Front Page Headlines
OKYpY backtracking sets fire to health
Hospitals at a standstill tomorrow, nurses begin 24 hour strike. A dynamic reaction and measures from doctors also an open possibility. Health-workers unions accuse OKYpY (state health services) of mocking them.
- EU concerned over regional tension: Borell goes to Athens – Nicosia
- Pyrgos residents are furious: T/Cs keep Limnitis closed – Government does not loosen measures at checkpoints
- They had been warned
Hospitals on fire
Nurses strike tomorrow, doctors call assemblies, X-ray specialists warn of measures. OKYpY went with a new proposal for hirings but it was rejected.
- Occupation regime doesn’t change tune: Moves for appearances at checkpoints
- Shocking accusation, Nouris ordered an investigation: Sexual harassment of underage boys at Pournara center
- No one will dare, Cavusoglu threatens
1.5 billion euro tax debts forgotten
2.5 billion euros total debts to Income Tax. New extension for arrears payment plan. “Common tax rate through another way”.
- Pournara: Sexual abuse of minors
- Limnitis – Ledras checkpoints closed. 1,100 G/Cs and T/Cs used the rest
- Niyazi Kizilyurek: No to turning the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. He calls on the Commission to intervene
- Double taxation deal with Russia up on the air
Police to step up Nicosia patrols
Fatal stabbing turns spotlight on to migrant pressures in capital’s old city.
- Conflicting measures cause crossings confusion
Political games with checkpoints
By Tatar and Ozersay. Pressured by the government’s decision they only opened 4 checkpoints based on self interest. They opened Ledras which the government left closed and closed Ledra Palace which we opened for pedestrians. Tatar and Ozersay moved forward with opening four checkpoints without informing Akinci and Anastasiades.
- From 1,039 tests: Two new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, but from returnees
- Towards electoral cooperation: AKEL – DIKO love affair can’t be hidden
- From Nicos Nouris: Answers on everything regarding asylum seekers
- Crossword of war in Libya: Egypt – Turkey’s involvement and the oil – New Turkish threats against Greece
Main News
Checkpoints chaos as sides fail to coordinate on openings
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on how diverging decisions by the T/C “government” and the RoC have caused uncertainty at crossing points, after the north’s decision to open some checkpoints that were not opened by the RoC and to keep others closed.
Politis reports that the decisions by the T/C authorities have caused anger especially at Pyrgos, since the Pyrgos-Limnitis checkpoint remains closed which means the inhabitants remain cut off from travelling directly to Nicosia.
Kato Pyrgos community leader Nicos Kleanthous told Politis that the residents of the village are ready to take measures unless the government moves quickly and decisively to ensure the opening of the Pyrgos-Limnitis checkpoint. Kleantous said that “either all checkpoints will be open, or none”.
Politis reports that the Presidential Palace is in constant communication with Mustafa Akinci’s office and that the T/C leader does not disagree with reopening the Limnitis checkpoint. The government has also contacted UNFICYP asking for special arrangements for the area.
The newspaper also notes that the government is insisting on the policy of asking for a new health certificate every 72 hours, while the north requires a health certificate only during the first crossing. Government sources point out that the reason for this is the uncertainty caused by the north’s decision to allow flights from Turkey on July 1st.
The dailies also note that neither T/C leader Mustafa Akinci nor President Anastasiades were informed of the T/C “governments” decisions ahead of time.
Government spokesperson Kyriakos Koushios said that the leaders were not informed due to the political situation in the north. Koushios added that the government is in direct contact with Akinci but that the T/C leader seems unable to make decisions at this point due to the conditions.
Phileleftheros argues, citing assesments made by government sources, that the T/C “government’s” decision to open the Ledras checkpoint (which the RoC keeps closed) while keeping the Ledra Palace checkpoint closed (which the RoC opened) is an attempt to create false impressions.
The newspaper reports that the government does not intend to open the Ledras checkpoint despite the north’s decision. The government cites concerns that the authorities would not be able to effectively check all passers by due to the high traffic usually observed at that particular checkpoint.
According to Phileleftheros, the “government” chose to reopen those checkpoints that are in the T/C interest (Pergamos, Strovilia, Zodia and Agios Dometios). The newspaper points to the fact that the Pyrgos- Limnitis checkpoint was kept closed by the T/Cs despite it being opened by the G/Cs.
The Cyprus News Agency reports that more than 1,000 people used the Agios Dometios checkpoint to cross to the occupied and to the government-controlled areas on Monday. According to data provided by the Police, by 6 pm on Monday about 605 persons crossed to the south and about 493 crossed to the north.
This marks a sharp increase to Sunday, which was the first day of the reopening since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Sunday only 51 persons crossed to the south.
In a statement, AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou criticised the government for keeping the Ledras street checkpoint closed. He said he did not find arguments put forward by the government on this issue convincing.
Kyprianou added that AKEL had insisted early on that the government should have been taking initiatives that could put pressure on the T/C “government”. He pointed out that AKEL was proven right since when the RoC opened the checkpoints, the T/C “government” was forced to respond with opening checkpoints.
Borell to visit Greece and Cyprus on Thursday and Friday
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, External Security, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Politis reports that EU High Representative Josep Borrel will travel to Greece and Cyprus on Thursday and Friday to discuss Turkey’s behaviour in the region. Borrel is expected to visit Athens and Thessaloniki before travelling to Cyprus.
Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides told Politis that Borrel’s contacts with the Greek and Cypriot governments will help prepare the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU, where the 27 FMs will discuss the whole range of EU-Turkish relations.
Christodoulides also told the newspaper that the EU has started realising that Turkey’s behaviour is not an issue of concern not only to Cyprus and Greece but also of the wider EU. He added that the withdrawal of the US from regional politics is a good opportunity for the EU to assert its influence in the region.
Borrel is scheduled to meet President Anastasiades, Foreign Minister Christodoulides and Defence Minister Savvas Angelides. The newspaper reports that Borrel could shedule contacts in Ankara as well.
Phileleftheros reports that Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides will be in Tel Aviv on Tuesday for bilateral consultations with his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi. President Anastasiades and four ministers were originally planning to travel to Israel but had to postpone due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
The two Foreign Ministers will discuss the regional situation, the development of the trilateral cooperation with Greece and the situation in Libya.
Phileleftheros reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned that Ankara will ensure its drillships will not be disturbed, during an interview with German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. When asked how Turkey would respond in case the Greek navy made a move, Cavusoglu said that they would defend Turkey’s sovereign rights.
Responding to a statement by Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who has called Turkey a troublemaker in the region, the Turkish FM pointed out that Turkish President Tayip Erdogan had said Ankara had tried to promote cooperation the Mediterranean and got a negative response from Athens.
Cavusoglu said that Turkey is bothered by the fact that Greece is using its membership in the EU as a tool. He said that instead of working with France and the EU against Turkey, Greece should be negotiating with its neighbour.
When asked about the possibility of taking the issue of maritime borders to The Hague, Cavusoglu said that this is not an issue for the court and that decisions on this have been taken.
Greek government spokesperson Stelios Petsas responded to Cavusoglu’s statement with pointing out that in order for the two countries to restart their bilateral dialogue, Turkey will have to de-escalate. He added that Greece is ready to negotiate only regarding the delineation of maritime borders.
T/C MEP bring Hagia Sophia issue to the Commission’s attention
Alithia, Phileleftheros
EU Matters, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that AKEL MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek has submitted a parliamentary question to the European Commission regarding plans by the Turkish government to turn the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque. The intentions of the Erdogan’s government will be assessed by Turkish courts on July 2nd.
Kizilyurek points out that despite Erdogan’s earliest statements that such a move would be unecessary, the Turkish President is now turning to populist moves to distract from the negative economic and political situation in the country.
The MEP also said that the monument is currently a museum and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site which should not be altered without the organisations’s approval.
Kizilyurek pointed out that such a move by the Turkish government could lead to wider regional instability, and recalled that the European Parliament had spoken against similar earliest plans in March 2019.