GCC Press Review 22 June 2020

Front Page Headlines

Politis

We ask 162 politicians to pay up

Auditing Service investigation in full swing over “sinful” loans from Cooperativism. Non-performing grants to 53 current and former officials are being checked one by one for possible preferential treatment. For 109 the investigation continues for dependants and companies.

  • T/C open 5 checkpoints starting today: PR game without substance – No change regarding flights from Turkey
  • Turkey: Economy harms Erdogan
  • Libya: Egypt ready to intervene

Phileleftheros

Greek Cypriots blocked

Occupation regime did not allow them to cross through checkpoints yesterday. United Nations are observing the situation.

  • Checkpoints: Only those that had a reason went
  • Turkish Cypriot letter: Cooperation only on the basis of “two states”
  • Libya war: Towards an Egypt – Turkey conflict for Sirte
  • Five-day zero cases strike broken

Haravgi

Drums of war from Egypt to Libya

International community calls for a ceasefire. “Get your hands off us” is the answer from Libya. Cypriot FM in contact with Egypt and Israel.

  • Few crossings, significant inconvenience
  • DISY chose an “unethical path”
  • Talks cannot continue from where they left off, says Turkish ambassador to Athens
  • Tours and dance performances during the “RESTART” exhibition

Alithia

We will expell them and FRONTEX will pay

Migration policy changes. All asylum seekers will be confined at a building being constructed in Menogia until their applications are processed. We will charter flights to deport illegal aliens and then the European agency will cover the costs. Nicos Nouris and (KISA’s) Doros Polykarpou who publically praises Attila, go head to head today in Parliament.

  • Limited traffic yesterday at checkpoints, occupation regime does not allow crossings of G/Cs: Pressure brings developments – Turks expected to open the Limnitis checkpoint
  • COVID-19 diagnosis: After five consecutive zeros, a new case was recorded yesterday

Main News

People start using checkpoints again amidst restrictions by both sides

Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, CBMs, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Most checkpoints have been reopened but not many people have used them due to restrictions imposed by both sides as coronavirus measures persist, the dailies report.

Politis reports that the T/C “cabinet of ministers” met on Sunday and decided to reopen five checkpoints for G/Cs, T/Cs, Maronites and the inhabitants of the mixed village of Pyla. This decision essentially speeds up the initial decision by the T/C side to open checkpoints on July 1st, the newspaper notes.

Alithia points out that the decision was taken after the RoC’s move to reopen most checkpoints on Sunday. This move by the G/C side has created pressure to the T/C “government”, the newspaper argues.

Politis reports that the T/C side has announced the openings of the checkpoints at Pergamo, Strovilia, Astromeritis and Agios Dometios, as well as the checkpoint on Ledras street. However, Politis notes, Ledras street will remain closed for now according to the RoC’s recent decision and in keeping with the May 21st agreement between President Anastasiades and T/C leader Mustafa Akinci.

Alithia reports that the T/C side is expected to announce the reopening of the Limnitis checkpoint as well on Monday. Haravgi reports that all T/C inhabitants of Pyla are being tested for coronavirus so that they’ll be able to move through the checkpoints freely in the future.

Politis points out that the health measures decided by the two sides are different, as the G/C side requires a health certificate once every 72 hours (due to the fact that the T/Cs will reopen for Turkey on July 1st) while the T/C side requires a health certificate only during the first crossing. As a result, the newspaper underlines, the situation is chaotic and constantly changing.

Phileleftheros points out that the T/C side allowed only enclaved G/Cs and Maronites to cross to the north on Sunday, and barred Greek Cypriots residing in the south from entering. According to the report, the T/C authorities did not accept health certificates written in Greek as valid.

The newspaper points out that RoC authorities allow all T/Cs with a health certificate to cross to the south even when their health certificates are in Turkish, since it is an official language of the Republic. Politis reports, regarding the same issue, that there have been contacts and arrangement so that there won’t be similar problems in the future.

Phileleftheros reports that the checkpoints were used mainly by Turkish Cypriots and foreign citizens on Sunday due to the restrictions imposed by the T/C side. By 3 pm on Sunday, 39 T/Cs and 5 foreign citizens used the checkpoints to cross to the government-controlled areas, and 29 T/Cs and one Bulgarian citizen crossed to the north, the newspaper reports citing information from the Ministry of the Interior published by the Cyprus News Agency.

Politis reports, citing the same information, that most crossings on Sunday took place through the Agios Dometios checkpoint.

Politis points out that one of the issues that the T/C “government” has to deal with is the fact that T/Cs do not have access to cheap and quick coronavirus tests.

Meanwhile, UNFICYP’s spokesperson Aleem Siddique told the Cyprus News Agency that the UN is closely monitoring the situation and focusing on the safety of all those passing through the buffer zone.

In another development, the T/C unrecognised representation to the UN has sent a letter to UNSG Antonio Guterres pointing out that all cooperation between the two sides needs to be carried out on the basis of the existence of two seperate states, Phileleftheros reports.

The letter by Ismet Korukoglu was sent through the office of Feridun Sinirlioglu, the permanent representative of Turkey, as is common practice, and was a response to a letter sent by Cypriot permanent representative Andreas Mavroyiannis regarding Turkish actions in the Cypriot EEZ.


RoC’s migration policy to speed up deportations and send bill to FRONTEX

Alithia
Migration & Citizenship, Human Rights, Internal Security

OVERVIEW

Alithia reports on the government’s new migration policy is rapidly being implemented by the Ministry of the Interior in order to stem the illegal entry of migrants and asylum seekers into the country. The newspaper adopts the government’s position that migrants are led into the country by “various centers” and directed to request asylum.

The newspaper adds that the government will construct new buildings in Menogia for the confinement of asylum seekers, where they will remain until a decision is taken within ten days. These buildings are expected to have been completed by August, Alithia reports. Those rejected will then be deported back to their countries or to a safe country with chartered flights paid for by FRONTEX.

According to the new bill that is being brought to the House of Representatives, an asylum seeker will not be allowed to remain in the country while appealing a negative decision, but can only return if his or her appeal is successful.

Meanwhile, the issue of living conditions at the Kokkintrimithia reception center is due to be discussed in the House of Representatives’ committee on human rights. The issue is brought to the committee after a request by AKEL. Alithia notes that KISA head Doros Polykarpou has been also invited to the meeting of the committee.


Foreign Minister to visit Israel instead of President on Tuesday

Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Regional/ International Relations, External Security

OVERVIEW

Phileleftheros reports that Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides will be travelling to Israel on Tuesday in order to meet with Israeli FM Gabi Ashkenazi.

The newspaper notes that the government’s original intention was for President Anastasiades to visit Israel on Tuesday together with four of his ministers, and that this will be the first trip of the FM abroad since the coronavirus lockdown was imposed.

The two ministers are expected to discuss all issues regarding bilateral relations. Phileleftheros recalls that Israel’s ambassador, Sammy Revel, told the newspaper in an interview that Turkish behaviour in the region is one of the main issues in the bilateral agenda.

Politis reports that Christodoulides had a telephone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, regarding the latest developments in the region. The two ministers discussed the situation in Libya and Turkey’s involvement in the civil war in the country.


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