Front Page Headlines
Heading towards a peak for the (Covid-19) cases’ number
Another dead person, 66-years-old, and 58 new cases just in one day. Among the 58 new cases are also front-line health professionals. Warning for deterioration of the situation with the risk of becoming unmanageable.
- Return with obstacles (for students)
- Larnaca: Party for 24 persons from India
Nightmarish path towards a labyrinth
Every day is worse than the previous one. The numbers are terrifying, the hospitals crumble. “We beg you. Stay at home. The situation is very serious.”
- They celebrated with fines: The party went south for 24 foreign nationals
- The repatriation starts next week
- The coronavirus is also changing international diplomacy
They undermine the measures with their shoddiness
The problems with the measures start, AKEL points out, when the balance between necessary measures and the dignity of the citizens is lost, when measures are decided that are inapplicable, when shoddy and contradictory decisions are made, when the government says something and takes it back.
- They are fighting for their lives (coronavirus patients)
- Provocative violation of measures (by persons ‘celebrating’ the April 1 anniversary with gun shots)
Army to bolster police checks
National Guard will staff check points on roads, police will be ‘relentless’.
- Scaled down EOKA anniversary – (Photo caption) President Anastasiades at the graves of EOKA fighters at Nicosia central prison to mark the 65th anniversary of the launch of the EOKA struggle for self-determination in 1955.
- Fifty-eight new cases, biggest daily increase, one more death
New scare due to coronavirus – We risk losing the battle
The situation is very serious, the health minister warns. Dr Leontios Kostrikkis: If we do not want to live the desperate situation they experienced in Italy and elsewhere, we will have to avoid the mistakes they made. Dr Marios Loizou: Another 15 persons are on ventilators, in critical condition.
- April 1 anniversary: A day for honour and reflection under unprecedented conditions due to the coronavirus
Main News
EOKA anniversary marked in line with restrictive measures
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Human Rights, Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The April 1 anniversary for the launch of the EOKA struggle marked on Wednesday was overshadowed by developments as regards the coronavirus.
The dailies report that President Nicos Anastasiades and House President Demetris Syllouris on Wednesday laid wreaths at the imprisoned graves in Nicosia to mark the 65th anniversary of the launch of the 1955-59 EOKA struggle.
A liturgy was carried out at the Ayios Ioannis cathedral at the archbishopric without attendants due to restrictions on movement.
According to the papers, Anastasiades said in a written statement that on the April 1 anniversary honour was due to Arhbichop Makarios, EOKA leader General Digenis and all the members of EOKA, who rid Cyprus of the British yoke.
“They delivered to us a free country which we were unable to serve,” he said, adding that discord and exploitation of the national sentiment had allowed the Athens junta to carry out a treacherous act with catastrophic consequences.
Anastasiades also said that Turkey is still present on the island through its occupation force and the settlers while faits accomlis are being solidified.
He also said that everyone’s goal and obligation should be the freedom and reunification of the country which can only be achieved through unity, self-respect, pragmatism and dedication to international law and the values and principles of the EU.
Anastasiades also said that April 1 was also a day for reflection and self-criticism “for all of us who bear the weight of the responsibility to deliver to the new generation what we have received from the immortal Eoka fighters.”
The Cyprus Mail reports that Cyprus marked a scaled-down April 1 anniversary citing the restrictions in place that led to the cancellation of the annual parades by students and veterans as well as other events usually taking place on that day.
It also reports that political parties issued statements commemorating the anniversary with references mainly to the Cyprus problem.
Politis reports that the EOKA anniversary was marked in the shadow of the pandemic, without any celebrations.
Phileleftheros reports that the Avgorou community council, did not organise a grand ceremony as usual to honour EOKA member Modestos Panteli from Liopetri who died in their area on April 1, 1955 while trying to cut off the power supply to a British facility.
The community council on Wednesday laid a wreath at the EOKA monument in their village, the daily reports.
Haravgi reports that vandalisms took place at the Kokkinohoria (red soil villages) in the Famagusta district on midnight between March 31 and April 1 by some who chose to ‘celebrate’ the anniversary by spray-painting slogans on buildings while others fired shots in the air.
In Ormidia, some had even organised car parades in central streets, but police did not intervene, the daily reported.
In Liopetri, there have been scores of vandalisms with many slogans spray-painted during the night on surfaces, some with fascist content, according to Haravgi.
Cyprus Mail reports that in Liopetri, several residents marked the anniversary just after midnight by standing on their balconies and rooftops with flares and torches while fireworks were set off to honour Modestos Panteli, the first EOKA fighter who died early on April 1, 1955 during an operation to cut off the power supply to a British camp outside Avgorou.
Phileleftheros also reported on statements by parties.
DISY and DIKO, in their messages focused on the need to fight the coronavirus.
EDEK said in its statement to mark the anniversary that the best memorial for the EOKA fighters would be to safeguard the continuation of the Republic of Cyprus and keep the struggle against the Turkish occupation and true freedom of the country, alive.
The Citizens’ Alliance suggested that it is about time the Republic of Cyprus put pressure on the UK to change its stance on the Cyprus problem but also reopen the issue of the British Bases on the island.
The Solidarity Movement said that the Cypriot people proved on April 1, 1955 that its demand for ‘Enosis’ was a real one while they forced the British to eventually admit that strategically, EOKA was undefeatable. The struggle for freedom continues, the party said.
The Greens said that no one is allowed to forget about the national-liberation struggle of EOKA, not even during the pandemic period.
ELAM said that the Republic of Cyprus is Hellenism’s last protection shield in Cyprus.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> The EOKA fighters rid Cyprus of the British yoke and delivered a free country which Cypriots were unable to serve while discord and exploitation of the national sentiment had allowed the Athens junta to carry out a treacherous act with catastrophic consequences.
>> Recalls that Turkey is still present on the island through its occupation force and the settlers & warns that faits accomlis are being solidified.
>> Everyone must strive for the freedom and reunification of the country which can only be achieved through unity, self-respect, pragmatism & dedication to international law and the values and principles of the EU.
>> The April 1 anniversary is a day for reflection & self-criticism on the responsibility to deliver to the new generation the free country the EOKA fighters delivered.
EDEK
>> The struggles of the EOKA fighters are best honoured by safeguarding the continuation of the RoC & keeping alive the struggle against the Turkish occupation and for the true freedom of the country.
Citizens’ Alliance
>> The RoC must put pressure on the UK to change its stance on the Cyprob but also reopen the issue of the British Bases on the island.
Solidarity Movement
>> The EOKA struggle was proof that the Cypriot people were serious about enosis (union) with Greece.
>> The struggle for freedom continues.
Greens
>> The EOKA struggle must always be remembered, even during times like the present when everyone is preoccupied with the pandemic.
ELAM
>> The RoC is Hellenism’s last bastion in Cyprus.
Worst-case scenario is near unless everyone does their part, experts warn
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Human Rights, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The dominant issue in all papers is coronavirus and the announcement that 58 new cases were confirmed on Wednesday along with the death of a 66-year-old man but also warnings that the situation is very critical.
The papers report that the total number of cases is now 320, while nine people have died so far. Seven of those who died had underlying health conditions. Among the new cases are health professionals. Eleven patients are in critical condition.
Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said that the increased cases confirm that unfortunately in the past few days people have not been complying with the measures, which led to additional restrictions. He also made a plea to people to stay at home and take self-protection measures if they must go outside.
In the meantime, state doctors and nurses who abstain from their duties on unjustified sick leave have been warned that measures would be taken against them.
Citing statements by an official of state health services organisation Okypy to CyBC radio, Phileleftheros and Cyprus Mail report that between 25 per cent and 30 per cent of state health professionals are absent from their duties. Some of these are because they are in vulnerable groups but some of them are offering other reasons.
The official said that doctors and nurses on sick leave will have to return to work if the medical board decides they are fit to resume their duties. He warned that if they refuse, measures would be taken against them and if there is no compliance, Okypy would inform the police.
All papers also report that police fined 24 people from India with €150 each, who were caught having a party in an apartment in Larnaca despite all the restrictions currently in place.
Politis, in it is main item, reports that just within a day, 58 new cases were recorded with doctors warning over the worst-case scenario and attributing this spike to disobedience by some to the restrictive measures.
Phileleftheros too, reports that experts warn that the worst-case scenario is fast approaching with first line doctors begging people to comply with the restrictive measures since the health system will not be able to cope. State hospitals close wards to save beds, create special units for the suspected cases and are assessing their human resources, the daily reports.
The Cyprus Mail’s main item is the statements by Police Chief Kypros Michaelides that they will also be bringing in the National Guard as part of ‘relentless’ efforts to stop people violating quarantine orders.
Michaelides said the police force will be assisted in their task with 50 game wardens who, along with members of the National Guard, will staff checkpoints on the roads.
He also said many offenders have been sent to court and numerous cases were in the pipeline while did not rule out enforcing stricter checks on the roads, the daily reports.
Phileleftheros, citing sources within the foreign ministry, reports that the repatriation of the first students from abroad who belong to vulnerable groups is expected to begin next week.
Berlin briefed Nicosia on repatriation flight from north to Germany
Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
According to the paper, Nicosia has been briefed by Berlin on the emergency flight from the occupied areas to Germany for the transfer of some of its citizens and other nationals.
Citing information, the paper reported that Berlin informed the government that the flight was to arrive to Germany not directly from the occupied areas but through Turkey.
Berlin gave reassurances that it would not act in violation of the Republic of Cyprus’ sovereign rights, the paper reported. It added that the British High Commission in Nicosia, had also urged its nationals staying in the north to express interest in leaving the island on that flight.
EU candidate countries adopt measures against Turkey’s violation of Cypriot EEZ
Phileleftheros
EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The paper, citing Russian news agency TASS, reports that four candidate countries for EU membership, have adopted the measures the bloc has decided against Turkey’s illegal activities in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone.
According to the paper, TASS reported that EU High Representative Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday that North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Armenia that are candidate countries but also Iceland, which is member of the European Economic Area will ensure that their national policies are in line with the decision of the EU on this matter.
But the paper, citing sources, reports that there has not been such announcement by Borrell recently on this matter though candidate countries and other states that have special relations with the EU, are frequently called to take a stand on the bloc’s decisions.
Albania however, which is among the countries that have good relations with Turkey, did announce that it would comply with the implementation of the EU decisions, the paper reported.
In another article, Phileleftheros, citing Turkish daily Turkiye, reports that Turkey, amidst the coronavirus crisis, is turning against Cyprus and Greece while announcing new drillings in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Through Turkiye, which supports the Turkish government, Ankara is trying to turn attention away from the coronavirus situation internally by announcing new plans and blaming Athens of seizing the opportunity to expand Greece’s maritime zones in the Eastern Mediterranean, the daily reports.
The Turkish daily also reports that the Yavuz continues its drilling operations off Cyprus and the Oruc Reis and Barbaros their research activities, Phileleftheros reports.