Front Page Headlines
European Union takes bait of Turkish blackmail
Suffocating pressure on Evros brings gains for Erdogan. Von der Leyen says there is an open possibility of satisfying new damands by Turkey. Ready to fund Turkey if she is not satisfied, says Merkel’s spokesperson.
- Reactions in the occupied areas for the crossing points: Complaint to the EU by T/Cs
- Israel: Electoral battle without a winner
- Democrats: Agony for Super Tuesday
Dirty game by Erdogan
Mass movement of refugees to GreekpTurkish borders coordinated. Ankara’s policies put pressure on the EU.
- British man at ECHR for 14 year ordeal
- Special feature: Grigoris Afksentiou’s sacrifice
EU faces responsibilities for refugee issue
Frontex: Rapid intervention operation. Mitsotakis, Michel, Von der Leyen and Sassoli at Evros. Exercises with live ammunition at Evros.
- High Commission (for refugees) puts break on suspension of asylum applications
- Escalation of conclict in Idlib
- Bicommunal Technical Committee for Health meets today on the subject of the coronavirus
EU in a dilemma over Greek crisis
Commission chief says Ankara’s actions in pushing migrants towards EU, not the answer.
- Cyprus: Man in custody after soldier pushed at Ledra protest
- Bicommunal health committee to meet on coronavirus
Greece in a stranglehold
Thousands of human souls victims of Erdogan attempt to cross Evros. Europeans began to “wake up” to the danger and promise help. Many migrants “hemmed in” the cold begin to realise Erdogan’s deception and plot.
- Putin – Erdogan: They meet on Thursday in an attempt to agree
- Parliamentary elections yesterday in Israel in a climate of panic for the coronavirus
Main News
Closure of checkpoints over coronavirus becomes political issue
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Politis
CBMs, Human Rights, Internal Security, Negotiations Process, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on the political disagreements that flared up after the announcement by the RoC of the temporary closure of four checkpoints as part of its measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and after scuffles during a protest on Saturday.
Government spokesperson Kyriakos Koushios reiterated on Sunday that the only reason for the closure of the crossings was the better application of preventive measures, the Cyprus Mail reports. “All the necessary efforts are being made by the government to reopen the crossing points as quickly as possible” he also said.
Cyprus Mail reports that the bicommunal health committee is set to meet on Thursday to discuss the measures against the spread of the coronavirus on the island. The meeting was announced by the office of the T/C leader.
The newspaper reports, citing the announcement, that the meeting is the third held by the committee since Anastasiades and Akinci instructed its members to work on joint measures on February 3rd.
Also according to Akinci’s office, the T/C leader urged Anastasiadis on Sunday to reevaluate his decision to shut four crossings and for efforts to be made to introduce joint measures against the virus.
Haravgi reports that Akinci said on Facebook on Sunday that Anastasiadis informed him over the phone to suspend the practice of checking the IDs of everyone returning to the occupied areas through the Agios Dometios checkpoint, in order to ease the bottleneck in the area.
“This of course was a step in the right direction” Akinci wrote. He added that he hopes that the mistake of closing four checkpoints will also be corrected.
Meanwhile, the dailies report on the result of scuffles that broke out during a protest by several groups at the Ledra street checkpoint. Cyprus Mail reports that a 55-year-old man addmitted to pushing a young soldier during the scuffle and gave himself up to the police on Sunday. The man was expected to appear to court on Tuesday.
Politis points out in a comment that the 55-year-old did not only turn himself in, but is seen is videos apologising to the young soldiers immediately after the incident. What is surprising, according to the commentator, is that the police arrested the man a second time accusing him of disturbing public order and helf him for two days.
Cyprus Mail recalls that the scuffles broke out when some demonstrator barged through the barricade on Saturday. Video footage showed police trying to push a protester back after he removed the barricade. A protester grabbed a soldier who was also stationed there before being stopped by another protester who intervened to break the two apart.
Police spokesperson Christos Andreou said that other people are being sought who are believed to have been involved in the incident, as well as that police is also investigating a video that appears to show a police officer hiting a demonstrator.
In a joint statement, organisations from both communities that have mobilised against the closure of the crossings said that the protest started and ended peacefully, and that the single moment of tension was highlighted in order to demonise the entire peace movement. They add that the charges brought against the 55-year-old-man, who had gone to the police voluntarily and had apologised, were brought as a sign of the government’s intention to spread fear among the people.
The citizen movements ask that the government take responsibility for the mess created, reopen the checkpoints and cancel any new measures that make free movement more difficult. The organisations also accused the government of ordering inexperienced young recruits to do the job of the police.
Haravgi points out that the government has not yet clarified what is the scientific basis over closing crossing points, citing a statement by AKEL. The opposition party underlined that what is needed is not the closure of checkpoints but the increase of health checks primarily at the entry points to the RoC. Also, the two sides need to cooperate through the bicommunal Technical Committee for Health to take necessary measures at the checkpoints.
AKEL adds that the government managed to turn a public health issue into an excuse for the creation of a toxic and divisive climate between the communities but also within the G/C community. Also, fanatics and chauvinist found an opportunity to gain ground against the need to liberate and reunify the country.
In another development, Archbishop Chrysostomos said on Sunday that the behaviour of those that pushed their way through the police was “unacceptable”, the Cyprus Mail reports. The Archbishop said that citizens should respect laws, and wondered whether those protesting wanted to go to the casinos or to get cheaper petrol.
The newspapers also report on statements made by T/C politicians during Monday’s session of the “parliament”, during which the disagreed with the closure.
KEY ACTORS
Koushios (gov. spokesp.)
>> Closure is only a preventive measure
>> All necessary efforts are being made by the government to reopen the crossing points as quickly as possible
Bicommunal platform
>> The protest started and ended peacefully but a single moment of tension was highlighted in order to demonise the entire peace movement
>> Government should take responsibility for the mess created
Andreou (police spokesp.)
>> The police is seeking other people believed to be involved in the incident and is also investigating video that appears to show a police officer hitting a demonstrator
AKEL
>> The government has not yet clarified scientific basis of closures
>> What is needed is increased health checks at points of entry to the RoC, and coordination with T/Cs for measures at crossing points
>> Government managed to turn a public health issue into an excuse for toxic and divisive climate among communities and within the G/C community
Akinci
>> Decision by Anastasiadis to suspend ID checks on the way to the north in Agios Dometios a step in the right direction
>> Hopes that the mistake of the closure of the crossing points wil also be corrected
Archbishop Chrysostomos
>> The protesters behaved in an unacceptable manner
>> Citizens should respect the law
>> Did they want to go to casinos or for cheaper petrol?