Front Page Headlines
‘Situation is so desperate’
Apalling conditions at island’s sole psychiatric hospital.
- French navy vessel shows ‘growing bilateral ties’
- Cyprus: Disused mines are both heritage and health hazard
- Coffeeshop: The army and making nonsense sound serious
Flows of millions of euros for NGOs and migration
Major investigation by “S” on irregular migration and funding for non governmental organisations. Turkey in the role of migration traffic control in the Mediterranean.
- Turkish ultimatum for Russia: You either gather up the Syrians or I set fire
- Famagusta: Proposals, counterproposals, CBMs and European funds set up an explosive stage
- Poll: “Danger of final loss of Famagusta”
- Parties: Parliamentary elections will judge process for Presidential elections
- Analysis: A strategy of national survival is necessary
- Imposition of “two communities”: Non recognition of minorities a Turkish demand since 1956
- Nuclear threat: “A sword of Damocles” over Cyprus
- Libya: EU sends warships
- Editorial: Crocodile tears… (over Famagusta)
- Savvas Iacovides (opinion): The Turk is faced first with power
- Christodoulos K. Giallourides (opinion): Hague, between the reality and international obsession
- Christos Achilleos Theodoulou (opinion): The fight between Turkey and Syria
- Andreas Theophanous (opinion): Fukuyama on the importance of identity and the Cyprus Problem
- Lazaros A. Mavros (opinion): National Guard on top – Parties at the bottom
- Giannakis L. Omirou (opinion): Common defence path of Cyprus – Greece necessary
- Andreas S. Angelides (opinion): Inexistence of common line serves Turkey
Akinci vs Turkey and scenarios about Varosha
If T/C leader is not reelected, Ankara will be able to play both games. Ersin Tatar seems to have a slight lead in polls. An attempt to a selective reading of resolutions 550 and 770 about Famagusta. Anastasiades’ stance.
Moscow intervention for EEZ
Russian ambassador to “Ph”: Strict compliance of international law, avoidance of threats to use violence. Concerns about openings to the US.
- Hot agenda: A critical two months for Turkey and Cyprus Problem
- Averof Neophytou: “Those that get their presidential elections suit ready are not serious”
- From the EU 27: Stamp on sanctions for the two Turks
- Ierotheos Papadopoulos: “I would like a more positive narrative in the Cyprus Problem”
- They play the game of the occupying power (comment)
- Treaty of Guarantees: Truths and lies (analysis)
How 6,082 land owners can save Varosha
Four parths to action through which the fenced-off city can be legally reclaimed.
- What American commandos are doing in Paphos
- Greek-Turkish relations: Intensive presence of NATO in Greece
- Turkey and Syria heading to conflict: Emergency conference in Tehran
- Stephen Lillie: Direct contact between National Guard and occupying army an ambitious challenge
- Turkish geopolitical strategy and the capabilities of the Turkish military Navy
- Turkish – Libyan MoU: The posting of coordinates is delayed
The next generation deserves another Cyprus
- (Kyprianou) The Cyprus Problem should not be left to the vortex of tensions
- (Moudouros interview) Stagnation increases the dynamics of absorption of the occupied areas
- Erdogan’s tactics without a strategic depth
- Mr. Anastasiades at the French aircraft carrier yesterday
- The realities of no solution: “Cyprus communities cement division”. The baloon of the economy is gradually losing air
Second phase of GeSY: What scares us…
Accusation by OAY (Health Insurance Organisation): Doctors get paid to issue medical certificates. Multiple open fronts that need to close until June 1st when the second phase of GeSY’s (National Health Plane) hospital care begins. What are the mains concerns by OAY and OKYpY (State Health Services Organisation), as well of organised patients and what are the main challenges.
- Anastasiades: The presence of the French navy a clear message to all that attempt to cause tension
- Analysis: Guarantees: The problem and its solution
- Ozdil Nami: We should look ahead and learn from everything that happened
- Energy: Moratorium right now (opinion)
- Firch confirmed “BB-” for Turkey and warns that drillings in Cyprus will hurt her climate for investments
Main News
British H. Comm.: Direct military contacts an ambitious challenge
Alithia, Kathimerini, Phileleftheros
External Security, Internal Security, Negotiations Process, Energy, EU Matters
British High Commissioner in Nicosia, Stephen Lillie, told Kathimerini in an interview that the latest UNSC resolution on UNFICYP is the most ambitious yet and the he believes that the National Guard and the occupying army should be in contact.
Lillie also points out that it is wrong to believe that a solution can be achieved by isolating the Turkish Cypriots.
The British diplomat was replying to a question regarding the reactions caused by the latest UNFICYP resolution. Lillie said that the UK does not take into account reactions in the press, given that the resolution was the result of a negotiation and was approved by all members of the SC.
He added that this resolution was the most ambitious to date because it calls for enhanced cooperation along the buffer zone, and that the resolution also underlines the importance of pursuing a federal solution as well as the importance of the work of the technical committees.
When asked whether the suggestions included in the resolution could send messages supporting the recognition of the “TRNC”, Lillie pointed out that the message is that the sides should cooperate and work on building trust. He said that there is no way in which the “TRNC” can be recognised through this resolution. And added that, on the other hand, those who believe that they can solve the Cyprus Problem by isolating the T/Cs are mistaken.
Lillie reiterated that the UK’s position on the Treaty of Guarantees is that if both sides and the other guarantors agree to change it, London will not stand in the way. He also said that he does not see why a conference on Cyprus should not happen after the elections in the north.
When asked to comment on the Turkish Foreign Minister’s statement that there should be models other than the bizonal bicommunal federation on the table, Lillie pointed out that the process facilitated by the UN is based on the parameter that the aim is a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality.
Lillie also repeated that the UK has a clear stance against Turkish drillings in the internationally recognised EEZ of Cyprus, but clarified that the only way to deescalate tensions would be through a solution of the Cyprus Problem.
Phileleftheros publishes an interview with Russian ambassador in Cyprus, Stanislav Osadchiy. Osadchiy repeats in his interview that all sides involved in the Cypriot EEZ should keep to international law, avoid violence and work to settle differences in a peaceful way.
Osadchiy also points out that Russia’s increased cooperation with Turkey does not come in the expense of Moscow’s relations with other traditionally friendly countries such as Cyprus, and adds that Russia always followed a principled stance in the Cyprus Problem.
The Russian ambassador also expressed hopes that Cypriot foreign policy will not shift on the basis of a false dilemma between Russia and the West. He expressed his concern regarding a provision on the Eastern Mediterranean Act of the US Congress that Russia’s “negative actions” in the region should be countered.
Alithia publishes an interview with former T/C negotiator Ozdil Nami. Nami points out that Turkey had not said its last word in Crans Montana regarding security and guarantees, and points to Anastasiades for the ending of the conference.
Commenting on statements made by T/C politicians, he says that he still believes that a federal solution is realistic and that a two state solution is unrealistic. He adds however that the refusal by the G/C side of the Annan Plan, as well as the fact that Anastasiades left Crans Montana, means that we should ask ourselves what element was missing that prevented the sides from aggreeing.
Nami also says that the ideas regarding the annexation of the north by Turkey is not possible since the whole island is a part of the EU. He also expresses his disagreement with the attempt to unilaterally open Varosha, and poins out that if this is attempted it should be attempted in a way that respects international law.
Nami points out that during the negotiations between Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat there was an unofficial moratorium to any drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean and suggested that the G/Cs should accept Turkey’s proposal.
The Sunday papers also report on the visit by President Anastasiades to the French aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” on Saturday. Anastasiades said that the aircraft carrier’s presence is a message to anyone in the region aiming to create tensions. Anastasiades also said that Franco-Cypriot relations are of strategic importance.
Kathimerini follows up on a story originally reported by Haravgi, regarding the presence of American commandos at the Andreas Papandreou” military base in Paphos. The newspaper reports that according to Nicosia’s official position, a US military unit consisting of 12 attack helicopters and personel carriers, as well as two aircrafts and 380 men is temporarily based in the base. The military unit is in the region for humanitarian reasosn, the newspaper notes.
Meanwhile, Phileleftheros reports that the EU’s sanctions against two Turkish citizens involved in illegal drilling in the Cypriot EEZ have been approved by the technical committee known as Relex and by the ambassadors of the 27 member states in Coreper, and that what remains is for the Competition Council to rubber stamp the decision on Thursday.
British High Commissioner in Nicosia, Stephen Lillie, told Kathimerini in an interview that the latest UNSC resolution on UNFICYP is the most ambitious yet and the he believes that the National Guard and the occupying army should be in contact.
KEY ACTORS
Lillie (UK H. Comm.)
>> UNSC latest resolution on UNFICYP is the most ambitious yet, stessing the need for enhanced cooperation along the buffer zone, including between National Guard and Turkish Army
>> This proposal does not entail recognition of other side – however no one should believe they can solve the Cyprus Problem by isolating the T/Cs
>> Despite statements that other forms of solutions should be examined, the process currently facilitated by the UN is based on the aim for a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality
>> UK clearly against Turkish drillings in Cypriot EEZ, but the only way towards deescalation is a solution
Osadchiy (Russian ambassador)
>> All sides involved in the Cypriot EEZ should keep to international law and avoid violence
>> Russia’s increased cooperation with Turkey is not at the expence of Moscow’s relations with Cyprus
>> Hopes that Cyprus doesn’t fall into a false dilemma between Russia and the West
>> Concerns over mentions in the US Congress’s East Med Act that there are Russian “negative actions” in the region that should be dealt with
Nami (Former T/C negotiator)
>> A federal solution is realistic and calls for two states or annexation are not realistic
>> North cannot be annexed to Turkey as the whole island is EU territory
>> Varosha should only be opened in a way that respects international law
Anastasiades
>> Presence of French aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” is a message to all who want to cause tension
Poll: Most G/Cs would not return to Varosha under T/C administration
Politis, Simerini
Territory, Economy, Property, Human Rights, External Security, Regional/ International Relations, Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing
Simerini publishes a poll conducted in the G/C side, which finds that 78% agree that if the unilateral resettlement of Varosha proceeds then that would mean an end to the effort to return the city to its legal inhabitants. 75% of the respondents say they would definitely not move to Varosha under T/C administration. 10% replied “probably not”, 8% replied “probably yes” and 5% replied “definitely yes”.
In the same poll, 37% of respondents believe the T/C side’s move aims to facilitate the international recognition of the “TRNC”, 28% believes that the aim is to pressure the RoC and 27% believe Turkey aims to extend its rule over Cyprus with this move. Only 6% believe the aim is to push for a two state solution, 5% believe that the move aims to bring development to the T/Cs and 4% believe the aim is to influence the T/C elections.
When asked whether the G/C side should have accepted older proposals to return Famagusta, 56% said yes. 40% chose the answer that the G/C side shouldn’t have accepted since that would affect the overall solution negatively.
In a question whether the President should return to negotiations while the Turks threaten to resettle Varosha, 50% said yes and 48% said no.
Asked whether the RoC should suspend its drilling for gas in return for Turkey pausing its efforts to resettle Varosha, 18% said yes and 80% said no.
Asked whether they believe the resettlement of Varosha would harm the process to solve the Cyprus Problem, 58% answered “to a large extent”, 25% said “to a significant extent”, 6% said “to a small extent” and 11% said “not at all”.
Simerini also reports that the alarm caused in the G/C side over the possibility of the reopening of Varosha has caused Nicosia to proceed with a series of difficult moves that could be seen as “rushed reactions”. The newspaper cites a diplomatic source which points out that the situation is fluid across the board and that things cannot continue as is.
The newspaper points out that the Presidential Palace does not believe that the aims set down by Turkey and certain T/Cs to reopen Varosha are not unrealistic, and that it’s important to come up with answers.
The Simerini journalist also notes that the threat to cut off EU funding to the T/Cs is the last line of defence, and points out that proposals such as the one sent by President Anastasiades to UNSG Antonio Guterres to set up a bicommunal committee on Varosha are not new and date back to 2014.
The journalist also notes that Mustafa Akinci’s decision to express his disagreement with plans to reopen Varosha unilaterelly allows Nicosia to put forward proposals that can be more acceptable to the T/C leader.
Politis notes in an analysis that Turkey’s action regarding Varosha are part of a larger plan which satisfies both the country’s plan A and its plan B regarding the Cyprus Problem after Crans Montana. Turkey, Politis notes, believes that the process for a federal solution ended in 2017 but is positioning itself to either return to a final negotiation or to push for strengthening the “TRNC”.
The journalist notes that Ankara’s aim seems to be not to directly gain international recognition the north, but to entrench the idea that an independent administration exists in the north even though it is not recognised internationally.
The newspaper also points out that the latest moves by the RoC government include suggestions (freezing funding for T/Cs) that will not be easily accepted given the difficulty faced in the effort to get the EU to sanction Turkey over its actions in the EEZ.
Politis also points out that for the negotiations to continue, two things need to happen after May 3rd and the end of the T/C elections. Firstly, Ersin Tatar or Kudret Ozersay should not be elected as this will take the Cyprus Problem into uncharted waters. Secondly, the G/C side has to remain consistent and convincing in its readiness to accept basic principles such as political equality for the T/Cs.
If one, or both, of these conditions are met, then Turkey will be constrained in its efforts to change the basis of a solution. However if they are not met, Turkey will be more free to set its own conditions, such bringing up solution models beyond the federal one and demanding a moratorium to drilling.
British High Commissioner in Nicosia, Stephen Lillie, told Kathimerini in an interview that the latest UNSC resolution on UNFICYP is the most ambitious yet and the he believes that the National Guard and the occupying army should be in contact.