of the UNSG made on May 6th 2019 and said that position has not changed.
Haq added that offshore hydrocarbons have the potential to benefit both communities on the island and that the UNSG recalled that the leaders of the two communities had previously agreed in negotiations that natural resources in a unified Cyprus would be a federal competence.
Phileleftheros and Politis report that FM Christodoulides met with US assistant secretary of state on energy, Francis Fannon, before the American official left the country for visits to Turkey and Egypt. The newspaper cites information that Turkey’s actions in the Cypriot EEZ and elsewhere in the region were the only subject discussed during the meeting. The newspapers cite no information on Fannon’s position.
On that issue, the Cyprus Mail says in its editorial that the Fannon visit did not give the government what it was hoping for, which is an outright condemnation of Turkey’s actions in the Eastern Mediterranean. The newspaper pointed out that Fannon’s unwillingness to take a stand against Turkey and his statement that all sides should avoid provocative actions is the same as the stance of the UNSG over which the government has publically complained.
The newspaper also notes that a report in the Cyprus News Agency said that Christodoulides asked Fannon for substantive assistance in order to halt Turkish drilling, but that there was no report on how Fannon responded.
In another development, Phileleftheros cites a statement by Turkish government spokesperson İbrahim Kalın that the country will be drilling and conducting seismic surveys in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the areas agreed under the MoU signed with the Libyan government.
KEY ACTORS
Farhan Haq (UNSG dep. spokes.)
>> UNSG is closely monitoring developments in Cypriot EEZ with concern
>> Offshore hydrocarbons can benefit both communities
>> The two sides have agreed in the past that natural resources will be federal competence after solution
Kalın (Turkish gov. spokes.)
>> Turkey will be drilling and conducting seismic surveys in the Eastern Mediterranean and the areas agreed with Libya
Akıncı’s statements on unwillingness to be annexed make front page news
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
All newspapers report on Mustafa Akıncı’s statements during the announcement of his candidacy for reelection as T/C leader on Wednesday and on his interview to the Guardian which was published on Thursday.
Cyprus Mail reports that the T/C leader told the Guardian that the island faces permanent partition and that the two sides need to hurry up since this is a decisive moment.
He added that differences between the two sides are deepening and pushing back any hope for a reunification under a federal framework. If this opportunity is missed, he said, the north will grow increasingly dependent on Turkey and will in time become a de facto Turkish province.
Akıncı also pointed out that the division is becoming more consolidated in the minds of young people, as well as physically, demographically and economically.
The T/C leader also said that he disagrees with the Turkish approach of viewing the relation with the T/Cs as that between a mother and a baby, repeating that he wants “independent, brotherly relations”. For this independence to be achieved, he said, he needs help from the south to make the economy of the north less reliant on Turkey.
He also highlighted the fact that the T/Cs want to maintain the characteristics that give them an identity distinct from that of the Turks, namely secularism, democracy and plurality.
Akıncı’s Wednesday statements were even stronger and were promoted as the main news on Alithia. The T/C leader said that the community is faced with two paths: one is to push for a solution and succeed, and the other is to be drawn into a more dependent structure. “We do not accept to be a minority of the Greek Cypriots, not a slave to rulers in Turkey. We want independence and freedom” he said.
Phileleftheros also stresses Akıncı’s statement that he does not accept those that promote a “lynching culture” to vote for him, referring to Erhan Arıklı and the far right Rebirth Party (YDP) which had taken part in violent protests against Afrika newspaper. He added that he would rather not be elected than be elected with their votes.
KEY ACTORS
Akıncı
>> The island faces permanent partition as division gradually becomes consolidated
>> T/Cs want independent and brotherly relations with Turkey, not to become a de facto Turkish province
>> For this to be achieved, the south should help the T/Cs become less reliant on Turkish aid
No changes on halloumi PDO application government says
Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Economy, CBMs, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on the mess brought about by conflicting interpretations of the agreement reached in the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, regarding the country’s effort to achieve Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status for halloumi on an EU level.
On Thursday, sheep-and-goat milk producers expressed doubts whether the agreement will be honored, citing statements by the representatives of the cheese producers that they do not agree with the price increase.
Politis reports that the government insists that the application that has been submitted to the European Commission will not be withdrawn, despite calls from cow farmers to do so. Minister of Agriculture Kostas Kadis told the newspaper that the only thing that can be done is to request changes in the application, but that its resubmision would only cause further problems.
The government bases this position on an opinion by the Republic’s Law Office which was presented to all involved (halloumi producers, cow milk producers, sheep-and-goat milk producers) during Wednesday’s meeting at the Presidential Palace.
Kadis said that according to the Republic’s Law Office there were several risks to the option of the government withdrawing and resubmitting the application. Firstly, other countries or the T/C community would see an opening to submit an application themselves. Secondly, this would weaken trademarks registered by Cyprus. Thirdly, if Cyprus were to resubmit then this would be the third application in a row which would make the likelihood of it being aproved nil.
Kadis clarified that the aim to reach a 51% quota for sheep-and-goat milk in a few years is feasible.
Kadis also told CyBC radio that there will be an additional meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture in order to discuss the application of agreements made on Wednesday.
He clarified that the agreement was for the sheep-and-goat milk quota to remain at 20% in return for cheese producers pledging to buy all sheep-and-goat milk produced at a price increased by 5 cents per liter.
Union of Cypriot Journalists support fired Hürriyet journalists
Haravgi
CBMs, Human Rights, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Haravgi reports that the Union of Cypriot Journalists (ESK) has decided to support 45 Turkish journalists recently fired from Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, pledging 500 euros as a symbolic way of assisting their legal fight.
The support was sent through the European Federation of Journalists, which has created a special fund with the aim of assisting the 45 journalists and has asked for its member associations to contribute.
Ancient quarry in Famagusta key to repair of Nicosia’s Venetian Walls
Alithia
CBMs
OVERVIEW
The work of restoring the sections of Nicosia’s Venetian Walls that collapsed recently last year is progressing, Alithia reports citing a story by the Cyprus News Agency.
The G/C head of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, Takis Hadjidemetriou, told the CNA that the committee is trying to access the ancient quarry which produced the sandstone which was used to build the walls.
Hadjidemetriou said that the Technical Committee is taking steps in forming a systematic approach to the protection of the Venetian Walls, which includes gaining access to the ancient quarry, which is close to occupied Famagusta. The quarry is not being used today and is located inside a military area.
On Wednesday, members of the committee visited the area in Nicosia where works are being carried out, in order to assess the progress of repairs and of cleaning the walls from vegetation.