Front Page Headlines
Coronavirus postpones 5 drillings in the EEZ
ExxonMobil officially informed, ENI-Total will do it soon. Postponment of drilling at Cronos almost certain and the deferral of those at Glafkos for ’21-’22 a given. The other two ENI-Total drillings for 2020 will also be affected.
- We don’t get complacent due to donward trend: We’re doing well, we keep the measures – 17 new cases, one in a Nicosia supermarket
- Enclaved: “Government’s” political theater
- Morphou: Broke the quarantine
Suspense for testings
Passion Week – Concern for asymptomatic carriers in supermarkets and bakeries. They transmit the virus without knowing, don’t risk it.
- Drilling postponment: Coronavirus hit EEZ as well
- Obstacles from occupation regime: Political games in the middle of the pandemic
Support with transparency and equality
Government bill for 2 billion deficient. Decisive meetings at Presidency – Parliement. Fundings should be targeted to households.
- And suddently they stayed apart
- Reactions for the help Akinci asked for
- A different Holy Week: Limiting of contacts and measures of self protection – 17 confirmed cases yesterday and one death
Closer to very good news
We are down to 17 cases. They plummet down to levels of the first 10 days of the pandemic in Cyprus. We haven’t recorded such measures since before measures limiting unecessary movements were applied, but no complacency and loosening is allowed.
- They attack Akinci over medical help. “Coronavirus is a common enemy and in this struggle there are no Turks and Greeks, Christians and Muslims” he replied
Main News
Downward trend in daily new coronavirus cases continues
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Dailies report that the downward trend in new cases continued on Sunday causing increased optimism. However, government experts warned the public that this does not mean measures should be losened and warned against complacency and increased contacts, especially as the G/C community enters the period of the Holy Week.
According to the official announcements, 17 new cases were detected on Sunday, as a result of 804 tests. An 82 year old woman passed away due to the coronavirus, bringing the number of fatalities in the government controlled areas up to 16.
The dailies report that the government is concerned over the possible spread of the coronavirus in retirement homes, especially after two cases were detected among the residents of an old peoples’s home in Aradippou. Government experts noted that luckily so far Cyprus has succeeded in shielding older people and vulnerable groups from infection.
Akinci responds to criticism – “Government” bans UNFICYP from entry
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on T/C leader Mustafa Akinci’s reply to criticism from the T/C far right, regarding his decision to ask the RoC government for help for medical supplies.
Newspapers also report on the decision by the T/C “government” to ban entry of UNFICYP and diplomats in the north for one week due to the detection of a coronavirus case in the peacekeeping force. It is noted however that scheduled assistance for the G/C enclaved and Maronites will be transferred by the T/Cs with UNFICYP supervision.
Akinci said in a post on Facebook that he cannot believe that some people carry so much hate within them even at these critical moments. He added that such attacks are shameful when one considers all the doctors and health professionals that appealed to him for help.
He also noted that those that complain that no help should be accepted, even when it comes to health, seem to not be aware that a lot of T/Cs go to hospitals and doctors in the south and are now facing multiple problems due to the closure of the checkpoints.
Akinci pointed out that all of humanity should fight together, regardless of being Turk or Greek, Christian or Muslim.
Haravgi points out that ELAM joined the T/C far right in criticising the agreement between the two leaders. In a statement, the far right party said that the government should not be assisting the north when there is a lack of supplies in the south.
Haravgi also reports that T/C businessman Olgum Arguden donated 10,000 face masks to the Ministry of Health. State Health Services thanked Arguden with a letter, the newspaper reports.
Dailies also report on the T/C “government” decision to ban entry of UNFICYP and diplomats in the north for one week. The announcement was issued by “foreign minister” Kudret Ozersay, who noted that UNFICYP forces based in the north will be able to exit their barracks to go the south.
Ozersay also said that help and medical equipment “sent by the south to G/C and Maronites that live in our country” will not be blocked. Also, all movement related to fighting the coronavirus will be carried out given that they are authorised by his office.
Haravgi publishes reports that were originally published by bilingual website Voice of the Island, documenting the way the lives of Cypriots have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak and the restrictions imposed on free movement from both sides.
The reports point out that those affected are Maronites and relatives of the Karpasia enclaved that can no longer visit their villages or their family members living in the north. Also, the residents of Pyla and Turkish Cypriots living in the south have been cut away from family in the north, while Turkish Cyprios who work in the south have been unable to cross and in some case unable to get paid.
Drillings in Cypriot EEZ postponed by international companies
Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Economy
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that ExxonMobil has informed the government that it will be postponing all scheduled drillings for a year due to the worldwide situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The newspaper cites information that the company sent a letter to the government, announcing that the two drillings that were scheduled to take place in July are being postponed for September 2021. Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis confirmed this information.
The newspaper reports that ENI and Total have not yet informed the government on their intentions regarding the three drillings that had been planned for 2020.
However Politis reports that ENI-Total’s next drilling, which was set to begin in April in parcel 6, is most probably going to have to be postponed.