Front Page Headlines
Tests on workers will cost dearly
Audit Office puts prices of diagnostic tests under the microscope. Margin for profit is low, owners of private labs say. Contracting process and real cost will be examined.
- Kadis withdrew the bill: End for kosher method
- Erimi: Hunt for congregants and agrelia
- Turkey: Against EU and France
- They were hasty with OLAF
Restart with obstacles
8,432 businesses with 40,000 workers are getting ready to conditionally get back into business. Return to economic normalcy but liquidity is inexistent.
- They quarantined the S-400 as well
Distance learning only on paper
Uncertainty over Pancyprian Exams. Not all students have a computer yet. Private universities and schools do not reduce tuition.
- Need to change course on energy
- 600 applications examined and “golden passports” given without regulations
- New questions after clarifications by OLAF. Did they know or did they not?
Tug of war over trove
Cyprus accuses British company of illegaly excavating ancient shipwrecks.
Admiration from international media
Associated Press and the New York Times praise Cyprus for the very good work done in facing the pandemic. The very good results and the international praise bolster our image as a destination safe from the coronavirus and can be the guide to the valuable aim to save this year’s tourist period.
- Occupied areas: Non-use of a mask a criminal offence
- Agriculture Ministry: Bill for kosher slaughter withdrawn
- Scandal: Cyprus clean also with the stamp of OLAF. No involvement
- Widespread recognition: Averof: We lost perhaps the smartest Cypriot
Main News
Reports: Coronavirus measures to be gradually lifted after May
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, CBMs, Economy
OVERVIEW
A 69-year-old man has died of the coronavirus, bringing the number of deaths up to 14, the dailies report. Another 9 cases were detected on Friday as a result of 2,698 tests, bringing the total number of cases to 804.
According to a Cyprus News Agency report cited by the dailies, the government is considering a gradual lifting of measures that have been taken against the coronavirus, starting on May 4th. According to information cited by the CNA, measures will be reinstated if infection numbers start rising.
These measures will be examined by the Scientific Advisory team on Tuesday and then be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers, CNA points out.
The reopening would start with partially loosening restriction on movement and reopening small construction sites and small businesses. During the second phase in mid-May, barbershops, beauty parlours and gyms would reopen. In the third phase sports matches could continue without spectators. In the fourth and final phase, shopping centers, hotels, restaurants and cafes would reopen.
The report adds that authorities are still conidering how and when to reopen schools and churches. Also, airports and checkpoints would reopen in three months, granted that cases reach zero.
Haravgi reports that due to the coronavirus pandemic hundreds of T/C and foreign workers with jobs in the government controlled areas have been without an income for the past one month and a half.
The newspaper points out that about hundreds of T/Cs and hundreds of EU citizens and citizens of third countries that are paying their contributions to social insurance but are paid in cash, cannot receive the assistance that they are entitled to due to not having a bank account. The newspaper points out that 1,525 T/Cs work in the south, along with 51,247 EU citizens and 35,003 third country citizens, citing data from the RoC’s Statistical Services.
Haravgi reports that about 100 T/Cs and third country nationals have contected the Ministry for Labour asking for assistance.
Alithia reports that T/C “foreign minister” Kudret Ozersay has prevented joint testing for the coronavirus in the bicommunal village of Pyla. G/C mukhtar Simos Mitides told CNA that the T/Cs of the village were originally going to participate in a testing process conducted by the ROC, but that Ozersay prevented this by sending a T/C ambulance to conduct tests.
Mitides says that the G/C and T/Cs had asked for the testing to be done in coordination but that some T/Cs informed the T/C “government” to prevent this. T/C mukhtar Veysal Guden countered that the British Bases did not allow the ambulance to enter the village.
Politis reports that G/C and T/C parties issued an announcement on Friday, after their monthly meeting conducted in Ledra Palace in coordination with the embassy of Slovakia, underlining the need for the two sides to cooperate during the pandemic putting aside their different approaches on the Cyprus Problem.
The parties also underlined the importance of the work of the bicommunal Technical Committee for Health and called on it to continue coordinating efforts as closely as necessary.
Meanwhile UniteCyprusNow issued a statement commemorating the anniversary of the opening of the checkpoints in April 23 2003. The citizen movement pointed out that now that the two sides are considering the lifting of measures they should not treat the checkpoints as a hard internal border and to reopen them before allowing international flights.
Newspapers also report citing T/C media that Friday was the fourth day in a row when no new cases were detected in the occupied areas.
The dailies also report that the “cabinet of ministers” in the north has announced that any person leaving the house will have to wear a face mask. Those that break the decree will be punished with one year in prison or a 50 euros fine.
Turkey reacts to European Council statement by calling EU a tool of G/Cs
Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Energy, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has reacted to the references made by European Council president Charles Michel to the country’s illegal drilling operations in the Cypriot EEZ, the dailies report.
Phileletheros, reports that the Turkish Foreign Ministry accused the EU of choosing to once again ineffectively talk of solidarity with the Greek Cypriots. According to Turkey, Michel’s statement constitutes a further example that the EU is contravening international and european law by becoming a tool to be used towards the maximalist aims of the Greek Cypriots and Greece.
Turkey expects the EU to encourage the G/Cs to return to the negotiating table with Ankara, the T/Cs and Greece, the statement adds. The country’s foreign ministry also reiterated that Turkey’s accession to the EU should not be a hostage to G/C and Greek interests, and that Turkey will continue to defend its rights and the rights of the T/Cs in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Politis reports that on Friday Turkey also reacted to statements made by the French Foreign Minister. The French FM had said that Turkey’s stance is threatening the prosperity and security of the EU. The Turkish Foreign Ministry responded by saying that France is attempting to redirect attention from the situation inside the country due to the coronavirus. Turkey also said that France is currently in no shape to help EU countries and that Turkey has done so.
KEY ACTORS
Turkish Foreign Ministry
>> Once again EU has chosen the ineffective approach of expressing solidarity with G/Cs
>> EU is contravening international and European law by becoming a tool for G/C and Greek maximalism
>> Turkey expects EU to encourage G/Cs to return to negotiations with T/Cs, Ankara and Greece
>> With its statements against Turkey, France attempts to distract from coronavirus situation and the fact that it couldn’t assist EU countries while Turkey could
Reuters: Turkey postpones S-400 system activation due to pandemic
Phileleftheros
External Security, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Turkey has decided to postpone the activation of the Russian S-400 missile system due to the complications brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by Reuters news agency cited by Phileleftheros.
The newspaper notes that Turkey was expected to activate the system, which has caused tensions in its relations with the US, this April. According to Phileleftheros the reason for this postponment has not been made clear. However this move could help maintain an open line of communication with the US during a difficult period for Turkey’s economy, the newspaper adds.
Reuters reports that the reasons for the postponment are technical, citing high ranking Turkish officials. However Phileleftheros points out that Turkish President Tayip Erdogan had stated in March that all the parts had arrived in Turkey and that Russian media have reported that the Turkish crews of the missile system have completed training.
Phileleftheros recalls that the purchase of the Russian system by Turkey had created the possibility of Turkey being sanctioned under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The newspaper also recalls that at the beginning of last week, the US State Department reiterated the possibility of sanctions if the S-400 system was activated.
In another story, Phileleftheros reports that the number of coronavirus cases in Turkey has exceeded 100,000 and that the number of the dead has almost reached 2,500.