Front Page Headlines
‘There was no other choice’
President defends decision to close crossing points for public health, scuffles break out at Ledra protest.
- Comment: Ex-foreign minister says first a drilling freeze and then we talk
- World: Greece pushes back migrants on Turkish border
- Coffeeshop (comment): Half-baked measures against virus don’t add up
Ankara’s games with mass migration
Turkey uses refugee issue as a tool of hybrid warfare. Tense situation at Greek borders.
- Coronavirus opens discussion for uncontrolled flows
- Natural gas: Turkish plans to subvert EastMed
- Famagusta: “Abandonment” as a euphemism that overshadows ethnic cleansing
- Cyprus problem: On the balance of the “illegal ballot box”
- Idlib: Putin bombs Erdogan’s dreams
- Savvas Iacovides (opinion): The hug of the American eagle and the vexation of the Russian bear
- Nikos Katsourides (opinion): Unpunished international offender repeats itself
- Petros Th. Pantelides (opinion): Will be a RoC after accepting any solution?
- Andreas Theophanous (opinion): The economic aspects of the solution of the Cyprus Problem
- Christos Christou (opinion): Bosniasiation and Islamisation of Cyprus
- Hr. K. Giallourides (opinion): The Greco-Turkish conflict through the lense of the USA
Citizens threw down the barriers on Ledra street
Tomorrow Brussels examine the closure of checkpoints. They clashed with the police and the army with the slogan “United Cyprus”. Theh government insists to keep them closed until it gets thermal cameras. Agios Dometios checkpoint blocked by thousands of G/C cars.
- Occupied areas – Poll: Akinci ahead, preference to BBF high
- Documentary: Kostis Ahnitos and his actions in the far left and the bicommunal movement for the reunification of Cyprus is the subject of Cypriot documentary Tongue
Erdogan at role of fire starter
Increases pressure to Cyprus, Greece and Europe and blackmails by putting migrants in the front. At stake for Turkish President the implementation of the “Blue Homeland”.
- Checks for coronavirus and tension at the checkpoints
- Nicosia asks for strengthening of measures: And a second list of sanctions against Turkey being in the works
- Organised attack by Turkey: Sent thousands of immigrants at the border in Evros
- Christos Christofias (interview): I’m not here “by right of inheritance”
- Nikos Christodoulides: Especially important who will be the T/C leader
- Cyprus Problem in uncharted waters
The plan to settle Varosha – Morphou
A “Plan for Social Housing” to build houses outside and also inside the closed-off city. Ersin Tatar: We are in contact also with owners of hotels in Varosha.
- Averof Neofytou: From the establishment to the popular right
- Geopolitical balance with a smell of France
- Vladimir Chizhov (interview): EEZ based on law of the sea
Coronavirus measures inconsistent
- “Shoot the coronavirus, but don’t kill peace in Cyprus”
- New Edomeni at the Greco-Turkish borders at Evros
- Turkocentric approach to the international environment
- (Interview, Halil Karapasaoglu): Armies should have no place, but olive trees
- (Interview, Androulla Vasileiou): The lighted candle for the Cyprus Problem can become a torch
Objections and tensions for the crossing points
Varied reactions for the temporary closure due to the coronavirus. President Anastasiades rejects criticisms and defends the decision, stating that there was no other choice for more effective checks and that everything was examined including “political misreading”. Attack at soldier.
- Article – interventions: Cyprus, the Achilles’ heel of hellenism – by Nikos Rolandis. Open letter to the Famagusta mayor – by Chr. Panagiotides
- Tayip Erdogan: We opened our borders towards Europe
- Political analysis: After the T/C elections the yes and the no for Cyprus
Main News
Protests and tension at Ledra crossing point over government closure
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs, Internal Security, Human Rights, Negotiations Process, EU Matters
The dailies report on the protest that broke out on Saturday at the Ledra street crossing and the resulting scuffle, as well as reactions by parties and statements made by President Anastasiades who commented on critisism regarding the government’s decision to temporarily close certain crossing points due to the possible spread of the coronavirus.
The newspaper reports that about 200 people protested at the south side of the Ledras checkpoint on Saturday noon, while scores of other joined the protest from the northern side. Cyprus Mail reports that a number of protesters barged through the police barricade and that there was a brief scuffle with police officers.
The protesters held placards and chanted pro-reunification slogans. A protester told the Cyprus Mail that the government’s decision was political and that it was taken because the government does not want the two communities to come into contact. Others added that they are not against taking measures against a virus, but that those measures should be taken together.
Cyprus Mail reports that police would look at footage of protests at Ledra street, in connection with the scuffles that occurred when protesters broke through thebarrier. The newspaper notes that video footage shoed police trying to push a protester back while a protester grabbed a young soldier who was stationed there, before being seperated by other protestors.
Politis reported, citing government sources, that the government does not rule out the possibility of the four closed checkpoints being reopened before the seven days are up in the case thermal cameras arrive and the staffing issues are solved.
Cyprus Mail also reports that queues formed in the open checkpoints of Agios Dometios, Ledra Palace and Kato Pirgos on Saturday due to the increased traffic and delays due to health screening. Particularly at Agios Dometios the queue was three kilometers long, the newspaper reports. At the Strovilia crossing which is run by the authorities of the Sovereign British Bases, crossings continued normally, a spokesperson told the Cyprus Mail.
Anastasiades told journalists that “there was no other choice for more effective control”, the dailies report citing the Cyprus News Agency. Anastasiades added that about 3,000 Iranian students reside in the north and noted that Iran was one of the most badly affected countries by the coronavirus.
He said that this is a temporary decision, and that he had explained his reasoning to Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci. Asked whether Akinci accepted his reasoning, Anastasiades said that this wasn’t the question and that it was a friendly conversation. “He said it was better not to take such action, or that only external borders should be checked. But I said what we see, and I referred to events which he did not not dispute about population movements”.
Kathimerini meanwhile points out in a comment that it is dissapointing that the T/C authorities decided not to send samples from people suspected to be asymptomatic carriers of the coronavirus to the Cypriot Institute of Genetics and Neurology, sending them instead to Turkey.
Politis reports that the European Commission’s Structural Reform Support Service will be examining the measures taken by the government during a meeting of technocrats on Monday. The newspaper cites sources assessing the decision’s legality vis a vis the EU’s Green Line Regulation. Government sources point out that the regulation allows for emergency measures with regards to public health, while legal experts point out that the regulation mainly focuses on plant and animal health and does not provide for specific measures in cases of emergencies related to public health.
Political parties criticised the government, pointing out that lack of scientific evidence. AKEL spokesperson Giorgos Loukaidis called for an end to the unilateral decision and called on the government “to explain with scientific evidence its decision” and to instead make sure all proper medical checks were conducted at all the checkpoints.
The ruling DISY party avoided taking a specific position on the issue, saying they were not informed and were not in a position to comment.
The Green Party said that they did not have enough scientific evidence to comment on the government’s decision but that at a first glance it seemed to have been an overreaction. Citizens’ Alliance pointed out that this was not an effective measure and that what is needed is the application of a strict protocol at the checkpoints.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> There was no other choice for more effective control
>> About 3,000 Iranian students reside in the north
>> Discussion with Akinci was friendly
>> Akinci told me that it was better to check only external borders but did not dispute that there’s an issue with movement of populations
Loukaidis (AKEL)
>> The government needs to explain its decision with scientific evidence
DISY
>> We have not been informed on the decision and are not in a position to comment
Greens
>> Not enough evidence, but at first glance it seems to be an overreaction
Citizens’ Alliance
>> What is needed is the application of a strict protocol at checkpoints
Poll: Akinci and support for federation ahead in the north
Politis
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing
Politis publishes the findings of research conducted in the T/C community by the University of Cyprus and the University of Kent. The researchers conducted a door to door poll from November 7th 2019 to February 15th 2020, in which 804 persons participated.
According to the findings, when asked who they would prefer as the next T/C leader, 40.2% chose Mustafa Akinci, 36.9% chose Ersin Tatar, 14.7% chose Tufan Erhurman, 4.8% chose Kudret Ozersay and 3.5% chose Erhan Arikli. The newspaper points out that during the period the research was conducted Erhurman had not announced his candicacy.
The researchers point out that there seems to be a decrease in support for Akinci which has possibly shifted to Erhurman, but believe that Akinci and Tatar will be in the second round.
The newspaper points out that even though one reading would show the defenders of a federal solution dominating with a total of 55%, this is too soon to say since one cannot be certain of the electoral dynamics if the elections continue in a second round. One factor that cannot be easily preticted is how some of Erhurman’s supporters might vote in a second round. Another factor is the question of what the undecided will do.
The researchers also point out that 9% of the respondents said that they are not pleased by Akinci’s record during his first term. Akinci’s voters seem to be highly educated and financially well off, which means the T/C leader fail to broaden his base. About 50% of voters supporting Akinci also tend to have increased contacts with G/Cs.
Also, most settlers seem to be supporting right wing candidates, especially in the second round. However Akinci still gets 30% from that group of voters.
According to the findings, the option of a solution based on a bizonal bicommunal federation is still acceptable to a majority of T/Cs. Specifically, more than 50% believe a BBF is very desirable or desirable.
Tatar interview: The T/C side has been in contact with G/C hotel owners
Kathimerini
Territory, Property, Human Rights, Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process, Energy
T/C “prime minister” and candidate for the T/C leadership, Ersin Tatar, told Kathimerini in an interview that the T/C side has contacted G/C owners of hotels in the closed-off town of Varosha in Famagusta.
Tatar also points out that the fenced-off city must stop being a military area and be turned into an inhabited area. He said that Varosha is not a large area and that it is seperated by the rest of Famagusta only by some barbed wire, which is why he doesn’t believe its opening should be seen as a big deal.
Tatar also said that it should be taken into account that so far it has been impossible to open Varosha in the context of a package deal including the Nicosia International Airport, adding that the T/C side does not exclude a return of the old G/C inhabitants to the city.
He said that the T/C side’s approach is to remain within international law and that what has to be done first is for the area to stop being a military zone, before the Immovable Property Commission will then make decisions regarding properties claimed by old owners.
Regarding the Cyprus Problem, Tatar said he believes there is no commonly agreed basis to restart negotiations, but said that he would meet with the G/C leader in case he is elected. Tatar said that any solution will have to take into account the fact that the T/Cs have been governing themselves for years, and that a commonly accepted solution will be based on coexistence on the basis of two states, if possible within the EU.
Tatar also said that he does not support the incorporation of the north into Turkey but that Turkey is supporting the T/Cs to stand on their own two feet. He also said however that due to the discovery of hydrocarbons, the importance of Cyprus to Turkish policy has increased.
Kathimerini cites information, confirmed by references made by Tatar during the interview, that the T/C side has specific plans to erect social housing both outside as well as inside the fenced-off town of Varosha. The first such properties will be erected right outside the fenced off city to house about 4,200 persons.
The T/C social housing project was presented on Wednesday, the newspaper reports, pointing out that the announcement is possibly connected with April’s elections.
KEY ACTORS Tatar
>> The first step towards opening Varosha is to change it from a military to an inhatible area
>> The IPC will then make decisions regarding the status of each property
>> The T/C side has already contacted some hotel owners in Varosha
>> There is no common basis for intercommunal negotiations but if elected will meeti with G/C leader
>> Best solution is one of two seperate states under an EU roof