Front Page Headlines
They were examining… for 10 months the evidence from Spain
Police knew since March and the minister was informed yesterday. At the end of January the police asked for guidance from the Attorney General. Inability, perhaps unwillingness, to make use of the evidence sent by Madrid.
- Varosha: We chase after developments
- Receipt is a “riddle” (EDEK)
They erase taxes up to one billion
Tax debts up to 1.4 billion will remain to be collected. Tax Department began the process to winnow out finished cases.
- They want 75% for Evkaf: Turkey’s road map for Famagusta
- France anchors itself in the Mediterranean
- Ultimatum by Brussels to Turkey
Cyprus a base for the US against the Middle East
According to information obtained by “Haravgi”, Cyprus has become a base of the USA against countries in the Middle East. A fully equiped unit of 500 Americans has been installed in the “Andreas Papandreou” base, while in Akrotiri there is construction work under way aiming to relocate the American base at Incirlik.
France reaffirms Cyprus solidarity
In meeting with visiting minister, Anastasiades says only nation taking on role in region.
- World: UN sounds the alarm over ongoing Syria crisis
Ecofin warning: Turkey in the black list if it doesn’t cooperate with Cyprus
Turkey is today in the “gray list” over the fact that it does not exchange tax information with Cyprus as well, as it does with the rest of the member states. If by the end of 2020 (Turkey) does not do so with Cyprus as well, then the country will be put into the “black list” which will have serious effects on its economy.
- In Turkey: Tens of arrests of Gulen followers after coup rumours
- Statements: Support to Cyprus from France – USA
Main News
Anastasiades writes to UNSG about Varosha, has bilaterals in Brussels
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
Territory, Property, Negotiations Process, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
President Anastasiades has sent letters to the UNSG Antonio Guterres, the leaders of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the leaders of the EU’s member states regarding the developments at Varosha, Phileleftheros reports.
The dailies also report that Anastasiades will bring up the issue during his bilateral contacts on Wednesday in Brussels, ahead of Thursday’s special European Council on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework.
Politis reports that on Wendesday, Anastasiades is meeting Council President Charles Michel and European Parliament president David Sassoli. On Thursday he will have a private meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as well as with EPP president Donald Tusk.
In an interview with the Cyprus Mail regarding Varosha, lawyer Achilleas Demetriades who specialises in property cases, argued that the G/C side should mount a robust legal defence against Turkey’s plans to develop Varosha. Demetriades pointed out that remarks made to the media by Turkish officials show that Turkey is taking into account the full picture regarding property claims by G/C owners.
He pointed out that what Turkey really wants is to open Varosha’s beach front, which is why the next step should be for the owners of those properties to apply to the Immovable Property Commission en masse. A more robust response, he said, would be to swarm Turkey with appeals by the owners of all 6.082 plots of land inside Varosha.
Newspapers also quote an interview by Anastasiades to Bloomberg, in which he says that the international community has not reacted to Turkey’s actions in Syria, Libya, Iraq and the Cypriot EEZ, or the country’s plan to open up Famagusta.
“The member states show no decisiveness to take proper measures and that creates the danger of a conflict” he said, adding that France is the only country that has taken on an active role in the region. Anastasiades also said during the interview that Turkey currently feels that it has a freedom to act in the region due to the need of the US to keep the country tied to NATO.
Phileleftheros reports that the Cypriot government has information that Turkey has prepared the road map on how to proceed towards opening Famagusta. Turkey’s strategy aims to put its stamp on properties that it claims to be the property of religious instituation Evkaf.
The dailies also report on a statement issued by the US embassy in Nicosia. A spokesperson of the US embassy told the Cyprus News Agency that the country’s policy on Varosha has not changed, and that any unilateral action to open Varosha or settle it with people other than its legal inhabitants contravene UNSC resolutions 550 and 789.
Oikonomiki Kathimerini also reports that during his contacts in Brussels Anastasiades will lobby for increased funding for Cyprus for facing up to the challenge of migration in the next MFF. The newspaper reports that Cyprus is worried over the cuts proposed in cohesion funding as well as in funding for migration related issues.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> The EU and the international community has not reacted to Turkey’s action in Syria, Libya, Iraq, the Cypriot EEZ or Varosha and this creates the danger of conflict
>> France is the only country that has taken on an active role in the region
US embassy in Nicosia
>> Any unilateral moves to open Varosha or settle it with people other than its original inhabitants contravene relevant Security Council resolutions
French Defence Minister in Cyprus – Reports of increased US activity
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Energy, EU Matters, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Cyprus Mail reports that France reassured Cyprus of its full solidarity regarding Turkey’s actions in its EEZ on Tuesday, during a meeting between visiting French Defence Minister Florence Parly and President Anastasiades.
In statements after the meeting at the Presidential Palace, Parly underlined the strong bilateral cooperation between France and Cyprus, including the regular port calls by the French navy to Cypriot ports. After a meeting with Cypriot Defence Minister Savvas Angelides, Parly also said that France would contribute decisively towards preserving international maritime law in the region.
Phileleftheros reports that Parly and Angelides discussed in detail issues regarding bilateral military cooperation, as well as cooperation in the context of the EU’s PESCO programs, and the increased cooperation with other countries in the region. Parly also visited French aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” which is currently in Limassol.
Haravgi reports that the “Andreas Papandreou” base in Paphos and the Sovereign British Area in Akrotiri have become a basis of operations for US troops operating in the Middle East. The newspaper cites information that a fully equipped American unit of 500 soldiers has been operating from “Andreas Papandreou”. The unit reportedly is equipped with fighter airplanes and attack helicopters.
The newspaper adds that the unit and its equipment arrived after the assassination by US forces of Iranian general Suleimani in Iraq. Haravgi notes that the unit’s stay will not be temporary, citing the fact that new premises were recently constructed.
According to Haravgi, intensive construction is underway also in the Akrotiri SBA. The newspaper cites information that the new premises will also be used by American forces.
KEY ACTORS
Parly (French Defence Minister)
>> Regular port calls by French navy to Cypriot ports underline strong bilateral cooperation
>> France will contribute decisively towards preserving international maritime law in the region
EU could blacklist Turkey over lack of tax cooperation with Cyprus
Alithia, Phileleftheros
EU Matters, Economy, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that the EU has set the end of 2020 as a deadline for Turkey to conform to its obligation of exchanging tax information with all member states, including Cyprus.
The Finance Ministers of the EU (ECOFIN) agreed on Tuesday that if Turkey does not fulfill this obligations, it will have to be added to the “black list” of countries that are considered tax havens. This could happen in February of next year when the list will be reexamined by the Council.
Until then Turkey will remain in the so-called “gray list” as a compromise between the Commission and the Cypriot government. The Commission had received assurances by the Turkish government on the issue while Nicosia insisted that given the situation Turkey should have already been put on the “black list”.
The Commission’s position was that Cyprus also bears responsibility since it had not initiated the process for tax information exchange through the OECD. The Cypriot response was that Turkey has been blocking Cyprus’ membership into the OECD.
Phileleftheros reports that Austria supported the Cypriot position since it also has problems cooperating with Turkey over tax information exchange. Another four countries that also had tax issues with Turkey were Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. These countries supported keeping Turkey in the “gray list”, but Germany also issued a statement calling Turkey to take advantage of the time given to her to fulfil her obligations.