GCC Press Review 17 June 2020

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Opening of checkpoints on razor’s edge

Airports and crossing points under the microscope of the bicommunal Health Committee. Epidemiologists to go to Presidential Palace on Friday to also talk about checkpoints. Government considers all possible scenarios but keeps cards close to its chest.

  • Exhibition with 219 works saved by T/Cs: Culture breaks political impasses – The works were returned as a confidence building measure
  • Message to Noble

Phileleftheros

Dark trades with ovary eggs

Risks and illegalities hide in gaps in legislation on assisted reproduction. “We’re getting into adventures” says president of Bioethics Committee to “Ph”.

  • Quick tests at the forefront: Feverish preparation to reopen airports
  • Christodoulides: Targeted regarding foreign policy
  • EastMed: Israel does not back down
  • Cyprus asks EU for naval presence

Haravgi

De-escalation through problem solving

Government attempts high-sounding proclamations. No common statement from US and EU to Turkey. As situation rapidly develops, EU seeks a role in Libya.

  • Joint exploitation agreement with Israel to be put on the table

Cyprus Mail

EU recognition sought for spuds

With halloumi battle ongoing, minister says Cyprus potato deserves place on European map.

  • Legal view: ECHR to judge value in Varosha properties case

Alithia

They hide something about the coronavirus

Occupied areas: Coronavirus situation unclear. They quit: Tatar’s health scientist team quit because he does not take them into account and does not take their advise. Flights begin: Private (company) Pegasus begins flying from Tymbou today, and Turkish Airlines start from June 20th. Petros Karagiannis: We have to be particularly careful of countries from which the occupied areas will take visitors.

  • Outrage continues in occupied areas over arrival of private jet from Turkey: They broke the quarantine for “sex and gambling” – Ozersay’s People’s Party breaks ranks and asks “government” partners to explain themselves
  • State Gallery: 219 returned art works from Famagusta “reborn”
  • Mystery solved: Nicosia unpleasant smell came from occupied areas

Main News

Bicommunal health committee meets amidst charter flight scandal in north

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, External Security, CBMs

OVERVIEW

Politis reports that the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health is expected to once again look into the issue of reopening the checkpoints during its second joint meeting with experts from both sides, which is taking place on Wednesday.

The newspaper reports that the experts are expected to discuss the assessment of the epidemiological situation in different countries, and how the two sides approach the lifting of restictions to travellers from abroad.

The government is reported to have expressed concerns over the rapid increase in coronavirus cases in Turkey over the past few days. Politis also recalls that T/C leader Mustafa Akinci had also shared his own concerns of the issue, calling on T/C experts to speak up.

The experts will look into the issue solely from an epidemiological point of view and will not take decisions, the newspaper underlines. The government’s experts are expecting to see whether and why the north has included countries with a high transmission rate in its list of safe countries.

Experts seem to agree that all checkpoints should not open at the same time, and are considering taking measures such as introducing a form for people crossing as well as introducing a requirement for people crossing to have been tested negative for coronavirus.

According to information cited by Politis, the government could take decisions in the near future since President Anastastasiades is expected to meet with the team of experts on Friday. The newspaper notes that the government cannot continue keeping checkpoints closed and also notes that it has had enough time to prepare to take the necessary security measures once they reopen.

The dailies extensively report on the ongoing political developments regarding the suspect arrival to Tymbou airport of a private flight from Turkey. According to T/C press, the nine passengers of the aircraft did not get tested during arrival and did not enter quarantine.

The T/C opposition parties have raised a storm against the “government” since Ersin Tatar and Kudret Ozersay insist on keeping checkpoints closed due to the coronavirus situation, Phileleftheros reports. The dailies also report that Ozersay’s party has differentiated itself from its “government” partner, and asked UBP and Tatar to explain themselves.

The dailies also report that the the head of the “prime minister’s” team of experts, former “prime minister” Sibel Siber, and two other experts quit the team on Tuesday in protest over the scandal. In a joint statement, the three experts say that Tatar hasn’t requested a meeting or listened to their suggestions in a long time.


Israel reiterates support for EastMed project during Mitsotakis visit

Alithia, Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, External Security, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters

OVERVIEW

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyuahu said his country is ready to move ahead with the EastMed pipeline project as previous agreed, after a meeting with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Phileleftheros reports.

During the meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday, the two leaders agreed to push on with cooperation in the defence industry, the newspaper reports. Turkish actions in the region was also a main issue on the agenda.

In his own statements, Mitsotakis said that he informed Netanyahu about Turkey’s actions on land, air and maritime borders with greece and discussed the country’s role in the Libyan civil war. He also said that Greece’s agreement with Italy is based on principles of international law and cooperation which should be the foundation for regional relations.

Mitsotakis also said that they discussed the route to be taken by the EastMed pipeline at length. The pipeline will connect the Israeli and Cypriot gas fields to Europe through Greece and Cyprus. The two leaders also discussed the countries’ economic cooperation and signed agreements in multiple sectors.

Kathimerini reports that the joint statement issued by Israel and Greece after the meeting includes references to the need for respect of the sovereign rights of all countries to their maritime areas and their EEZs.

Meanwhile, Greek ambassador to Cyprus Theocharis Lalakos, told the Cyprus News Agency that Greece is optmistiic regarding the prospects of an EEZ delineation agreement with Egypt.

Lalakos also pointed out that the aim to reach an EEZ delineation agreement with Cyprus remains on the agenda. However, he added, Greece’s effort to define its maritime borders is a complex process with multiple steps, which started with an agreement with Italy and continues with the push for an agreement with Egypt.

Politis also reports that Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio is visiting Turkey on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Libya, citing an announcement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

KEY ACTORS
Netanyahu (Israel)
>> Israel is ready to move ahead with EastMed pipeline

Mitsotakis (Greece)
>> Specifics about EastMed’s path were discussed at length

Lalakos (Greek ambassador to Nicosia)
>> An EEZ agreement with Cyprus is on the agenda, but Greece’s effort to define its EEZ is a complex process that begun with the agreement with Italy and now continues with negoatiations with Egypt


Parties criticise Foreign Minister’s handling of Turkish actions in EEZ

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security, EU Matters, Regional/ International Relations, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Phileleftheros reports that both left-wing AKEL as well as right-wing Solidarity criticised Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides’s handling of Turkish actions in the EEZ, and points out that this the first time that AKEL is not alone in its criticism.

The newspaper reports that both parties accuse Christodoulides of building up excessive and unrealistic expectations and making statements for internal consumption. DIKO and EDEK also took a critical stance, pointing out that what is needed is actions, not words.

AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou said on Tuesday that Christodoulides had increased expectations that Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council would result in a joint effort by the EU and the US to de-escalate the situation in the region. What actually happened, Kyprianou said, was that no message was sent to Turkey, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo showing more interest in the situation in Libya. Kyprianou called on the government to stop influencing public opinion witih grand statements and focus on finding solutions.

Solidarity stated that the EU will have to stop debasing itself and respect its own decisions. The party also called on the Foreign Minister to realise the citizens are not naive “subjects” that do not remember what was said in the past.

In a statement, DISY supports the government and says that diplomatic efforts are ongoing which can be seen also by Mike Pompeo’s participation in the recent teleconference of the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU. DISY adds that those who want instant results seem to be expecting magical solutions.

Cyprus Mail reports that Christodoulides told CyBC that Nicosia is working on an iniative aiming to de-escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, and pointed out that the EU’s relations with Turkey will be examined in the next Foreign Affairs Council. Christodoulides denied that the government had excessive expectations for a joint EU-US statement against Turkey.

In another development, US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus told journalists that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the EU’s Foreign Ministers focused on coronavirus, bilateral relations, China and Russia during their teleconference on Monday, the Cyprus News Agency reports.

CNA also cites European diplomatic sources which pointed out that during the meeting, Pompeo was mostly concerned about Turkey’s behavious in Libya and the prospect of Turkey and Russia coordinating on Libya in a similar way to their coordination in Syria.

Borrel is reported to have also asked Pompeo to be strict towards Ankara regarding its relations with Greece and Cyprus. This issue was also discussed during a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayip Erdogan, but the discussion did not go well according to the same source.

Phileleftheros reports that Defence Minister Savvas Angelides brought up the need of increased EU naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, during a teleconference meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on Tuesday. According to a statement by the Ministry of Defence, Angelides informed his counterparts of the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The meeting focused on stengthening EU joint defence initiatives. High Representative Josep Borrel called on member states to support Operation Irini, which monitors the maintenance of the embargo on arms imports to Libya.

KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> FM Christodoulides created high expectations for Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council
>> Government should grandstand less and act more

Solidarity
>> The Foreign Minister should not treat citizens like “subjects” with no memory

Christodoulides (Foreign Minister)
>> The RoC’s diplomatic initiative is ongoing
>> Government did not create expectations of joint EU-US appeal to Turkey


Energy Minister: Noble should honour obligations, RoC open to discussion

Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Politis
Energy, Economy, Regional/ International Relations

OVERVIEW

Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis told CyBC television that the government expects Noble Energy to honour the 2019 agreement over the exploitation of the “Aphrodite” gas field, but pointed out that Nicosia is open to discuss any rational changes.

Lakkotrypis’s comments refer to a statement by Noble Energy, published by Politis on Tuesday. The company had said that it is ready to carry out the agreement, but that the global downturn would require a change in plans which would have to be negotiated with the Cypriot government.

The government is ready to examine any request officially submitted by Noble energy to amend the timeframe of the agreement. However, he added, any extension will depend on the reasoning presented by the company.

Lakkotrypis pointed out that so far the company had not requested an extension or any change in the agreement. He added that ExxonMobil-Qatar Petroleum and ENI-Total had succesfully asked to postpone their drilling operations due to obstacles caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Politis recalls that when the agreement with Noble was signed, Lakkotrypis had drawn particular attention to those elements of the deal that impose tight timeframes for the completion of the works. However, according to information cited by the newspaper, the company had made sure that the agreement gave it a leeway in case of delays caused by unforeseen circumstances.

Meanwhile, Kathimerini reports that Lakkotrypis is considering leaving the Ministry for Energy and moving into the private sector. The newspaper reports that the Presidential Palace is working on finding his succesor, and that deputy minister for Maritime issues Natasa Pelides is being considered.

The newspaper reports that Lakkotrypis had wanted to leave the government for a while, but that President Anastasiades had made second thoughts since everyone was expecting for the restart of drilings in the Cypriot EEZ. The replacement of the minister will be announced after Anastasiades’s visit to Israel next week.

KEY ACTORS
Lakkotrypis (Energy Minister)
>> Noble Energy should honour the agreement signed with the RoC
>> The government is open to discuss reasonable changes


Source of bad smell afflicting Nicosia finally detected in the north

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, CBMs

OVERVIEW

The Department for the Environment of the Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed that the source of a bad smell that has been noticeable all over Nicosia has come from the occupied areas, Phileleftheros reports.

The government was able to pinpoint the source of the smell with the assistance of the United Nations. The smell originates from an area in northwestern Nicosia, north of the old Nicosia International Airport, where a large amount of animal waste (mainly from cow farms) had been deposited.

The Department for the Environment points out in an announcement that the smell was particularly intense because of the temperature during last Wednesday and Thursday. Also, the situation had worsened due to the flow of rain water that swamped the area after last winter’s heavy rains. The smell was particularly noticeable in west Nicosia.

The head of the Environment Department, Costas Hadjipanagiotou, told Politis that depositing animal waste on fields to fertilise them is a common practice in both sides. The problem in this case seems to be that the waste was not properly processed before used, he said.

He added that the RoC will let the T/C side know through UNFICYP that the G/C side can provide technical assistance if needed.


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