Front Page Headlines
Coronavirus is changing our habits too
Everyday life is now adjusted to the protection measures. The confirmed cases rose to 10 in the free areas and two in the occupied areas. Patients hesitate to go to hospitals while there is concern over the reduction of blood donors.
- Block on two crossings – They didn’t even ask Akinci.
- Quarantine for those arriving from Britain – Revision of the travellers’ list. The ship with the Italians is not stopping at Limassol after all.
- Auditor-general: He insists on the natural gas
Rısk upgrade
Ten patients in three days. Self-isolation for 14 days for those who arrive from the UK. The president will call on citizens to restrict their movements.
- They shut Strovilia-Limnitis: Akinci learned about it from the media
- The parties are in quarantine due to the coronavirus
- Ankara escalates provocations (on Greece)
Proposals by AKEL for tackling the consequences
AKEL submitted proposals-suggestions yesterday to the meeting presided by the finance minister on managing the consequences to society and economy from the spread of the coronavirus. The finance ministry is working on a package of six measures and will announce new measures.
- Coronavirus cases rise to 10
- Two more crossings closed
Cases rise, blow for UK arrivals
UK placed back into Category 2. President to address the nation. Virologist: stricter measures needed.
- North bars entry to citizens from 22 countries, closes two checkpoints
Fear! Panic! Unfortunately…
The first symptoms appear due to coronavirus. Four new confirmed cases of the deadly virus have been announced yesterday. We have reached 10 cases so far and two in the occupied areas. Cypriot scientists warn that the cases will continue to rise. Police checks have begun on the implementation of the restrictions. One report. Government: There is fiscal margin for intervention in order to protect workers. Tonight: Presidential announcement with new measures.
- Occupied areas: They closed Limnitis and Strovilia – Strong reaction by Akinci. He accuses Tatar and Ozersay.
- Pros & Cons: The tragic events of 1963-‘64 – A different approach (opinion piece)
- Migration issue: The government’s action plan for effective management
Main News
Anastasiades to announce more measures against Covid-19
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs, Human Rights, External Security
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades who will address the nation on Friday evening is expected to also announce new measures against the spread of coronavirus, the papers report.
There are now 10 confirmed cases in the government-controlled areas.
The GC papers report that the four new cases concern persons who had recently arrived from the UK, Italy, Germany and Greece.
Anastasiades’ televised address follows a meeting on Thursday on the situation.
Phileleftheros, citing sources, reports that Anastasiades is to announce economic and social measures and call on citizens to restrict their movements. He is expected to also call on employers to provide all the necessary facilities to their staff and will announce support measures for companies. He is to also seek everyone’s cooperation to curb the spread of the virus, the paper reported.
The papers also report that four of the 10 cases concern people arriving from the UK thus the government has placed the UK back into the Category 2 of countries, meaning that persons arriving from there must practice self-isolation for 14 days after the date of their trip. The other countries in that category are China (except Hubei province); Japan; Hong Kong; Germany; France; Spain; Greece (prefectures of Achaia, Ilia and Zakynthos); and Switzerland.
Alithia reports that Anastasiades might also announce a ban on flights from some countries including the UK.
All papers also report that the north closed the crossings of Limnitis and Strovilia also quoting TC leader Mustafa Akinci who said he was not informed of this decision.
The government too said it was not informed of this decision, with spokesman Kyriacos Koushios pointing out that Anastasiades had made sure to inform Akinci when the decision was taken to close four of the crossings. The papers also report that the British Bases said there were no plans for closing the Pergamos crossing.
According to the papers, AKEL said in a statement that the unilateral decision by the pseudo-government to close the two crossings is not backed scientifically and it is not considered as a measure against the spread of the coronavirus.
The party called for drastic reinforcement of screenings in all points of entry to the Republic of Cyprus and the crossing points in both sides. It also said that the Technical Committee on Health is a useful medium of cooperation and consultations.
UNFICYP called on both sides to inform each other and to continue their close cooperation in addressing this new public health emergency. UNFICYP spokesperson Aleem Siddique said they stand ready to assist both sides in this respect while they would continue to follow up on the well-being of the Strovilia residents during this temporary measure.
Siddique recalled that on February 3, the two leaders met with the members of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health at the Ledra Palace Hotel to discuss preparedness measures for Covid-19, the papers report.
Haravgi reports that the pseudo-government closed two crossings with AKEL and UNFICYP referring to the need for cooperation. The closing of the two crossings is considered a step back by the areas’ residents, especially of Kato Pyrgos since it will now be very difficult to travel to Nicosia, the paper reports.
It also reports that UniteCyprusNow said that the TC decision was wrong and unjustified and that it is only through cooperation that this threat can be tackled.
Under the headline, They didn’t even ask Akinci, Politis reports that Akinci reacted to the ‘government’ decision to closed the Strovilia and Limnitis crossings. Kato Pyrgos residents are now back in isolation while there is also a problem with six elderly GC residents of Strovilia who are now trapped following the recent advancement of the Turkish military in that area. They will now have to use the Pergamos crossing to cross to the free areas, the paper reports.
It also cites the Kato Pyrgos community leader saying that the latest decision puts them back in quarantine.
Phileleftheros reports that Akinci said he was not aware of this decision and heard about the closing of the two crossings through the media. The daily also reports on UNFICYP’s mild reaction to the TC move.
In another article Phileleftheros reports that the occupied areas are intensifying measures as a second Covid-19 case was confirmed.
Cyprus Mail reports Akinci expressed his opposition to the ‘cabinet’ decision in the north to temporarily close two crossings. It also reports the north bars entry to citizens from 22 countries including UK until April 1.
KEY ACTORS
Akinci
>> Does not agree with TC decision to close two more crossings.
Koushios (RoC gov. spokesman)
>> Anastasiades had informed Akinci of the closing of four crossings but Akinci did not do the same.
AKEL
>> Disagrees with the closing of the two crossings by the TCs which it finds is not a move backed scientifically nor is a measure against the spread of the coronavirus.
>> Both sides need to drasticallyreinforce screenings at the crossing points.
>> The Technical Committee on Health is a useful medium of cooperation and consultations.
Siddique (UNFICYP spokesperson)
>> Calls on both sides to inform each other & to continue their close cooperation in addressing the new public health emergency pointing out that the two leaders has met with the Technical Committee on Health to discuss preparedness measures for Covid-19.
>> UNFICYP stands ready to assist both sides.
>> UNFICYP will continue to follow up on the well-being of the Strovilia residents while the crossings are closed.
Anastasiades: Turkey’s violations in Cypriot EEZ affect EU as a whole
Phileleftheros
EU Matters, Energy
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that President Nicos Anastasiades said during an interview with Austrian paper Der Standard that Turkey’s actions at the expense of the Republic of Cyprus affect the EU as a whole.
Anastasiades referred to Turkey’s illegal drillings in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone and the migration issue.
Anastasiades said that Turkey’s provocative actions violate international law. These actions affect the EU as a whole since they take place in Cyprus’ marine area which is also a European marine area, he said.
He added that France supports Cyprus but also other EU countries that have pledged solidarity with Cyprus.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Turkey’s provocative actions in the Cypriot marine area affect the EU as a whole since it also a European marine area.
>> France especially but also other EU countries support Cyprus.
DIKO MEP on Pavlov’s dog & protests at Ledra St crossing
Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Politis hosts an opinion piece by DIKO MEP Costas Mavrides in which he likens groups and persons criticising the policies of the Republic of Cyprus on the Cyprus problem to Pavlov’s dog.
Just as the dog had linked the sound of the bell with food the people who have been ‘trained’ through programmes funded from abroad promoting the peaceful co-existence of the two communities, have adopted a distorted view of the reality, mistaking the cause with the result of a situation, Mavrides said.
He argued that the same thing happened recently at the Ledra Street crossing.
Mavrides wrote that the bullying and violence at the Ledra Street crossing against the organs of the Republic of Cyprus was a result of a depended behaviour with the angry crowd acting against the weak victim and blindly obeying the abuser through the occupation regime.
They turn against terms adopted even by the European Courts and avoid referring to ‘occupation’, and an ‘administration that is Turkey’s subordinate’ and call as fascists and nationalists those who disagree with them, he said, according to the paper.
Mavrides also said that several DISY and AKEL members have ‘graduated’ from such seminars and programmes whose messages have, however, limited appeal to the wider public.
He also said that AKEL’s leadership’s insistence to provide a political dimension to such marginalised and extreme reactions which have been rejected by Cypriot society was a mistake.
Mavrides also points out that DISY and its leader ‘wisely’ chose to remain silent.
Phileleftheros, in a brief comment signed by G, wonders why all those people who believe they are the only ones who want the solution of the Cyprus problem do not protest against the closing of the two crossings by the pseudo-state. Will they report Akinci and Turkey of a unilateral move just as they did with Anastasiades? the daily asked.