Front Page Headlines
Four aims at the european bazaar
What Cyprus wants to win from the European budget. Funding of new policies puts pressure on cohesion policies and agricultural policy. Nicosia wants no changes in co-funding percentages.
- Politics: The “mysteries” of UNFICYP
Blind mafia hit
Hooded man took twenty five shots and wounded four people. The target of the criminal act, Costas Kritikos, had left earlier.
- Turkish designs: They cement new faits accomplis at Varosi
- Russia and Turkey: They do not change plans for the S-400
- Anastasiades: There will be an answer (for Varosha)
Hospital readiness a gordian knot
- Accusations by D. Papadakis to be investigated after his multi-hour testimony
We will not stay with hands tied
Response of president Anastasiades to new Turkish provocations at Varosha. Intense criticism in occupied areas from M. Akinci, T. Erhurman as well as newspapers, with “Afrika” coming out with front page story titled “The invaders in Varosha”.
- T/cypriot (woman) victim: He killed her and had her in the freezer for three years
- New deposition yesterday: D. Papadakis continues his counter-attack
- Lavrov: Our relations with Turkey are good but we don’t agree on everything
Main News
Anastasiades says action will be taken over Famagusta
Alithia, Politis, Phileleftheros
Territory, Economy, Property, Human Rights, External Security, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
On Sunday President Anastasiades made his first statements regarding the Varosha issue, the dailies report. Phileleftheros reports that Anastasiades commented that the G/C side “will not stay with hands tied” regarding the intention of Turkey and the T/C “government” to open up Varosha to development despite Security Council resolutions that forbid any unilateral move.
Anastasiades was speaking during an event honoring the 60 years since Bishop Vasilios became head of the church in the bishopry of Constantia and Famagusta. The President made extensive references to the “joint struggle” of the Church and the state for a solution to the Cyprus Problem.
Regarding the developments in Varosha, Anastasiades said that “yesterday’s provocative actions by the Turks in the Famagusta fenced-off area are unacceptable and won’t be tolerated”. He said that these actions happened despite the Security Council’s reiteration of its position regarding Varosha in its most recent resolution.
Adding that “we will not stay with hands tied”, Anastasiades also said that “diplomacy, international law and European values dictate and pave the way of what needs to be done right away”.
Phileleftheros also reports on reactions and statements by G/C parties regarding Turkey’s and the TRNC “government’s” actions in Varosha.
DISY president Averof Neophytou said that Cyprus should use its presence in the EU and its good relations with the countries in the region, as well as the country’s credibility in order to push for a restart of the dialogue where it was left off in Crans Montana.
EDEK expressed its satisfaction that others have started realising the dangers that come out of Turkey’s policies regarding Famagusta and the Cyprus Problem. Citizens’ Alliance noted that once more the government rushes to act after the fact, when Turkey and the T/Cs had already made their intentions clear for a while. Solidarity said that the G/C reactions remain at a local level as if the problem is local, and that the government is acting without a plan.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> The G/C side will not remain inactive over Turkey’s intention to open up Varosha
>> Diplomacy, international law and European values dictate way forward
Averof Neofytou (DISY)
>> Cyprus should use position in EU and relations in the region as well as the country’s credibility to push for resumption of negotiations
EDEK
>> Satisfied that others started realising the dangers that come out of Turkey’s policies on Famagusta
Citizens’ Alliance
>> Once more the government rushes to act after the fact, but Turkey and the T/Cs had made their intentions clear for a while
Solidarity
>> G/C reactions remain local as if the problem is local and government acts without a plan
Collection of signatures for opening Spitfire and new checkpoint
Haravgi
CBMs, Internal Security, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Haravgi reports that a citizens’ iniative is collecting signatures through online platform Avaaz, asking for the immediate continuation of support works of the building that used to house the Spitfire coffee shop in Paphos Gate, in Nicosia, as well for an opening of a new checkpoint in the area.
The petition will be forward to President Anastasiades, T/C leader Mustafa Akinci, the mayors of the two sectors of Nicosia, Constantinos Yiorkadjis and Mehmet Harmanci, as well as UNSG representative Elizabeth Spehar.
The newspaper recalls that recent efforts by the Nicosia Municipality to shore up the collapsing building brought the reaction of the Turkish army. As a result the effort stopped, with the RoC government appealing to UNFICYP and to the T/C leader to intervene.
The petition asks for the Spitfire cafe to be turned into a center of interaction for all communities, as well as for a new crossing point to open in the area. The proposal envisions UNFICYP as the overseer of the project.