Front Page Headlines
High tensions with lower intensity
Intervention by Merkel and warning to Turkey. The Oruc Reis remains anchored in Antalya without moving to the exploration site. Cyprus and Greece issue anti-Navtex messages on the area reserved by Turkey until August 12.
- France-Cyprus: Visit to Macron with full-blown agenda
The frigates are standing by
The situation in the Eastern Mediterranean remains the same. Intervention by Germany. The president in Paris today with Macron.
- No to a centre for asylum seekers: Protest in Aglandjia outside Palladion
Efforts for de-escalation of tensions
The international community cannot continue to stand aside while Turkish provocations threaten the entire Eastern Mediterranean. The US, NATO and the EU that set as ultimate goal to keep Turkey in the West, let Turkish illegal actions slide without any substantive reactions.
- The reopening of the Ledra street crossing is a political decision
Greece, Cyprus issue own Navtex
Turkey condemns Greek ‘maximalist’ demands, EU says Turkey’s move is very concerning.
The crisis is being deescalated
Merkel plays the role of the firefighter in the Greek-Turkish relations. The Oruc Reis remains anchored off Antalya port after the illegal Navtex. German Bild claims that Merkel prevented at the eleventh hour a war confrontation between Greece and Turkey. President Anastasiades discusses today the new Turkish illegal actions with Emanuel Macron conveying also a message from Athens.
Main News
Anastasiades to discuss Turkey’s latest provocations with Macron
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security, Energy, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The standoff between Greece and Turkey over the latter’s intention of carrying out seismic exploration off Greek island Kastellorizo is the main item in all dailies on Thursday.
President Nicos Anastasiades who is in Paris will discuss the matter with his French counterpart Emanuel Macron while German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s intervention seems to have helped deescalate tensions.
According to the dailies, both Greece and Cyprus issued Navtex messages το counter the one Turkey issued earlier in the week concerning an area which lies within Greece’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and is set to last until August 2. Turkey responded with a new Navtex.
In the meantime, Anastasiades, who is in Paris, was to discuss the matter with French President Macron on Thursday morning.
The two presidents will discuss bilateral relations cooperation in the fields of energy and defence, Turkish provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean in the field of energy as well as issues related to the agenda of the EU.
Deputy government spokesman Panayiotis Sentonas said on Wednesday that the government closely monitors the issue of the Turkish Navtex and Anastasiades will discuss it with the French president.
Sentonas also said Anastasiades on Wednesday held a phone conversation with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during which they discussed the new Navtex issued by Turkey. Both countries coordinate their actions in EU and other levels, he said, adding that the two leaders also discussed the meeting the Cyprus president will have with his French counterpart.
Anastasiades is accompanied by the ministers of foreign affairs and defence, the government spokesman and his advisor on energy matters, former Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis.
Sentonas recalled that a special European Council will take place in autumn to discuss the EU-Turkey relations and added that the Council in its recent session decided that special provisions will be in place for the funding of third countries, including Turkey, based on their respect of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international law.
Most dailies also report that Merkel has helped deescalate tensions between Ankara and Athens citing a report by German newspaper Bild.
The German newspaper said that Chancellor Merkel’s telephone conversations on Tuesday with the Turkish President and the Greek Prime Minister had prevented a last-minute war conflict between Greece and Turkey, the paper report. According to the Bild, after the phone call, the Turkish fleet changed its course.
German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christopher Burger on Wednesday confirmed Merkel’s telephone conversations on Tuesday with the Turkish and Greek leaders. He said that the international law must be respected and that Germany wanted a prudent dialogue and progress in EU-Turkey relations. However, this is only possible if Turkey abandons provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean, he said, according to the dailies.
The dailies also cite statements by European Commission spokesperson Nabila Massrali to the Cyprus News Agency on Turkey’s new Navtex.
Massrali said the Turkey’s new Navtex for a seismic survey in the Eastern Mediterranean is not helpful and sends the wrong message, notably following the recent discussion at Foreign Affairs Council on Turkey and EU-Turkey relations.
“In line with Turkey’s status as candidate country, it needs to commit itself unequivocally to good neighbourly relations, international agreements and to the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the UN Charter, having recourse, if necessary, to the International Court of Justice”, Massrali said. She added that the EU has repeatedly underlined that delimitation of exclusive economic zones and the continental shelf should be addressed through dialogue and negotiation in good faith.
The dailies also report that the Turkish foreign ministry in a statement on Wednesday morning said that the maritime area, in which the Oruc Reis will conduct a survey, is located entirely within the Turkish continental shelf as declared to the UN and within the license blocks granted by Turkish government to TPAO in 2012.
It said that Greece raised objections to the current survey activity and claimed that the survey area is within its own continental shelf based on the presence of remote islands far from its own mainland, most notably Kastellorizo. “This maximalist continental shelf claim of Greece is contrary to international law, jurisprudence and court decisions,” the Turkish foreign ministry said.
It added that the argument that an island of 10 square kilometres, located only two km away from Anatolia and 580 km from the Greek mainland should generate a continental shelf area of 40.000 square km is neither rational nor in line with international law.
Turkey, it said, while reiterating her calls to Greece for dialogue as repeated at every level on various occasions up until today, will also continue to defend its legitimate rights and interests stemming from international law.
Haravgi and Phileleftheros report on Cypriot parties’ reactions to the latest developments.
AKEL spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the international community must not stand idly by while Turkish aggression threatens the entire Eastern Mediterranean. He said that the US, NATO and the EU, whose ultimate goal is keep Turkey in the West, let Turkish illegal actions slide without substantive reactions. Stefanou called on the Cypriot government to make use of all synergies in EU-Turkey relations to achieve curbing Turkish aggression and promoting the goal of the termination of Turkish occupation and the partition of Cyprus.
The solution of the Cyprus problem based on the agreed framework could contribute to solving other problems in the region, he said.
DISY MP Nicos Tornaritis said Turkey’s methods are a thing of the past since political problems today are solved through dialogue and respect for international law.
Tornaritis called on the EU to promptly react so that Turkey ceases its activities. If the situation gets out of hand, the consequences will be devastating for everyone, he said.
He also said Turkey’s actions are in complete contradiction with international law and to the detriment of the rights of all Europeans, especially GCs and TCs.
The Citizens’ Alliance urges Athens and Nicosia to call for an emergency European Council meeting to discuss precautionary sanctions against Turkey if the latter implements its plans. Waiting for the Council to convene in September is counterproductive and facilitates Ankara, the party said.
DIKO accused the government and ruling DISY of either ignoring realities or of misleading the people. The party said that a first reading of the European Council conclusions shows that Anastasiades’ statement on alleged safeguards against Turkey is far from the truth. Turkey, the party said, is an accession country and therefore EU provisions concerning third countries do not apply. It added that there are no provisions on the paragraph on accession countries stipulating any conditions for pre-accession assistance.
EDEK warned that Turkey can only be dealt with through strong resistance and collective effort. Any new concessions on the continental self, EEZ and the Cyprus problem would lead to serious problems, the party said.
The Greens called on the EU to change its stance on Turkey and turn its declarations to actions.
The Solidarity Movement expressed hope that the Anastasiades’ contacts and coordinated actions with Greece put a stop to Turkey’s illegal plans.
Phileleftheros reports that though German intervention seems to have prevented the worst, Turkish frigates remain in the area which means they could move at any time to the south within the Greek or Cypriot continental shelf. Turkey’s National Security Council said it was determined to protect Ankara’s rights.
Both Phileleftheros and Politis, however, cite sources within the Greek National Defence General Staff saying the situation remains unchanged in the Aegean.
Haravgi reports that the reactions of Athens’ allies inside and outside NATO are lukewarm with the US calling for restraint as regards claims on disputed waters.
KEY ACTORS
Burger (German MFA spokesperson)
>> Calls for respect for international law.
>> Germany wants a prudent dialogue & progress in EU-Turkey relations but this will only be possible if Ankara abandons provocations in the East Med.
Massrali (EC spokesperson)
>> Turkey’s intentions to carry out a new seismic survey in the East Med is not helpful & sends the wrong message, given the recent discussion at FAC on EU-Turkey relations.
>> As a candidate country, Turkey needs to commit itself to good neighbourly relations, international agreements & to the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the UN Charter. If necessary, it should take matters to the ICJ.
>> Delimitation of EEZs & the continental shelf should be addressed through dialogue and negotiation in good faith.
Turkey (MFA)
>> Accuses Greece of maximalism over continental shelf claims that are contrary to international law, jurisprudence & court decisions since the area Ankara wants to conduct a survey in, is entirely within the Turkish continental shelf as declared to the UN.
>> Greece’s argument that an island of 10 sq km which is only two km from Anatolia & 580 km from the Greek mainland should generate a continental shelf area of 40.000 sq km is neither rational nor in line with international law.
>> Ankara is willing to dialogue with Greece but will continue to defend its legitimate rights & interests stemming from international law.
Stefanou (AKEL)
>> The US, NATO & EU, whose goal is keeping Turkey in the West, let Turkish illegal actions slide without substantive reactions.
>> Calls on the Cypriot government to make use of all synergies in EU-Turkey relations to achieve curbing Turkish aggression & promoting the goal of the termination of Turkish occupation and the partition of Cyprus.
>> Solution of the Cyprob based on the agreed framework could contribute to solving other problems in the region.
Tornaritis (DISY)
>> Turkey’s methods are anachronistic. Today, political problems are solved through dialogue & respect for international law.
>> Calls on EU to promptly react to make Turkey stop its activities & warns that if the situation gets out of hand, the consequences will be devastating for everyone.
>> Turkey’s actions are in complete contradiction with international law & to the detriment of the rights of all Europeans, especially GCs & TCs.
Citizens’ Alliance
>> Calls on Athens & Nicosia to call for an emergency European Council meeting to discuss precautionary sanctions against Turkey if the latter implements its plans warning that waiting for the Council to convene in September is counterproductive and facilitates Ankara.
DIKO
>> Accuses the government and ruling DISY of either ignoring realities or of misleading the people as regards Anastasiades’ statement on alleged safeguards on cutting accession funds to Turkey.
>> Turkey is an accession country & therefore EU provisions on third countries do not apply whereas there are no provisions on the paragraph on accession countries stipulating any conditions for pre-accession assistance.
EDEK
>> Warns that Turkey can only be dealt with through strong resistance and collective effort.
>> If Cyprus makes any new concessions on the continental self, EEZ and the Cyprob, would find itself in serious problems.
Greens
>> Call on the EU to change its stance on Turkey and turn its declarations to actions.
Solidarity Movement
>> Hopes Anastasiades’ contacts and coordinated actions with Greece put a stop to Turkey’s illegal plans.
‘Reopening of Ledra street crossing is a political decision’
Alithia, Haravgi, Cyprus Mail
CBMs, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that member of the advisory team on coronavirs, Dr Petros Karayiannis said that reopening the Ledra Street crossing is solely a political decision.
Citing Karayianis’ statements to the Cyprus News Agency, the papers report that the expert said that the epidemiological situation looks good in both the north and in the Republic but it was not up to experts when the crossing point in question would reopen.
He added that during Tuesday’s teleconference with the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health the TC side pressed the point of reopening the Ledra Street crossing.
“We told them it is a political decision and no longer up to the epidemiological team,” he said.
As things stand now with requirements with crossings tourists are effectively barred from going to the other side, Karayiannis said.
During Tuesday’s meeting the committee also discussed migrants who arrive in the north and then cross over to the government-controlled areas. He added that TCs said migrants reach the shores in the north and cross using the buffer zone and that those who stay in the north are tested for coronavirus. As far as smugglers are concerned, he said the answer of the TCs was they don’t know who smuggles them and if the GCs have any information they should give it to them, the dailies report.
Occupied municipalities call on UNSG to intensify efforts on Cyprob
Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, External Security, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
According to the paper, the Committee of Occupied Municipalities, in a resolution, is calling on the UN Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to put an end to Turkey’s illegal actions at land and sea, which violate Cyprus’ sovereign rights and prevent the creation of a conducive climate for peace talks to resolve the Cyprus issue under his auspices.
The resolution was delivered yesterday by a delegation of the Committee to a representative of the UN in Cyprus and the embassies of the five permanent members of the Security Council as part of events to mark the 1974 coup and invasion, the daily reports.