Front Page Headlines
The war with memory is not over
Dealings with history not closed 46 years later. During the past months we talk of first line heroes, doctors and nurses. 46 years ago they were the unseen heroes. Nurse Despoina, 26-years-old then, gives us the climate in Nicosia General Hospital. There are some stories that have not been told that shook everyone that lived them to the core. The account of Panikos K., a refugee from Famagusta, takes us back to September 1974. The time when refugees were unwanted.
Difficult puzzle for EU-Turkish relations
Different approaches by France and Germany over taking new measures against Turkey. Nicosia counts on Anastasiades trip to Paris.
- 46 years later…: A day of memory and honour for all that were sacrificed
- Turkish invasion 1974: Opened account with Greece too
- Shocking descriptions of ELDYK soldiers: From Chania they found themselves in the nightmare of 1974
- Akinci: She was forced to act alone
- July 22nd 1974 – Illusions during ceasefire
- 361 TP (ground troops unit) – Forgotten and betrayed on the front
The small elite of the “golden” passports
President’s former office also on the elite list. 15 out of 637 offices have 55% of the market. Convenient loopholes and indeterminacies in rules.
- “They left and left us in cells while Turks were bombing next door”
How DIKO exposed AKEL
The background of the bad theatre around the “Giorkadji list”. They agreed one thing the one day, DIKO did something else the next day, AKEL was surprised and reached the point of stepping out of the plenary without insisting on supporting its position and to complain about DIKO’s stance, so that their election cooperation would not be harmed.
- Akinci: We are all obligated to work for a solution
- What residents say: Fear and terror over aliens in Palaichori
- Attila invasion: 46 years is too much…
Main News
EU – Turkish relations complicated by Franco-German disagreements
Phileleftheros
External Security, Energy, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports, citing information, that during their contacts in Brussels, both Cypriot President Anastasiades and Greek prime minister Mitsotakis have found that France and Germany understand the dangers coming from Turkey’s behaviour in the Eastern Mediterranean, but disagree on what should be done.
The newspaper points out that Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel have diverging opinions not only on Turkey’s behaviour in the Easter Mediterranean, but even regarding the country’s actions in Libya. During the recent Foreign Affairs Council, France supported the position that the EU should impose sanctions on Turkey while Germany was guarded, citing the migration issue.
According to Phileleftheros, Nicosia is counting on Anastasiades’s visit to Paris within the week as an important opportunity to assess France’s intentions.
Meanwhile, the EU’s High Representative Josep Borrell stated on Sunday that what is needed is a comprehensive discussion regarding EU – Turkish relations. Borrell called EU-Turkey relations the biggest challenge for Europe’s foreign policy.
Borrell told German newspaper Der Spiegel that Turkey is a neighbour to the EU and that cannot change, that it controls the row of migrants and that it causes problems for Greece and Cyprus, but is also a candidate for membership. He pointed out that Merkel has been helpful in an effort to put all issues on the table, and underlined that the EU would not want Turkey’s military influence to expand as well as that of Russia with the creation of military bases.
Borrell also said that he supports the idea of ending the practice of approving foreign affairs questions with unanimity in the Council. However, he said, even this change would require unanimity.
The High Representative also expressed hope that the EU will be ready to present its proposal on a common asylum policy in September.
Defence Minister: US training agreement will be finalised next year
Haravgi
External Security, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides said on Sunday that Cyprus’s relations with the US are moving to a new direction, but did not specify whether Cypriot armed forces will be participating in missions related to US interest in the near future, Haravgi reports.
Petrides was asked to comment on the US Embassy’s announcement that Cypriot soldiers would be trained in order to increase military cooperation and international coalitions related to US national security interests.
The minister said that he had contacted the US Ambassador in Nicosia on July 8th, and discussed the possibility of training National Guard officials after 2021, as a result of the approval of the East Med Act by the US Congress.
Petrides pointed out that the approval of Congress is pending on the issue of training, and said that there will be more information on this possibly next year. He added that US – Cypriot relations are moving in a new direction.