Front Page Headlines
Window to the world with two cases
Larnaca airport back in operation yesterday with strict protocols. 22 Israelis broke the air travel lockdown with an Israir flight to Larnaca airport. Aegean was the first to take off yesterday at 8 in the morning headed to Athens with 130 passengers.
- (Akinci) Furious with the “government”
- Bases (SBAs): And now for implementation
Malicious Turkish virus
Issues threats to Nicosia and Athens, blackmails with Famagusta, warns about mosques. Occupation regime kept T/C workers locked in.
- Nicosia waits: Historic agreement for Greece – Italy EEZ
They prefer countries that do not require a certificate
20 out of 70 companies restarted flights to Cyprus. Cruiseships again in Cyprus at the beginning of 2021. AKEL S.G.: Tourist areas need to be supported.
- “Political obstinacy” by Tatar – Ozersay
- He asked to be paid and he was beaten up
- Delineation of Greece – Italy maritime zones. Erdogan speaks with Tramp and Putin
- Developers bet on “golden passports” and planning incentives
- Tatar statement on settling of Famagusta provocative and unacceptable
Airports reopen after 11 weeks
First departures and arrivals from Larnaca airport: ‘we are ready’.
- Turkish Cypriots cross, some bring bedding
- Cyprus: Cypriots on British bases can now develop their own properties
The first “swallows”
Cyprus tourist spring began yesterday. First flights: Larnaca airport back in operation with ten flights (five arrivals, five departures). Giannis Karousos: 30.000 passengers during the first month, 200.000 during the second, 400.000 during the third, 600.000 after four months. Eleni Kalogirou: 20 companies have already scheduled flights from and to Cyprus and will continue increasing.
- Agreement for development of non-military areas in the SBAs enforced: Historic day for development – 78% of SBA territory, spanning 200 square kilometers, will be included in zoning and will develop in the same way as the rest of Cyprus
- Dendias: A historic day: An agreement that sends a message to Turkey: Greece and Italy delineated EEZs
- Occupied areas: They insist on closed checkpoints
- Borrel warns Turkey with sanctions
Main News
T/C workers cross to south as “government” ignores leaders’ agreement
Alithia, Haravgi, Cyprus Mail, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that only 14 people crossed to the government-controlled areas on Tuesday due to the fact that the T/C “government” did not allow crossings to and from the occupied areas.
The newspaper reports that about 30 to 35 T/Cs had applied to cross to the south, but only 14 were allowed to do so. Eight of them were workers that are employed in the south, and six are persons that require medical treatment. The 14 T/Cs crossed through the Agios Dometios and Pergamos/ Strovilia checkpoints, the newspaper notes.
The dailies report that the workers that crossed carried with them pillows, supplies and cooking equipment since they will not be allowed to return to the north for 14 days. It is reported that thw workers have agreed with the T/C “government” that when they return to the north they will have to self-quarantine for 14 days. Some will have to sleep in their cars while others will be living in accomodation supplied by their employers.
The dailies also report, citing statements by human rights commissioner Photis Photiou to the Cyprus News Agency, that five G/C enclaved students from Rizokarpaso also crossed a few days ago in order to take part in pancyprian school examinations.
Government spokesperson Kyriakos Koushios told the Cyprus News Agency that President Anastasiades is following developments closely and that decisions will be taken accordingly. He underlined that the government will not watch passively, but did not clarify further.
Politis reports citing information that UNFICYP is expecting to be informed on the situation but that the UN seems careful of not getting involved in the T/C community’s pre-election campaign.
Oikonomiki Kathimerini reports that the “government” is expected to reopen checkpoints on July 1st. Sources from the T/C right-wing told the newspaper that Anastasiades and Akinci attempted to politicise the issue, each looking to please the international community and T/C public opinion respectively.
The dailies report that T/C leader Mustafa Akinci has asked the “government” to explain itselfm but that “foreign minister” Kudret Ozersay insisted that as far as the “government” is concerned there was no agreement to reopen on June 8th, just a common understanding.
In a statement, Akinci accused the “government” of not following common sense and scientific findings even in this difficult time and that it has chosen political obstinancy. Akinci also said that the “government” said it would submit a report on the situation to the “presidency”, but that instead it submitted atwo-and-a-half pages draft.
Meanwhile, the G/C head of the bicommunal Technical Committee for Health, Leonidas Phylactou, told the Cyprus News Agency that on Friday he requested a second teleconference between the committee and experts from both sides, but so far had received no response.
Phylactou also said that the T/C side is yet to send a detailed epidemiological report to the G/C side on the situation in the north.
The dailies also report that several professional groups have reacted to the stance of the T/C “government” regarding the lack of support to the tourism sector. Philelftheros reports, citing T/C press, that the association of T/C tour guides as well as T/C hotel owners protested the lack of suppor to their sector in front of the “prime minister’s office”.
Agreement with UK over development in SBAs enters into effect
Alithia, Politis
Internal Security, Economy, External Security, Regional/ International Relations, Property
OVERVIEW
Cyprus and the UK have signed an agreement that has long been in the making, which will allow the development of properties in the non-military areas of the SBAs, which will happen in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Cyprus.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday by British High Commissioner Stephen Lillie and Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides, during a ceremony in the Presidential Palace.
Politis reports that after a period of public consultations lasting 35 days, the agreement will be put fully into effect. Until then, all affected property owners as well as environmental organisations, municipalities and local communities can submit their disagreements or suggestions. It will then be up to the Cypriot and the UK government to decide which of these to incorporate into the final deal.
Alithia reports that the agreement opens up 200 square kilometers, or 78% of the territory of the SBAs, to development according to Cypriot law.
The draft and the relevant environmental impact study are expected to be published on Wednesday by the Environment Department and the Town Planning and Housing Department.
In a statement, President Anastasiades said that this was a historic agreement especially for the owners of properties currently lying within SBA territory. He recalled that the arrangement being put into effect was first agreed upon in 2014 by himself and then British prime minister David Cameron.
Anastasiades assured that owners of land that are not part of a military area will now be able to develop them in any way they want, including for large-scale developments.
High Commissioner Stephen Lillie said that the agreement is to the obvious benefit of 12,000 Cypriots living within SBA territories. He added that the positive result in these complex and demanding negotiations are indicative of the determination showed by the two countries.
Greece and Italy sign EEZ delineation agreement
Alithia, Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, External Security, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Greece and Italy have signed a deal on the delineation of the maritime areas of the two countries, the dailies report. The press points out that the deal comes as an answer to Turkey’s agreement with the UN-recognised Libyan government. The agreement was signed by Foreign Ministers Nicos Dendias and Luigi Di Maio.
In a statement during the signing ceremony at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dendias said that this was a historic agreement which recognises the right of islands to have maritime zones and safeguards fishing rights, Phileleftheros reports.
Dendias pointed out that the agreement also conforms to the 1977 agreement between Greece and Italy on the boundary of their continental shelf areas.
Dendias also said that Greece aims to sign delineation agreements with all neighboring states, in accordance to international law. The Greek Foreign Minister added that the agreements are not taking place in the arbitrary manner that other countries selectively use international law. He also aid that the agreement signed between Turkey and the al-Sarraj government is not substantial.
Dendias said that he and Di Maio discussed Turkey’s actions against Greek interests and in the wider region. He also said that the two countries agree that the situation in Libya should resolve through the UN’s efforts and the Berlin Process, welcomed Egypt’s peace iniative and underlined the importance of EU operation Irini.
In a statement, Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that Tuesday was a good day for Greece, Italy, Europe and the whole of the Mediterranean, Politis reports. Mitsotakis also said that he is hopeful more agreements can be signed in the future.
Phileleftheros reports that Nicosia is adopting a wait-and-see approach and expects that the turn of Cyprus to sign a similar agreement will come.
Oikonomiki Kathimerini reports that Athens is now looking towards Egypt and working for an EEZ delineation agreement with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.
Politis reports that the ageement is the first bilateral deal Greece signs considering its EEZ. The newspaper also points out that the agreement with Italy had been pending for 43 years.
Haravgi assesses the signature of the deal as positive, but not enough to curb Turkey’s actions. The newspaper points out that soon after the signature ceremony, Turkish President Tayip Erdogan said that he had discussed the situation in Libya with his US counterpart, Donald Trump.
Greek government spokesperson Stelios Petsas said in a seperate statement that the agreement is especially important and a definitive step regarding the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Phileleftheros also reports that the Greek government has sent a letter to the UN’s General Assembly announcing its intention to contest the election of Turkey’s Volkan Bozkir as the president of the body. This move comes after a similar move from Cyprus and Armenia.
In another development, the dailies report that EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrel has said that EU – Turkish relations will be on the agenda of the next Foreign Affairs Council, following a request by Greek FM Dendias.
Borrel told the Cyprus News Agency that the sanctions regime initiated by the EU against Turkey regarding illegal drilling in the Cypriot EEZ is applicable also to actions that concern Greece, since these actions also take place in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Borrel underlined that there are no new developments on this issue beyond the request by the Greek FM that this issue be discussed in the FAC. He added that the EU has a complex relationship with Turkey and that the EU is in communication with Ankara, though there are no ongoing official negotiations.
Phileleftheros also extensively reports on statements made by Turkish President Tayip Erdogan regarding the spat with Greece over the issue of the usage of Hagia Sophia. Erdogan said that if the monument were to be turned into a mosque, it is obvious in whose authority that decision lies. He said that Turkey is not expecting for permission but the decision of the country’s appeals court.
Erdogan also referred to the vandalism of a mosque in Limassol and the placing of Byzantine flag on a mosque in Larnaca. The newspaper also reports on statements made by Erdogan regarding the country’s determination to continue its search for natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean.
G/C opposition party reacts to Tatar’s statements on Famagusta
Haravgi
Property, Territory, Negotiations Process, CBMs, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou said that statements by T/C “prime minister” Ersin Tatar regarding speeing up plans to settle the fenced-off city of Varosha are provocative and unacceptable, Haravgi reports.
Kyprianou said that President Anastasiades should take these statements seriously and act to prevent such moves from taking place. He said that the government should not disregard the intentions of the T/C side as posturing.
AKEL’s leader underlined however that the only action that can end these attempts once and for all is the restart of substantial negotiations towards a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus Problem.
Kyprianou recalled that he had informed the president of the European Commission and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs. In their responses, both Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borrel had underlined the need for a return to negotiations, Kyprianou pointed out.