Front Page Headlines
Complications in the reduction of ‘red loans’
The Supreme Court decision puts the breaks on foreclosures. A foreclosure can be stopped if the Financial Ombudsman finds irregularities by the bank. DIKO feels justified and prepares new proposals.
- Green Line: They are not changing the code of implementation
Drilling in Greek waters
Cavusoglu says Turkey’s marine borders are six miles from Crete-Rhodes-Karpathos. Ankara is dangerously raising tensions.
- Veto by Tatar on the opening of the crossings: “I’m the one who rules”, he told Akinci.
- (Cyprus’ & Greece’s FMs) Christodoulides-Dendias are packing their bags for Iraq
They pave the way for an increase in tuition fees
The proposal for the introduction of tuition fees for the study programmes of public universities in English as well as DISY’s proposal to abolish the ceiling on fees in state universities paving the way for increases has raised concerns. A proposal has also been submitted for the admission of students with international exams and not the Pancyprian exams.
- Tatar’s approach on the issue of the crossings that keeps them closed is unacceptable
- Ankara escalates provocations – She starts research activities between Rhodes and Crete.
Malls, nurseries open on June 9
Casinos, gyms on June 13, but no mention of crossing points.
‘Attila’s lover’ should not set foot in parliament again
Letter by (DISY MP) Andreas Kyprianou to (House President) Demetris Syllouris. DISY vetoes the presence of KISA’s chairman Doros Polykarpou to parliament during the discussion of issues on migration because he had attacked Alithia and one of its editors and justified the Attila (Turkish invasion) and wished that more Attilas would follow to rescue us…
- Turkey made Rhodes and Crete her own
- Ersin Tatar: It is the ‘government’ that will decide whether the crossing points will open or not
Main News
Debate on crossings continues
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs, Human Rights, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The issue of the crossings features prominently in papers on Thursday.
The government announced the third round of relaxations of measures against the spread of Covid-19 but no announcement was made on the crossings, the dailies report, quoting Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou saying after a cabinet meeting that the issue was not discussed.
The papers also report on statements by TC ‘prime minister’ Ersin Tatar that it is the ‘government’ that decides on the opening of crossings and criticism by TC leader Mustafa Akinci on the delay by the ‘government’ on the issue in question.
Haravgi reports that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou expressed his sorrow over the statements by Tatar on the issue of the crossings saying his position is an unacceptable one.
Kyprianou said Tatar is using as an excuse the very small numbers of coronavirus cases in the south to insist on keeping the crossings closed. He also said that more than 2,000 Covid-19 tests are being carried out in the GC side daily while in the north are much less.
He said AKEL’s position is that crossings should open but that health checks must be carried out.
He also expressed hope that pressure from the TC community would force Tatar reassess his position. Kyprianou also expressed hope that the government of the Republic of Cyprus would take initiative so that pressure is put on Tatar on this issue.
Politis reports that Tatar has put an end to the discussion on the opening of the crossings on Monday by sending out a message to Akinci that he is the one calling the shots in the occupied areas.
The daily reports that the GC side proceeds with arrangements for the crossing from Monday of TC workers, students and people undergoing treatment in the south but also the enclaved as per the agreement between the two leaders.
Citing sources, the daily reports that cabinet on Wednesday discussed that confirmations will be requested by the employers or schools of TCs in those groups.
Cyprus Mail quotes member of the advisory committee on coronavirus Leontios Kostrikis saying that during Monday’s teleconference of the Technical Committee on Health they did not receive much information from the TC side. He told Sigma TV that he feels that the TC side believes they are in a better situation than the south as regards coronavirus and are hesitant over reopening the crossings. He said that they even told the GC side off for deciding to allow visitors from Germany and that they have an air of arrogance on this issue.
He added that TC experts told them after persistent questions, that they carried out around 6,000 tests in the north among a population of 360,000. This means, he said, that five times less sampling took place there than in the government-controlled areas. “If we had done five times fewer tests, then we too would have had zero cases,” he said. Kostrikis believes that TC experts were keeping mum on political instructions. He added that during their next meeting, the GC side will insist on hearing about their plans as regards Turkey because it is also a transit place for those arriving in the north. The issue of the many foreign students from Sub-Saharan Africa and Iran studying in the north is also of concern, he said, according to the paper.
KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Finds Tatar’s refusal to open the crossings as per the decision of the two leaders as unacceptable.
>> Tatar is using as an excuse the very small numbers of coronavirus cases in the south to insist on keeping the crossings closed but, in fact, far fewer tests are being given in the north than in the south.
>> AKEL believes crossings should open but that there must be health checks.
>> Hopes pressure from TC community would force Tatar reassess his position. Hopes RoC would too take initiative for pressure on Tatar.
Turkey plans on carrying exploratory drilling in Greek waters
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Turkey has now announced drillings within Greek waters while Greece and Cyprus will discuss Ankara’s moves with regional allies.
Phileleftheros, in its main item, reports that Turkey is now waging a campaign on Greek waters. The daily reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu presented a map which makes the campaign Ankara will launch within the Greek waters, official.
Cavusolglu sent out a message to the countries of the region that Turkey’s interests must be accepted for stability to prevail, the daily reports.
The Turkish minister presented the map during a televised interview and said that state petroleum company TPAO intends on carrying out research in an area within the Greek waters and near the islands of Crete, Rhodes and Karpathos.
He said when the map of the marine borders was drawn, Ankara made sure that the six-mile territorial waters of the Greek islands are not violated, noting that islands do not have a continental shelf but have six miles of territorial waters.
Cavusoglu also said Turkey did not wish to expand into anyone else’s territories or attack anyone but that it is doing what it has to as regards protecting her rights.
As regards Eastern Mediterranean, Cavusoglu reiterated that the goal is cooperation with everyone, except the GC side which must agree with the ‘TRNC’ for the fair share of hydrocarbons around Cyprus. He also reiterated that Turkey wants to defend the TCs’ rights but also her rights against moves within her own continental shelf, the paper reported.
The paper also reports that Greek Defence Minister Nicos Panayiotopoulos warned that his country would strongly react in case Turkey proceeds with her illegal plans within Greece’s continental shelf.
He said Athens will not just be an observer and is ready to respond as in the case of Evros, Phileleftheros reported.
The papers also report that in the meantime, the foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus and Jordan, have agreed to travel to Iraq to promote a trilateral plus one cooperation.
During the teleconference, Cyprus Foreign Minister, Nikos Christodoulides, along with his counterparts from Greece, Nikos Dendias, and Jordan, Ayman Safadi, exchanged views, among other things, on the progress made in the framework of the institutionalised tripartite cooperation between the three countries, on their cooperation with Iraq, on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, and the situation in Libya and Syria respectively, as well as relations between the European Union and Jordan.
Christodoulides, Safadi and Dendias agreed, as soon as conditions allow, to travel to Iraq to promote cooperation as part of the 3+1 framework.
The ministers also examined the continued illegal activity of Turkey in the Republic of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and Turkey’s provocative actions in the air, sea and land borders with Greece.
The dailies report that Dendias said after the videoconference that Turkish moves are destabilising the region.
“I briefed my counterparts on Turkey’s recent illegal and provocative actions against Greece in the air, and also at sea and at our land borders. I also briefed them on Turkey’s attempt to usurp Greece’s sovereign rights, through the invalid ‘memoranda of understanding’ with Mr Sarraj, and also through the recent publication in Turkey’s Government Gazette of a series of applications submitted by the Turkish Petroleum Corporation for the granting of exploration and exploitation permits in regions within Greece’s continental shelf”, Dendias said, according to the dailies.
The dailies also report that US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy, Francis Fannon called on Turkey to refrain from any provocative actions that could undermine investment confidence in the East Mediterranean region and affect political stability.
He was speaking during an online discussion on the East Med pipeline and trilateral partnership between Greece, Cyprus and Israel organised by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce. Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis was among the participants.
Fannon said that according to the international law all islands have an EEZ and a continental shelf. “We are not commenting on future actions that may happen or not, but we are encouraging states to stop provocative actions, behaviours and statements. Turkey is an important country and we want that it preserves its Western orientation”, Fannon said, the dailies reported.
Phileleftheros, citing Israeli news portal Ynet reports that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Nicos Anastasiades are expected to separately visit Israel later this month to discuss renewing flights between the countries after they were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mitsotakis is to visit on June 16 to discuss restarting tourism, as well as tensions with Turkey over gas drilling in the Mediterranean. Anastasiades is expected to follow on June 23 for talks on tourism and other joint interests.
KEY ACTORS
Cavusoglu (Turkey)
>> Islands have no continental shelf, only six-miles of territorial waters and Turkey made sure to respect that when drawing up her maritime borders around the Greek islands.
>> Turkey does not wish to expand into anyone else’s territories but that it is doing what it has to as regards protecting her rights.
>> Ankara wants to cooperate with all countries in the region except the GCs which must agree with the ‘TRNC’ for equally sharing hydrocarbons around Cyprus.
>> Turkey wants to defend the TCs’ rights but also her rights against moves within her own continental shelf.
Panayiotopulos (Greek Defence Minister)
>> Athens is ready to strongly react in case Turkey proceeds with her illegal plans within Greece’s continental self.
Dendias (Greek FM)
>> Turkish moves are destabilising the region.
>> Turkey tries to usurp Greece’s sovereign rights, through the invalid MoUs with Sarraj & the recent publication in Turkey’s government gazette of applications by TPAO for the granting of exploration and exploitation permits in regions within Greece’s continental shelf.
Fannon (US)
>> According to international law all islands have an EEZ and a continental shelf.
>> Calls on Turkey to refrain from any provocative actions that could undermine investment confidence in the East Med and affect political stability.
>> Turkey is an important country and US wants it to preserve its Western orientation.
DISY wants KISA banned from House meetings over spat with Alithia
Alithia, Politis
CBMs, Human Rights, Internal Security, EU Matters, Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
Alithia, in its main item, reports that ruling party DISY has asked House President Demetris Syllouris in a letter to ban from parliament meetings the head of migrants rights group KISA, Doros Polykarpou after the latter insulted the daily and one of its editors over an article it had published on the mass arrivals of migrants under the headline ‘The migrants are the third Attila’.
In Thursday’s article, written by the editor in question, Takis Agathocleous, Alithia reports that DISY MP Andreas Kyprianou called on Syllouris to ban Polykarpou and KISA from parliament discussions on issues concerning migrants.
The daily called Polykarpou as ‘Attila’s lover’ and one of main opposition AKEL’s ‘favourite pets’. According to Agathocleous, Polykarpou had insulted him personally by calling him a fascist and Alithia over an article published last January on the mass arrival of migrants to Cyprus. The daily at the time had reported that the majority of these migrants were channelled to the island by Turkey and that officials had said the country was unable to take in so many people.
Alithia reports that Polykarpou had at the time said: “Need we remind Alithia’s fascist journalist that the first Attila restored the legal order overturned by their like-minded people in this country! The second Attila may force you to a solution of the Cyprus problem and a third one may save us from your Arian race!”
Alithia reports that Kyprianou said in his letter that in the case Polykarpou or KISA are invited by the House legal affairs committee during discussion of a package of bills on measures against illegal migrants, he would leave the meeting. Other DISY MPs are expected to do the same the paper reported. Kyprianou said in his letter that Polykarpou’s positions cannot serve the best interests of Cyprus.
The daily recalls that January’s article was also discussed by the Journalism Ethics Committee, which is controlled by AKEL, and as it was expected, it said, it was found to promote hate speech.
In a related issue, Politis reports that it seems the government will not make changes to the code of implementation of the Green Line Regulation approved by cabinet last November aimed at curbing migrant flows. The amendment was on banning the crossing of third-country nationals who either enter the Republic illegally or are on work permits, the paper reports.
Competent authorities believe there is no reason to amend the Green Line Regulation code of implementation since the aim is to strengthen checks on crossing points and not complicate things as regards movement between the two sides.
It was also argued that the measures proposed from the outset would not be particularly helpful in tackling illegal immigration flows.
After all, the authorities believe that there are tools for adequate controls, both within the Regulation and more broadly in the European framework of rules and directives. At this stage, it was considered much more effective to focus on strengthening checks at the crossing points, both from and to the occupied areas. What is being implemented at this stage is setting up the necessary infrastructure, so that control is exercised on both directions of the crossing points, including GCs, Politis reports.
Citing police sources, the goal is to have a clear picture, especially for cases of people who raise authorities’ concerns. The European Commission itself, in its reports in relation to the implementation of the Green Line Regulation calls for stricter controls, which should be carried out consistently and strictly, the paper reported.
‘Imagine’ successfully brought together pupils & teachers from both sides
Haravgi
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that the bicommunal
Technical Committee on Education announced the successful completion of the
‘Imagine’ Programme for the school year 2019-2020.
The Committee said that it has managed to bring together during this school
year, 1,285 students and 162 teachers from TC and GC primary, lower and upper
secondary and vocational schools from all areas of Cyprus.
Due to the ongoing situation with the Covid-19 virus, the programme ended with an online webinar for teachers in collaboration with German NGO Gesicht Zeigen!. The remaining activities falling under the scope of ‘Imagine’ (including teacher training and study visits) will continue with the beginning of the new school year, the daily reported.
The ‘Imagine’, programme, taking place under the auspices of the Technical Committee on Education and implemented by the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) and the Home for Cooperation (H4C) with the support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany and the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, since June 2017, it has brought together 5,091 students and 582 teachers while 92 head-teachers were trained in peace education.
A total of 589 students (of the 5,091) also participated in sustainability activities thus paving the way for long-lasting relationships and an enriched understanding of peace, the Committee said, according to the paper. The Committee continues its efforts to implement confidence-building measures in schools of the two educational systems and promote contact and co-operation between students and educators from the two communities, the paper reports.
Authorities up security around vandalised Limassol mosque
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, Property
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Limassol mayor Nikos Nicolaides announced that security cameras and more lighting are to be installed outside the vandalised Koprulu mosque.
The announcement came after a meeting between the mayor, the head of the Limassol police crime investigation unit and the head of the service managing TC properties.
Head of CID, Ioannis Soteriades said it was also agreed that an increased number of police officers will patrol the area to avoid any further incidents. He added that the police are monitoring other sensitive areas in Limassol which he believes might be potential targets for racist incidents.