Front Page Headlines
Premiere of GeSY’s new phase with surgeries
A historic day for the health sector in Cyprus. OAY (Health Insurance Organisation) signed contracts with biggest private hospitals and speeds up for the rest. Starting today beneficiaries have a right to chose the hospital that will treat them.
- First mass protest during coronavirus: Government denounced – Hundreds of protestors against migration policy
- Hoegh: Ready to negotiate
GeSY makes new openings
Enters the second phase today with 85% of the doctors and 75% of available beds. Numbers will increase in the next few days. There will be problems during the first period.
- Opening of checkpoints on the table
GeSY premieres with expectations and problems
Most urgent needs of beneficiaries covered. OAY calls for patience and understanding. PEK (association of pedeatricians) brings up issue of sufficiency, provision and distribution of vaccines.
- Migrants are the cursed of the earth…
- Turkey should stop drilling in the Cypriot EEZ. Josep Borrell’s message to Ankara
- Epidemiological situation will decide the opening of the checkpoints
The big step is today
Reform: It is time for the second phase of GeSY. Optimism that despite any problems that will initially come up, we will also make it this time. Until now 80% of private hospitals in the country has said yes and entered GeSY. OAY expects that Cyprus will have one of the best health systems in Europe.
- Coronavirus: Third phase of… freedom is at the gates, so we can return to our normality: More loosenings coming – Almost zero cases, citizens disproved concerns by epidemiologists. Karagiannis: Gradual opening of checkpoints a logical arrangement
- COVID-19 – Cyprus: Only one case yesterday as well, a high school student
- Illegal migrants: They are in their own world
- Dendias to Turkey: Greece is ready for any eventuality
- Erdogan: Those that consider the fall of Constantinople an invasion are ignorant
Main News
Borrell: EU cannot talk migration while Turkey drills in Cypriot EEZ
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security, Energy, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters, Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
The EU’s High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, has told media that Europe cannot proceed with its necessary dialogue with Turkey while Ankara continues to drill in the Cypriot EEZ.
According to reports citing statements made to European media, including Greek newspaper Ethnos, Borrell said that the EU’s member states do not want to discuss migration with Turkey while illegal drillings in the Cypriot EEZ continue.
Borrell said that the Turkey – EU dialogue cannot be limited to migration but needs to include enlargment, visa liberalisation, energy, the situation in Libya and many more issues. He added he believes that relations with Turkey are the most important aspect of the EU’s external relations today and that he wants to put this on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council.
The High Representative also said that he does not believe Turkey is attempting to blackmail the EU through migration. He added that the way he understands the Turkish argument is that Ankara wants to have a wider relation with the EU, not only receive money to take care of migrants on the EU’s behalf.
In a related development, Alithia reports that Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Denias told newspaper Real News that Greece is ready for any eventuality and will confidently respond to provocations. Dendias said that Greece will proceed with fencing the border at Evros since Turkey has implied it will repeat its attempts to send migrants over the border.
Dendias added that Greece remains open to discuss and cooperate with Turkey as long as the country operates in a context of international law.
The Greek FM also commented on the possibility that Turkey proceeds with drillings south of Crete. Dendias said that Greece will not engage in gunboat diplomacy and will move diplomatically with the help of the EU and friendly countries, in the context of trilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Reopening of checkpoints to be discussed in bicommunal meeting
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Internal Security, CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health and the scientific committee of the government will have a teleconference on Monday in order to assess the epidemiological situation in both sides .
Phileleftheros points out that no specific announcements are expected on Sunday. The current plan, the newspaper notes, is to begin the gradual reopening of the checkpoints on June 8th, as agreed by President Anastasiades and T/C leader Mustafa Akinci.
Molecular virology professor Petros Karagiannis told the Cyprus News Agency that it is scientifically valid that checkpoints would reopen gradually. Karagiannis pointed out that in the same way that measures were steadily relaxed in the government-controlled areas, in conjuction with the evolving epidemiological situation, and that this approach should be applied regarding the checkpoints.
Karagiannis also said that during Monday’s meeting, the experts were expected to discuss the methodology of the health checks that will be needed at the crossing points. He added that the government’s science team will meet Anastasiades on Tuesday to discuss the third phase of loosening measures, and that he expects the President will ask to be informed of the findings of Monday’s meeting.
Karagiannis further pointed out that the aim is for scientists to exchange views and for the government’s team to assess whether the situation in the north is as it is presented. He underlined that there will be no political discussions.
The scientists will also discuss the measures planned by the T/Cs to ensure that the virus does not return through flights or boats from Turkey.
Haravgi reports citing CNA that the experts selected are all Cypriot citizens. They are Giorgos Nikolopoulos, Petros Karagiannis, Petros Agathaggelou, Leontios Kostrikkis, Marios Panos and the director of the public health services Elisavet Constantinidou.
Phileleftheros recalls that starting on June 8th, those that will be allowed to cross will be T/Cs working or studying in the government controlled areas or undergoing medical treatment in private and public hospitals, as well as enclaved and returned G/Cs and Maronites.