Front Page Headlines
By October or we miss the train
Intensive consultations throughout the summer on (local governenance) reform as soon as Parliament reopens. Referendums, postponment of elections, representation in municipal councils and some mergers are the biggest stumbling blocks. Parties didn’t open their cards to the Interior Ministry yesterday, but it is a matter of time before they request changes.
- It’s a political decision
- Mosque: They look for the perpetrators
Rift between Health Ministry – scientists
Team of experts suggests speeding up lifting of all measures, Ministry of Health disagrees. They agree only on the opening of kindergartens next Tuesday. Turkish Cypriots not ready to discuss opening the checkpoints.
- Five new cases, three came from Britain: Coronavirus hit again at nurse – One positive result was worker at food business
- Erdogan ups the tension
- With one voice they condemned vandalism of mosque
Real danger of SMEs closing
Direct subsidies to SMEs urgently needed. The Archbishop asks for full payment of rents. Package of measures benefits banks and large businesses.
- Mosque in Limassol targeted by nationalists
- Support from China regarding Cyprus Problem and renewal of UNFICYP mandate
- 8th of June up in the air – Protest by T/C workers outside the pseudoparliament
Inpatient care ‘an historic day’
Not all services at private clinics are available for the time being.
- Condemnation of mosque vandalism
- Cyprus: Migrants warned: Cyprus no EU gateway
AKEL – EDEK… as businesses!
They cunningly both received state aid and burdened the state with salaries of their employees due to pandemic. They should not have received such help on the basis of the support programme, and are therefore called to return the funds they took advantage of.
- New cases: Five yesterday, but again three were imported
- At Limassol: They threw a molotov bomb and vandalised mosque
Main News
Technical Commitee meeting inconclusive on checkpoint reopening
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot members of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health are reported to have been positive but reserved regarding the potential reopening of checkpoints during Monday’s meeting with the government’s coronavirus experts.
Politis reports that the government’s experts are convinced that the data shared by the T/C side on the spread of the coronavirus is correct and can be trusted. However, they have expressed concerns that the T/C side needs to conduct more tests.
According to the dailies, the caution shown by the T/C experts is connected to the political climate in the north ahead of elections for T/C leader, as well as the ongoing clash between incumbent Mustafa Akinci and candidates Ersin Tatar and Kudret Ozersay.
Phileleftheros reports that the T/C members of the committee said they are not ready to discuss reopening the checkpoints, and that the issue was discussed only for about five minutes. The T/C experts are reported to have said that the sides should not rush into reopening checkpoints until there is absolute certainty that the virus will not spread.
Politis reports that none out of the participants in the meeting disagreed with reopening checkpoints. However, members of the T/C side’s advisory team – which included an “MP“ of Kudret Ozersay’s party – were reportedly cautious and seemed to be waiting for instructions from the “cabinet of ministers”.
Sources cited by Politis said that it will be difficult to partially reopen the checkpoints on June 8th, as had been agreed by President Anastasiades and T/C leader Akinci. The same sources say that the T/C “government” – which disagrees with the deal – could bring up concerns regarding measures to be taken at checkpoints, without contesting the date.
Politis also reports that the T/C side has drafted a list of which countries it considers high and low risk. The newspaper’s sources implied that the G/C side (which is considered a seperate state by the T/C side) is considered low risk by the T/Cs.
Phileleftheros also reports that a new meeting of the Technical Committee with the government’s experts could take place during the next few days. The newspaper points out that the two sides need to agree on the methodology on health security for those checkpoints that could reopen on June 8th.
The dailies recall that, as per the agreement by Anastasiades and Akinci, checkpoints will reopen for cases involving humanitarian and health concerns, for T/C workers and students, as well as for G/C enclaved and Maronites that live in the north or have relatives there.
G/C head of the Technical Committee for Health, Leonidas Phylactou, told the Cyprus News Agency that the final decision will be taken at the political level, and pointed out that Monday’s meeting was intended for the two sides to exchange information.
Phylactou said that the G/C side had sent the T/C side the scientific report on the epidemiological situation in the south a few days before the meeting. He added that the T/Cs also had questions on plans to restart tourism.
He explained that the two sides didn’t get into detail regarding the checkpoints, since that will be a political decision, but added that the experts are expected to have a second meeting soon.
Professor Petros Karagiannis told CNA that the meeting lasted two hours and was productive. The experts exchanged view on the situation on both sides and the lessons from treating patients afflicted by the coronavirus. He did not rule out the possibility of a new meeting.
T/C experts also updated their G/C counterparts on the epidemiologocial situation in the north. G/C experts were reportedly satisfied with the information provided and are expected to inform President Anastasiades on their assessment during Tuesday’s meeting in the Presidential Palace.
Tuesday’s meeting will focus on the scheduled third phase of lifting containment measures in the government-controlled areas. According to Haravgi, there will not be any decisions regarding the checkpoints on Tuesday, since the government is expecting to see how the T/C side will handle the agreement to partially reopen checkpoints on June 8th.
Haravgi also reports that the coordinator of the Technical Committees for the T/C side, Meltem Onurkan Samani, a close associate of Akinci, told YeniDuzen she expects checkpoints to reopen gradually and that the necessary measures will be taken. She pointed out that it will be difficult for either side to hold back the reopening.
Meanwhile, Haravgi reports that T/C labourers that are employed in the south and have been asking to be allowed to return to their workplaces, are expected to protest in front of the T/C “parliament” on Tuesday. The workers are protesting the lack of any decision by the “cabinet of ministers” regarding the checkpoints.
According to a YeniDuzen report cited by Phileleftheros, the T/C inhabitants of the mixed village of Pyla are going to be allowed to cross into the north starting on June 1st. However they will be required to sign a form saying they will not cross into the government-controlled areas.
KEY ACTORS
Phylactou (G/C head of T. Comm. on health)
>> Final decisions regarding checkpoints will be taken at the political level
>> Experts did not go into detail regarding checkpoints but are expected to have a second meeting soon
Islamophobic attack on Limassol mosque condemned on both sides
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, CBMs, Human Rights, Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
Political and religious leaders on both sides have condemned a molotov cocktail attack and the writing of racist slogans on the yard wall of a mosque in Limassol, the dailies report.
On Sunday night, unknown persons threw a petrol bomb at the entrance of the Koprulu mosque in Limassol. The bomb only caused minor damage. The attackers also wrote islamophobic and anti-migrant slogans on the mosque’s courtyard wall.
Government spokesperson Kyriakos Koushios said in a statement that President Anastasiades has instructed the Police to fully investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. He added that the government strongly condemns the attack. He stressed that actions against places of worship are unacceptable.
T/C leader Mustafa Akinci called for the investigation needs to be concluded as soon as possible and underlined that such behaviour is unacceptable. Akinci pointed out that all houses of worship should be respected regardless of religion. “Prime minister” Ersin Tatar and “foreign minister” Kudret Ozersay also condemned the attack.
The five religious leaders of the main denominations in Cyprus (Greek Orthodox, Muslim, Armenian Orthodox, Maronites and Catholics) issued an announcement through the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process, in which they condemned the attack.
The religious leader categorically condemned any and all acts of vandalism and disrespect done to sacred places of worship. They added that they are horrified to see such acts of violence and expressions of islamophobia, xenophobia and discrimination.
They also pointed out that for the past four years the Koprulu mosque, located in the Ayios Antonios neighborhood, has been a positive example of good and respectful cooperation and respect of religious freedom.
The attack was also condemned by governing DISY. In a statement, DISY said that no act of racism and discrimination should be accepted in a lawful society. Solidarity also condemned vandalism and attacks against any places of worship of any religion or dogma, pointing out that such actions do not conform to freedom of religion which is one of the basic tenets of Christianity.
KEY ACTORS
Koushios (Gov. spokesperson)
>> The government strongly condemns the attack and the President has instructed the Police to investigate and bring those responsible to justice
>> Actions against places of worship are unacceptable
Akinci
>> The investigation should be concluded as soon as possible
>> All houses of worship should be respected regardless of religion
Religious leaders
>> All acts of vandalism and disrespect to sacred places of worship are condemned, as well as expressions of islamophobia, xenophobia and discrimination
>> Koprulu mosque is a positive example of respectful cooperation and religious freedom
DISY
>> No act of racism and discrimination is acceptable in a lawful society
Solidarity
>> Such actions contravene freedom of religion which is a basic tenent of Christianity
Chinese ambassador talks UNFICYP with AKEL secretary general
Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, Regional/ International Relations, External Security
OVERVIEW
Chinese ambassador to Cyprus, Huang Xingyuan told AKEL secretary general Antros Kyprianou that his country supports efforts to solve the Cyprus Problem on the basis of relevant UN resolutions and high-level agreements, Haravgi reports.
The newspaper reports, citing Kyprianou’s statements, that Huang thanked the government and AKEL for their cooperation during the pandemic and reiterated China’s position on the Cyprus Problem.
Kyprianou added that AKEL has asked China to support the renewal of the mandate of UNFICYP in July, and pointed out that this will be a difficult challenge for Cyprus.
Kyprianou also said that they discussed developments surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, especially regarding the US’s behaviour during the crisis, and that they also agreed that international cooperation is of paramount importance.
KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> China has said it continues to support efforts to solve the Cyprus Problem on the basis of UN resolutions and high-level agreements
>> AKEL asked China to support the renewal of the mandate of UNFICYP in July
Anastasiades and ministers expected to visit Israel in June
Phileleftheros
Regional/ International Relations, Energy, Economy, External Security
OVERVIEW
The government announced that President Anastasiades plans to visit Israel in June, where he will meet newly re-elected prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Deputy spokesperson Panagiotis Sentonas said that Anastasiades called Netanyahu on Monday to congratulate him on his re-election. This is the latest in a series of calls with regional leaders, Phileleftheros notes.
Anastasiades and Netanyahu agreed that the Cypriot President will visit Israel as soon as possible. Anastasiades will be travelling to Israel with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Energy and Tourism. The visit is expected to take place mid-June, but could also take place after Anastasiades travels to Brussels to attend June’s European Council.
In his statements, Sentonas also said that the two leaders discussed the coronavirus situation as well as plans for restarting flights connecting the two countries and boosting tourism.
Sentonas added that the two leaders discussed the strengthening of the Cyprus – Greece – Israel trilaterals, given Turkey’s actions in the region. President Anastasiades also said Cyprus is ready to host the next trilateral summit, Sentonas said.