Front Page Headlines
New… hurried measures for virus interception
Confusion and questions caused by Cabinet of Ministers decisions. Decision for 75 people at events and church services incomprehensible and difficult to implement. Analyses for tens of samples negative but everyone is afraid of the incubation of the virus in the next days.
Days of crisis, days of curfew
All of Cyprus in disorder – Closed schools, hospitals and prohibition of gatherings. We took advice from the European organs responsible, the Minister for Health tells “F”.
- Business with occupied areas does not stop
- For the four checkpoints: T/C politicians report the Republic of Cyprus
- What was decided for students, marriages, asylum applications: What was decided for migration waves
- They gathered 108 million euros and they start work: Countdown for LNG terminal
- Erdogan continues fake news against Greece
Coronavirus changes our life
Schools and universities in Nicosia close. Limassol hospital also in 48 hour quarantine. Hospital for reporting coronavirus without intensive care specialists.
- Peaceful demonstration of T/C teachers
- Turkey: Conference for migration
- Package of administrative and legislative measures to deal with migration issue
Strict measures to face Covid-19
Nicosia schools and unis closed. Criminal offence for meetings over 75. Supermarkets say stock won’t run out. ‘We have worst possible scenario’.
- Cyprus: Plan approved to fight increased migrant numbers
- World: Turkey defies EU calls to shut border
Our live with the virus
The nightmare after the first incidents has begun – We count wounds. Nicosia General Hospital under quarantine. Limassol General Hospital also closed. Closure of schools in Nicosia and prohibition of gatherings of over 75 people. Suspension of operation of 4 checkpoints extended to March 18th. Self-isolation for 14 days for everyone coming from Greece, United Kingdom, France, Germany. Can the coronavirus be transmitted through Holy Communion?
- Cabinet of Ministers: Drastic measures for migrants
- Cavusoglu: Turkey’s chapters with the EU didn’t close because of Cyprus
Main News
Checkpoint closures extended amid wider anti-coronavirus measures
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, CBMs, Human Rights, Negotiations Process, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
All the dailies report on the new measures decided by the Council of Ministers against the spread of the coronavirus after two cases were confirmed in the government controlled areas. One of the measures is the extension of the closure of four crossing points (Ledras, Astromeritis, Lefka and Dheryneia) until March 18th.
The Council of Ministers decided also to temporarily close certain schools in the Nicoia district and ban events and public gatherings of more than 75 persons at a time until March 31st. This measure applies to church services and weddings. Mass events such as concerts in public spaces are to be cancelled, and football games will be held without audiences.
Politis reports that the measures announced are incompehensible and hard to succesfully implement, especially when it comes to banning public gatherings of more than 75 people including church services. The newspaper points out that it is not clear who will enforce this measure and whether it covers enclosed spaces such as malls, supermarkets, cinemas, theatres, restaurants, cafes et cetera.
Cyprus Mail reports that the T/Cs have decided to ban groups larger than ten people from crossing into the north for tourism, church visits/ services and other events until March 15th. Phileleftheros points out that on Tuesday there were nine persons in quarantine in the occupied areas, including the tourist who has been confirmed to have been infected by the coronavirus.
Phileleftheros reports that G/C tourist guides have not stopped transferring tourists to and from the occupied areas, specifically through the Strovilia and Pergamos (Pyla) checkpoints. The newspaper reports that bus and taxi services are already advertising in the Larnaca district. Phileleftheros also cites reports by inhabitants in the Famagusta area that since the closures trafffic at the two open checkpoints has increased.
Phileleftheros reports that T/C politicians are reporting the government to the EU and to the Council of Europe, asking them to pressure the RoC to reopen the four checkpoints. According to the newspaper, three members of the T/C assembly asked the European Commissioner for Cohesion Elisa Ferreira to investigate the decision, since the EU is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Green Line Regulation. Another group of “MPs” from both sides of the aisle are reported to have sent a letter to the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Haravgi reports that the union of T/C teachers returned to the Ledra street checkpoint on Tuesday to protest peacefully against the closure of the checkpoints. Repeating their symbolic move from the day before, the protestors asked UNFICYP peacekeepers to pass on red carnations to the G/C policemen on the other side. When UNFICYP refused, the protestors left the flowers at their feet.
The secretary general of the T/C Teachers’ Union, Sener Elcil, told journalists that since the RoC conducts strict checks in airports and ports, there is no longer any reason for checkpoints to remain closed. He noted that the virus did not enter through the checkpoints.
KEY ACTORS
Elcil (T/C teachers union)
>> Since the RoC is conducting strict health and security checks at airports and ports, it’s not necessary to keep checkpoints closed
>> The virus did not enter through the checkpoints
Measures to stem irregular migration agreed by Cabinet of Ministers
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros
Migration & Citizenship, Human Rights, Internal Security, CBMs, Regional/ International Relations, External Security, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The government announced a package of measures regarding migration, including increased monitoring of the buffer zone, the dailies report. Phileleftheros writes that the measures aim to speed up the handling of applications as well as penalise those who assist irregular migration.
According to the dailies, the measures to be taken include an increase of monitoring along the buffer zone, as well as an increase of patrols by the Police and the National Guard in order to boost a sense of public security.
Furthermore, the government decided to shorten the time needed to process applications by increasing examiners from 32 to 69 and reducing the length of the period during which a rejected applicant can appeal a decision. Rejected applicants will have three days to appeal before being deported.
The government will also move ahead with implementing the action plan agreed with the EU in November to create a unified agency that will handle the return of migrants to their countries of origin. The Minister for the Interior will increase his contact with FRONTEX to coordinate on returns and also on preventing illegal entries to the country through land or sea.
Also, the government will decide on a list of “safe countries” where rejected applicants can be returned safely without danger to their life, in order to sort out admissible from inadmissible applications faster. Universities and colleges will also have to use more stringent criteria for students from third countries.
The government will create a new closed-off accomodation center for up to 600 people, reopening the detention center in Menogia and creating organised reception and accommodation centers. Also, the government will coordinate with local administrations to end the practice of housing migrants in inadequate and inhumane conditions, as well as ending illegal employment.
Finally, the state will request financial aid from the European Commission for the period 2020 – 2021.
AKEL said that the measures, as presented by the government during the recent session of the National Council, are either not effective or contravene the constitution and EU law. In a letter sent to the President and reported by Phileleftheros, AKEL says that the government should have first taken steps on the EU level and on a bilateral level.
In related news, Phileleftheros reports that European Council President Charles Michel said that the EU is expecting Turkey to fully implement the 2016 agreement before entering into a full discussion on how to handle migration in cooperation with Turkey.
Michel also said that the EU asked Turkey to reduce the migratory pressure on the border with Greece and with Bulgaria, as well as in Cyprus. He added that his team and Erdogan’s team started working on pushing ahead with dialogue and making sure that the 2016 agreement is fully implemented. Michel was speaking during a discussion at the plenary of the European Parliament.
Politis reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the EU and Turkey hope to reach an agreement on migration by March 26th, in time for the next session of the European Council. Cavusoglu told theAnadolu agency that the 2016 migration agreement needs to be updated. He also insisted that visa liberalisation for Turkish citizens and the updating of the Customs Union could also help the two sides to reach an agreement.
Alithia reports that in his statements Cavusoglu also point out that the reason that the remaining chapters in Turkey’s accession negotiations are not opening is the veto by the Republic of Cyprus. Cavusoglu said that his country is in accordance with the Copenhagen criteria since 2005.
The dailies also report on statements made by Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after his meeting with Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Vienna. Mitsotakis said Austria had agreed to send technical equipment and staff on the Greco-Turkish border, as well as financial aid for refugees in Greece.
Mitsotakis said that he was pleased to see, during his meeting with Kurz and also during his meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel the previous day, that Europe is united in its response. He added that the EU should clarify and crystalise its position regarding the full application of the 2016 EU – Turkey statement on migration and said that Greece and Europe want to cooperate with Turkey but on the basis of justice and not as a resut of blackmail.
Kurz thanked Greece for its efforts to protect European borders and said that Erdogan is abusing refugees and using them as a weapon against the EU.
KEY ACTORS
AKEL
>> Governmenteasures to handle migration as presented at National Council are either ineffective or contravene constitution or EU law
Michel (EU Council)
>> EU expects Turkey to fully implement 2016 migration agreement before discussing changes
>> EU asked Turkey to reduce migratory pressures to Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus
Cavusoglu (Turkish FM)
>> EU and Turkey hope to have an agreement by next European Council
>> Visa liberalisation and Customs Union upgrade would help towards agreement
>> RoC is the reason some of Turkey’s accession negotiations chapters remain frozen
Mitsotakis (Greek PM)
>> The EU should crystalise its position regarding the full application of the 2016 agreement
>> Greece and the EU want to cooperate with Turkey but on the basis of justice rather than blackmail
Kurz (Austrian chancellor)
>> Turkey is abusing refugees and using them as a weapon against the EU
Renewed tensions over fields in the buffer zone at Deneia
Phileleftheros
Territory, Property, Human Rights, CBMs, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that there were new tensions at the Deneia area of the buffer zone, caused when persons identified by the newspaper as Turkish settlers entered fields claimed by Greek Cypriot farmers in the buffer zone and started working on them with tractors on Tuesday morning. The newspaper reports that the incident was caught on video which was shared by news websites.
According to the report, the locals contacted UNFICYP to inform them of the incident. Deneia community president Christakis Panagiotou told the media that UNFICYP arrived at the area with significant delay.
The newspaper recalls that a similar incident had taken place a few months ago when persons from the occupied areas started working on fields in the buffer zone.
Construction of LNG infrastructure about to get green light
Phileleftheros
Energy, Economy, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that DEFA (Cyprus’ Public Gas Company) is ready to give the green light so that works for the construction of the country’s LNG terminal can begin.
According to the newspaper, the work that will be carried out by a private contractor consists of port infrastructure that can receive natural gas, and of the upgrading of an LNG carrier ship so that it can also store and deliquefy natural gas.
Natural gas infrastructure company ETYFA, a subsidiary of DEFA, will take charge of the process. The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (AHK) has a 30% stake in ETYFA, as per a deal that was signed on Tuesday.
ETYFA currently controls an amount of 108 million euro that will be used towards building this infrastructure. The newspaper cites information that ETYFA’s funds consist of 39 million euro from DEFA, 26 million (out of a projected total of 101 million) euro of EU funding through the Ministry of Energy, as well as 43 million euro paid by AHK as part of Tuesday’s agreement.
The newspaper reports that in a few weeks ETYFA will be able to draw on additional funds of up to 150 million euro from the European Investment Bank and of up to 115 million euro from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.