Front Page Headlines
Restrictions will be in place until the end of 2021
Restart of the economic activity in three stages as of beginning of May. The planning will be gradually applied based on epidemiological data. Citizens are being asked to implement the restrictive measures so that the strategy becomes a realistic one.
- Compatible with the contract (ExxonMobil’s decision to postpone exploratory drilling to September 2021)
- Repatriation: Steep ticket prices
- Turkey: Respiratory mask diplomacy also from Erdogan
Old people’s homes at the mercy of God
“They left us helpless without any checks and are telling us to wear masks which we cannot find,” they yell. They call on the government to set up a special mechanism in each city.
- Turkish blackmail on energy continues
- They froze the Twitter account of China’s ambassador – No explanations were given but it is believed it is for political reasons.
Lives are being lost but OKYPY (state health services organisation) adds insult to injury
Without questioning the fact that clinics and (hospital) departments have closed and that there is staff shortage, OKYPY attacks Haravgi which yesterday brought to the fore the dangerous situation at the Larnaca hospital. The OKYPY management has received several letters by staff members on the severity of the situation but there has been no response…
- MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek is calling for the EU’s intervention for the release of prisoners in Turkey
- PEO: Ismail Ozbaris was fighting for peace and reunification
Plan to reopen business agreed
Will proceed gradually from May if virus data allows.
- Be nice, justice minister tells police
- Repatriation flights from UK to cost €320
The engine restarts
Scheme for the gradual restart of the economy from the beginning of May. The first stage concerns controlled lifting of restrictions and opening of business in crucial sectors, always based on epidemiological data.
- Only 20 new cases yesterday after 2,313 lab tests – We have reached 715 patients.
Main News
Turkey says will continue drilling in East Med
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Regional/International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi and Phileleftheros report that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said during an online discussion organised by the Turkish branch of the Atlantic Council that Ankara would continue drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean and even deploy a third drillship.
According to the dailies, Cavusoglu said Turkey had told the EU, the UN and even Greece that the GCs should not have carried out any unilateral activities when it comes to drilling or exploitation in the Eastern Mediterranean before reaching an agreement on a fair distribution of revenue with the TCs. Ankara’s position was however ignored, he said. “We continue to propose a new dialogue on the Eastern Mediterranean at the highest level. President Erdogan did propose this in London to [Greek] Prime Minister Mitsotakis, but Greece prefers to put pressure on Turkey’s legal rights in the region instead of responding to our calls for honest dialogue,” Cavusoglu said.
For reasonable stability, the main goal should be for the two sides to come together on the island for a fair distribution of revenues, while the proposal by the TC authorities represents the only logical and realistic basis for a solution, Cavusoglu said according to the dailies.
Phileleftheros reports that Turkey is basically asking from Greece and Cyprus to cancel their sovereign rights for the sake of dialogue, which is a form of blackmail.
Phileleftheros also reports that Turkey continues with illegal actions in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone by issuing on Wednesday afternoon a new Navtex concerning activities of the Yavuz drillship in block 6.
The illegal Navtex says that the Yavuz, along with support vessels Ertugrul Bey, Osman Bey and Orhan, will carry out a drilling between Easter Monday and July 18.
The drilling target is an area located in the northern half of block 6 and on the borders of the area which is internationally established it belongs to the Republic of Cyprus but is claimed by Turkey as its own.
The daily recalls that Turkey has carried out six unsuccessful drillings so far within the Cypriot EEZ; two west of Paphos, two south of the Karpasia peninsula, one in block 7 and one in block 8. The Turkish seismographic survey vessel Barbaros continues to conduct illegal seismic surveys southeast of Cyprus, off Cavo Greco, while the Oruc Reis continues its illegal seismic surveys in the southwest which includes sections of blocks 4 and 5, Phileleftheros reports.
Cyprus Mail reports that as the Cyprus government is looking at a long delay in its hydrocarbons programme, Turkey says it plans to continue drilling in the island’s exclusive economic zone.
In the meantime, Politis reports that Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis gave reassurances that consortium ExxonMobil-Qatar Petroleum has not violated any terms of its contract with the Republic of Cyprus as regards the companies’ decision to postpone by at least a year the confirmatory drillings initially scheduled in block 10’s Glafcos target for July this year.
The confirmation by the government follows statements by the Solidarity Movement that postponing the drilling with the excuse of the pandemic and the plunge in crude oil prices could constitute a violation of the agreement between the consortium and the government since it provides for timeframes as regards drillings.
The minister said that ExxonMobil gave timely notice on its intentions.
Haravgi also reports that AKEL MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek has reported Turkey to the European Commission over Ankara’s decision not to include in the 90,000 of prisoners slated for release due to the coronavirus pandemic, people who have been accused of ‘terrorism’ including journalists, activists, writers and Erdogan’s political adversaries.
Kizilyurek recalled that Turkey is a candidate member state and has access to EU funds on the coronavirus pandemic, Haravgi reported.
Politis also reports that Turkey is now trying to improve her image by emerging as a great humanitarian power by sending aid to countries to help them tackle the coronavirus.
According to the daily, Turkey has sent medical equipment to Italy and Spain, Covid-19 test kits to the Palestinians and pharmaceuticals to Armenia. For Tayyip Erdogan this is an opportunity to take a symbolic revenge, the daily reports citing an expert of the Paris Institute of Political Studies arguing that the aim is for Turkey to show off as a powerful country with the means to offer help to ailing European countries.
KEY ACTORS
Cavusoglu (Turkish FM)
>> Ankara’s repeated position that GCs should not have carried out any unilateral activities as regards drilling or exploitation in the East Med before agreeing with the TCs on a fair distribution of revenue has been ignored by the EU, UN and Greece.
>> While Ankara continues to propose a new dialogue on the East Med at the highest level, Greece prefers to put pressure on Turkey’s legal rights in the region instead.
>> If the two sides on the island come together for a fair distribution of revenues & the TCs’ proposal which is the only logical and realistic basis for a solution is accepted, it would bring about reasonable stability.
Cypriot bicommunal couple features in German press
Alithia
Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The daily reports on an article in German news portal Deutschiandfunkcop written by Manfred Götzke on a bicommunal couple, Eno and Kaan.
The young couple told the German journalist who was on the island recently, about their life.
Eno, 19, lives in the southern part of Nicosia and Kaan, 23, in the northern part.
The daily reports that the journalist writes that friendships and relationships are forged between Cypriots in the south and north while many fear that the crossings will remain closed. While people wish more proximity between them, tensions between the two parts of the island intensify, the article said, according to Alithia.
Eno said that she is proud to live on both sides of her country because there is still a lot of misconception between them, arguing she has friends who grew up fearing the TCs.
Kaan said their relationship is truly special because through it he has learned many things, such as the language and other small cultural things.
Life goes on at these levels in both sides, but we learn about it from Germany, the paper said.
Condolences for loss of TC trade unionist & peace fighter
Haravgi
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The paper reports that TC Ismail Ozbaris, member of DEV-IS trade union passed away in London on Tuesday.
The daily reports that Ozbaris, born in Limassol in 1951, was a fighter for peace and reunification of the island.
After 1974 he moved with his family to Kontea and throughout his life, he was an active member of the union and a pioneer as regards the struggle for workers’ rights.
Due to his union activity and political beliefs he had lost his job and was one of the co-founders of EMEK-IS union which he chaired until 2012 when he retired.
Ozbaris had also worked for the development of joint actions between PEO trade union and DEV-IS.
PEO expresses its sincere condolences to Ozbaris’ family and those close to him, the daily reported.