Front Page Headlines
Opening of crossings with a joint decision
Message by Guterres to Anastasiades-Akinci for the crossing points. The UNSG report will be submitted to the Security Council on July 10. The pandemic has not affected the time frames for UNFICYP.
Everything entangled in the party cogwheels
The economy is stuck. Entanglement for state guarantees, tourist vouchers, rent reductions. The party leaders will be at the Presidential Palace on Monday to solve the Gordian knot.
- Message by Guterres to the president and Akinci on the crossings – He is calling on them to be ready.
- France hinders Barbaros seismographically – Exercises by the French Navy southeast of Cyprus. Ankara is not happy
- A farmer’s storeroom in Potamia was hiding a ‘treasure’
- Turkey claims Crete and the Dodecanese
- Twenty scientists from four Cyprus universities are ready to study the virus
Installments to the tune of €894,2m have been amassed for later!
The loans put under the installment suspension programme until December 31 have reached €7,4bn according to the data by the Central Bank, released yesterday. The total amount of the installments that have been suspended has reached €894,2m (€632,6m for businesses and €261,6m for households).
- Guterres: Strengthen technical committees
- (Turkish Energy Minister) Donmez is maliciously gleeful over the freezing of the Republic of Cyprus’ energy research programme
UN wants joint deal on crossings
Guterres expects the leaders to agree on the arrangements to reopen crossings.
No more football for this year
The epidemiologists insisted on that. New developments on the sizzling issue of the championship.
- Tourism: The skies jointly open with Greece, Malta and Israel, hotels open at the end of June
Main News
UNSG calls for cooperation on reopening crossings
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs, Human Rights, Economy
OVERVIEW
All dailies on Friday report on the letter by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to TC leader Mustafa Akinci in which he calls on both leaders to jointly decide the reopening of the crossings.
Citing TC media, the dailies report that Guterres said in a letter responding to one Akinci had sent him, that he expects from the two leaders to agree on arrangements for the reopening of the crossing points as soon the health situation is stabilised.
Guterres expressed satisfaction for the fact that the two leaders agreed to be in contact and cooperate and exchange information on the fight against the pandemic.
In his letter, the UNSG also said that in order to overcome the problems stemming from the pandemic across the island, initiatives with cooperation, dialogue and coordination are needed. He added that the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health is the main communication channel during the crisis in the field of health.
He also encouraged the two leaders to strengthen the other bicommunal technical committees to contribute to the broader fight against Covid-19.
Guterres also urged leaders to find additional ways to build trust between the two communities and work closely with his representative in Cyprus, Elizabeth Spehar, on all issues.
The dailies also cite a report by the Cyprus News Agency that the Technical Committee on Economic and Commercial Matters had made possible the restart of the economic activity with the TC community as part of the implementation of the Green Line Regulation through arrangements for contactless transactions.
Citing a source, CNA reported that the committee was trying to facilitate contactless transactions between entrepreneurs on both sides, with the approval and consultation of the competent departments of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC). Due to the circumstances, these transactions take place in the buffer zone near the crossings while all the necessary precautionary measures are taken, the same source said, noting that this became possible after Easter when TC merchants were able to secure unhindered access to the buffer zone.
The same source said that the Technical Committee on Culture was also due to have a teleconference on Thursday, while the two coordinators of all the technical committees held a teleconference on Wednesday facilitated by the UN, to evaluate the course from now on and to confirm the support for the work of these committees.
The source said, that they are building on what has been achieved so far and are continuing in the same direction, within the terms of the mandate given to the technical committees by the two leaders, the dailies report.
Cyprus Mail reports that neither of the two sides has given a date yet on the reopening of the crossings as they gradually started introducing relaxations to the measures taken against the spread of coronavirus.
Their closure has caused problems for many people, mainly those who live on one side and work in the other but also TC pupils and students who are now unable to go to their schools or universities in the south of the island, the daily reports.
Haravgi points out that Guterres called on the two leaders to strengthen the technical committees.
Alithia, Haravgi and Phileleftheros also report that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou, in a letter last week to President Nicos Anastasiades inquired whether a solution would be given to the issue of TC workers and pupils who live in the north but need to daily cross to the south to work and study respectively.
Kyprianou said that the same problem currently faced by the workers, will arise soon with TC pupils who go to private schools in the free areas since they will have to return to their schools on May 21 when all pupils are to return back to their classrooms.
He asked whether the government have any plans on what to do to allow the daily crossings of people who need to get to their workplaces or schools in the case the occupation authorities unilaterally lift the restrictions on crossing.
He also called for an initiative by the government to provide a solution to this issue while at the same time ensuring that the necessary protection measures are taken to protect public health.
The dailies report that Kyprianou said AKEL was willing to assist in any way, “to solve this problem that concerns a large number of our TC compatriots but also a number of businesses in the free areas.”
Haravgi recalls that a similar letter was sent to Anastasiades on May 6 by PEO trade union leader Pambis Kyritsis.
KEY ACTORS
Guterres
>> Calls on the two leaders to coordinate for the reopening of the crossing points as soon the health situation is stabilised.
>> Satisfied by the agreement between the two leaders to be in contact, cooperate & exchange information on the coronavirus issue since initiatives with cooperation, dialogue and coordination are necessary to tackle problems stemming from the pandemic.
>> The bicommunal Technical Committee on Health is the main communication channel during the crisis in the field of health but wants the two leaders strengthen the other technical committees to contribute to the broader fight against Covid-19.
>> Calls on two leaders to find ways for additional ways to build trust between the two communities & work closely with Spehar on all issues.
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Calls on the government to take initiative to provide solution to the issue of TC workers and pupils that need to daily cross to the south & expresses willingness to assist in any way.
Greece puts Cyprus affairs in same portfolio with Turkey and MENA countries
Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
According to the paper, the new organisational chart prepared by the Greek foreign ministry, provides for the abolition of two separate directorates for handling the Turkish and Cyprus affairs and has integrated the two countries into that dealing with the Arab countries and the Middle East.
The paper cited Greek newspaper Ethnos which reported that according to the draft of the new organisational chart, the foreign ministry’s General Directorate of Political Affairs acquires a new directorate, the A2 Directorate for Cyprus, Turkey the Arab countries and the Middle East. The task of the directorate in question would be to exercise its competence, as regards Cyprus, Turkey, the Arab countries, the North African and Middle Eastern countries but also bilateral relations.
Phileleftheros reports that Ethnos, in its article said that people with deep knowledge and many years of experience in dealing with foreign policy issues have characterised the decision not to leave Turkish affairs as a separate portfolio as “unthinkable” and “weird” arguing that Turkey is a “very special case” for obvious reasons, as it does not cease to act as a threat, or “the only threat” to some, against Greece.
At the same time, people with knowledge in foreign policy issues note that it was unthinkable to put Cyprus, an EU member state, under the same directorate that deals with countries in the Middle East and North Africa, the daily reported.
Reactions to incident with plane carrying medical supplies
Alithia, Cyprus Mail
EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
According to Cyprus Mail, the EU Commission on Thursday called on Turkey to maintain a spirit of solidarity without discrimination after Ankara denied a plane transporting medical equipment from China to Cyprus entry to its airspace.
The daily quotes Commission/ EEAS spokesman Peter Stano who, asked to comment by the Cyprus News Agency,said that the best way to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and its impact is international solidarity and close cooperation.
“We are aware of this issue and the extraordinary circumstances under the coronavirus pandemic really require solidarity without exceptions” he said. He added that Turkey had been providing medical supplies to many countries around the world and also participated in the coronavirus global response conference. “Therefore, we would expect and encourage Turkey to maintain this spirit of solidarity without discrimination,” Stano said.
China’s ambassador to Cyprus, Huang Xingyuan said that only through unity and cooperation could the pandemic be overcome. “We need to act now against all actions that undermine international cooperation in combatting Covid-19,” he told CNA, the daily reported.
The daily reports that the plane with 36 tonnes of medical supplies from China arrived late Wednesday night after being forced to change course and head to Moscow for refuelling when permission to fly through Turkish airspace was denied. The aircraft was chartered by the government to bring the equipment from China.
Alithia quotes head of the Flight Safety Foundation Mediterranean, Christos Petrou, saying that this was the first time Turkish authorities did not allow an airplane of a foreign country, not registered in the RoC, fly over its air space, attributing this to a possible change in Ankara’s tactics.
The daily reports that the plane was registered in Russia. Petrou pointed out that the Republic of Cyprus has never prevented Turkish airlines from using its FIR.
“Turkish airline companies are our second-best customer after Israel when it comes to the use of our FIR and our second-best payer with an amount reaching €12m annually,” Petrou said.
He said that he could not understand why Turkey prevented that plane fly over its airspace and that he did not know whether it would do the same to foreign air carriers bringing tourists to Cyprus. The danger is there, he said, arguing that Erdogan was unpredictable, the daily reports.
KEY ACTORS
Stano (EU spokesperson)
>> EU expects from Turkey, which has exhibited sensitivity in assisting other countries by providing medical supplies, to maintain this spirit of solidarity without discrimination.
Xingyuan (China’s ambassador to Cy)
>> Calls for action against actions that undermine international cooperation in combating Covid-19.
>> Only through unity and cooperation could the pandemic be overcome.
French Navy exercises in area where Turkey carries out seismic research
Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security, Regional/International Relations, Energy
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that Ankara appears to be unhappy by the exercises carried out by the French Navy southeast of Cyprus since they obstruct the activities in the area of seismic research vessel Barbaros.
According to the paper, France has reserved through a request to the Republic of Cyprus the area in question for naval exercises. Toward that end, the Republic of Cyprus has issued a Navtex reserving that area for May 12, 16 and 19. The area covered by the RoC’s Navtex includes part of the area covered by the illegal Turkish Navtex for the seismic activities carried out by Barbaros, something which obviously has angered Ankara, the daily reported, since it has issued a new illegal Navtex. In the new Navtex, Turkey avoids characterising the RoC as ‘void’ and avoids ‘cancelling’ its previous Navtex as usual but rather says that the area in the Navtex issued by the Larnaca Joint Rescue Coordination Center, overlaps with Navtex 1550/20 issued by the Antalya center. Turkey’s initial Navtex concerned seismic research by Barbaros within Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone between December 28, 2019 and May 31, 2020, the daily reports.
What’s interesting is that these days, the Turkish seismic vessel is located in the area exactly where the French Navy exercises are taking place, it said.
The daily reports that the aim of the French exercises, which is obvious from the time and area they take place, is that not only they send out messages but they also show in action that Turkey cannot blatantly violate international law and the RoC’s sovereign rights.
In the meantime, Haravgi reports that Ankara reacts to the joint declaration by the FMs of Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, France and the UAE condemning Turkey’s memoranda with Libya, with provocative statements. Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez is gloating over the postponement of the energy programme of the RoC, the daily said, adding that he said that those who wanted to keep Turkey out of the equation in the Mediterranean have now found themselves outside of the game.
KEY ACTORS
Donmez (Turkish Energy Minister)
>> The GCs, who wanted to leave Turkey out of the energy equation in the East Med have now found themselves outside the game.
Large quantities of clothing & cigarettes from north seized
Alithia, Phileleftheros
Economy, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The papers report that a ‘treasure’ was discovered during a search in the storeroom of a 51-year-old farmer in Potamia including six containers of pesticides, 50 cigarette packs and 15 bags containing 593 items of clothes, handbags, belts and other items, all imitations of designer brands. All items located are believed to have been brought over from the occupied areas, the daily reported. The items have been seized by Customs.
The 51-year-old was not arrested but he will be called by Customs for a settlement as regards the fines that will be imposed to him for the items seized, Phileleftheros reports.
Phileleftheros also reports that authorities located a tractor with TC licence plates which the farmer said was given to him to cultivate his land.