GCC Press Review 20 Feb 2020

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Authorities are turning a blind eye to Larena Gate – (match-fixing) files

They have the names of those involved but are not taking testimonies. Loud evidence in the voice recordings and files from Spain, (AKEL MP) Aristos Damianou claims. The case against Mashias-Constantinou is being filed today at the criminal court.

  • Cyprob: Charles Michel calls the UNSG
  • The formula for the ‘opening’ – The TC plans on Varosha are ready.
  • Cyprus has taken a downturn (Eurobarometer results)

Phileleftheros

Famagusta joint committee

A proposal by Anastasiades in a letter to Antonio Guterres for cooperation between GCs and TCs. He suggests they examine together all issues linked with the opening of the fenced-off area of Varosha. EU intervention to Antonio Guterres.

  • Eurobarometer: 87 per cent of Cypriots say ‘No’ to political parties – They trust the military.
  • US unit at the Paphos base
  • Moscow and Ankara are having a row over Syria

Haravgi

They are covering up cases by doing nothing

It is not just the reports since January 2019 of the Spanish investigators on match-fixing that were not investigated but also a 2016 case on betting activity to the tune of €15m with the involvement of top brass of the Cypriot football scene.

  • Criticism by AKEL of the president with suggestions
  • Separate runway in Akrotiri for the US’ military operations

Cyprus Mail

‘It’s a foul,’ MPs tell police chief

Police deny dragging feet amid latest explosive claims of match-fixing.

  • Defence minister denies ‘irresponsible’ reports of US military bases in Cyprus
  • Turkey threatens action on Syria

Alithia

Three sizzling bills tomorrow at the House plenum

They concern the abolition of the 12 per cent penalty on civil servants, the expansion of beneficiaries of state limos and setting up the unitary inspection service at the labour ministry.

  • Eurobarometer: Nine in 10 Cypriots are showing a ‘red card’ to the parties
  • Erdogan for East Med: Even Greece has started accepting the new regime

Main News

Anastasiades wants Guterres’ help to convince TCs for CBM on Famagusta

Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs, Property, Territory, Human Rights, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

Phileleftheros, in its main item, citing sources, reports that Anastasiades, in his latest letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is calling for the UN chief’s intervention to get TCs on board for setting up a bicommunal committee to prepare a study on Varosha.

The measure, in the form of a CBM, would aim to help efforts for the return and resettlement to Varosha of its legal residents, the paper reported. Anastasiades maintained that this would be a very important CBM which would contribute to the creation of a positive climate between the two communities, the daily reports.

In his letter, Anastasiades also briefs Guterres on the latest developments as regards Turkey’s actions in Famagusta including the round table discussion in Varosha last week and recalls the relevant UN resolutions. Sources told the paper that Anastasiades underlined in his letter that such actions create problems in the resumption of talks. The letter was also sent to presidents of France, US, China, Russia and the Prime Minister of the UK, while Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides addressed the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the paper reports.

Politis, based on statements by Turkish and TC officials and information from sources, reports that it seems that the plans and road map for the opening of Varosha have been drawn up.

 The daily reports that initially, the coastal front will be utilised.

According to the paper, it even seems that they have come up with a specific formula that will have some key features that the Turkish side considers to hold a rudimentary legitimacy that may further blur the waters around the property status and property issue in general.

Citing TC sources, the daily reports that there is belief there is now a clearer picture of how to proceed, in a way that appears to be, but not really, in line with UN resolutions 550 and 789. The aim is to open the fenced-off area in stages, the paper reports.

 Politis reports that according to TC ‘finance and energy minister’ Hasan Tacoy, initially there will be an effort to lift the military status of the fenced-off area and of restrictions currently in place.

The second step seems to be the property issue which involves the Immovable Properties Commission (IPC) and the appeals filed before it within a specific timeframe to be set by the TC side.

The third step will concern a call to all those that were using the buildings on the coastal front prior to 1974 to take over the buildings and utilise them. Sources told the daily that the call will not concern the land but the buildings and that if there is no positive response within a set timeframe by the old users, then the buildings will be given to others to use under terms.

As regards the property status, it is considered by the TCs that the biggest part of Varosha, especially if there are no appeals to the IPC, belongs to EVKAF and this is what they want to secure with these actions, by promoting a formula referring to the use of the buildings and not altering the property issue. They want that way to force the owners to face EVKAF legally, the paper reports.

The paper also cites a poll by Turkish company Gezici in the north according to which around 85 per cent of respondents said that Varosha needed to open somehow.

Both dailies also report that TC ‘foreign minister’ Kudret Ozersay said recently that he was able to avert the adoption of a new UN resolution on Varosha requested by the GC side.


European Council president takes initiative on Cyprob

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Energy, Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

President Nicos Anastasiades discussed Turkey’s violations in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone but also in Varosha with European Council president Charles Michel in Brussels, the dailies report.

In the meantime, Turkey announced it has bought a third drillship.

The dailies cite Government spokesman Kyriacos Kousios saying on Wednesday that Anastasiades discussed with Michel the Cyprus problem, Turkey’s violations in the EZZ, Varosha and migration.

“There was a special discussion on the issue of Varosha and that the EU should not expect flexibility from Cyprus on matters concerning Turkey,” Kousios said, adding  Anastasiades thanked Michel for the sanctions imposed on Turkey and noted that Nicosia expects even more sanctions to be added.

Cyprus Mail reports that Michel reportedly asked Anastasiades whether greater EU involvement concerning Turkey’s actions would be welcomed and the proposal was warmly received.

The papers also report that Michel told Anastasiades he would contact the UN secretary-general soon to discuss how the EU could assist in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.

Phileleftheros, citing EU sources, reports that Michel is expected to also probe Ankara’s intentions over the prospect of a settlement of the Cyprus problem. He will visit Cyprus possibly in May, the source told the paper.

The papers also report that Turkey has purchased its third offshore drilling ship which is expected to begin operations in 2020 with reports saying it would probably be operating off Crete.

KEY ACTORS
Koushios (RoC)
>>
The EU should not expect flexibility from Cyprus on matters concerning Turkey.
>> Nicosia expects even more sanctions on Turkey by the EU.


Angelides: Cyprus facilitates US for humanitarian reasons only

Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

Phileleftheros and Cyprus Mail report that Defence Minister Savvas Angelides called for caution on Wednesday after daily Haravgi, reported on Tuesday that Cyprus had been turned into an air base for the US to wage war on Middle Eastern countries.

Angelides said it was irresponsible in the current climate to create a false picture when it comes to defence and security. The minister referred to statements by the government spokesman on January 8 this year confirming that Cyprus had given a positive response to a US request to temporarily station a rapid response unit in Cyprus for the sole purpose of evacuating personnel working in US diplomatic missions in the region, as well as US citizens, if needed. It has nothing to do with launching military operation, he said.

Phileleftheros, citing sources, reports that the US unit temporarily based at the Andreas Papandreou airbase in Paphos, is a small unit specialised in rapid response missions for the transfer and protection of personnel from troubled areas and war zones.

Haravgi reports that Angelides tried to refute the daily’s Tuesday report but the question that needs to be answered is whether the presence of attack helicopters but also of a large number of military personnel is necessary for a ‘humanitarian’ procedure.

The paper, citing sources, also reports that there is a separate runway at the Akrotiri base to serve the needs of US forces, which confirms the expansion of US presence at the base in question.

On the government’s position that the British are not allowed to let others use the bases in Cyprus as their own after reports that construction is underway at the Akrotiri base to rehouse, if necessary the US base from Incirlik, Turkey, the daily said that it is well-known that a US team has been stationed there for quite some time now along with around 30 airplanes.


Greece’s New Democracy party opens offices in Nicosia

Cyprus Mail
Governance & Power Sharing, Regional/ International Relations

OVERVIEW

The daily reports that Greece’s ruling New Democracy (ND) party has opened offices in Nicosia.

ND’s general secretary Giorgos Stergiou was in Cyprus on Wednesday for the opening of the party’s new offices within the building of ruling DISY in Nicosia.

Stergiou said his party was opening an office because there was a dynamic Greek community in Cyprus, and with a recent change to the law allowing Greek citizens to vote abroad it was time to have party representation on the island.

DISY leader Averof Neophytou jointly inaugurated the new offices of the Greek party saying it was “yet more tangible proof of the brotherly relations of the two parties.” Stergiou thanked the DISY leader and spoke of the close working relationship between the two parties. “The political developments of the last few months make this situation very crucial,” he added, and referred to Turkish activities in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone and in the Aegean, the daily reported.


Majority of Cypriots distrust political parties

Alithia, Politis
EU Matters

OVERVIEW

Citing the results of the latest Eurobarometer, the dailies report that almost nine out of 10 Cypriots do not trust the political parties.

According to the results of the Autumn 2019 Eurobarometer, presented on Wednesday at the EU House in Nicosia, 87% of respondents said they do not trust political parties, 66% said they do not trust the government, while 63% said the same about parliament.

The survey was conducted between November 14 and 28, 2019. In total, 505 persons living in the Republic of Cyprus took part.

The army is the institution Cypriots said they trusted the most with 62%, followed by the police at 52%.

The financial situation of the country and immigration are the two major issues currently Cyprus is facing, respondents said. One in six also said that migration is among the two most important issues for Europe along with environmental, climate and energy issues (25%).

As regards the most important issues they personally face, 32% said rising prices and 21% the financial status of their household.

Forty-six per cent of those surveyed say they are happy with the way democracy works in Cyprus, compared to the 54% average in the 28 EU member states. Most Cypriots (56%) say they are optimistic about the EU’s future. The EU 28 average is 58%.


Bicommunal cooperation to clamp down on dog theft ring

Politis
CBMs, Internal Security

OVERVIEW

According to the paper police believe they are on the tracks of a bicommunal dog theft ring after the latest theft this week of 10 hunting dogs in Pissouri.

The perpetrators stole 10 well-trained hunting dogs from a fenced-off private property in Pissouri. Their value is estimated around €10,000.

Recently, there was another dog theft in Peyia.

Police told the daily they believe the thefts have been carried out by GCs and TCs who transfer the animals to the occupied areas.

Towards that end, the help of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Crime has been sought to locate the dogs and the perpetrators in the occupied areas, while police are investigating to locate the GCs involved.

In another story, Politis also reports that police are looking for the whereabouts of Giorgos Christodoulou, also known as Zavrantonas in connection with a drugs case.

Police believe Zavrantonas fled to the occupied areas months ago after learning he would be arrested but it is believed that he is somehow crossing between the two sides, the daily reports.


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