Front Page Headlines
France wants a say and a role
Emmanuel Macron spoke in Greek and sent messages to Turkey. Paris convenes a MED7 summit and sends out the message that it is imperative that Ankara does not impose its terms on the open issues of the Eastern Mediterranean. Awkward calm around Kastelorizo with warships standing by despite the ‘firefighting’ interventions by Germany and the US.
Everything is hanging by a thread
Prayer in Hagia Sophia while the Oruc Reis is getting ready to sail escorted by an entire fleet. Turkey is provoking on the one hand and on the other hand, declares she wants dialogue. Anastasiades received a pledge of solidarity from Macron.
- A day of mourning for Hagia Sophia today: Erdogan is turning it into a mosque
Support those who get the economy moving
AKEL calls for expansion of the scheme on the one-off state grant and points out that to jumpstart economic activity those who get Cyprus’ economy moving – workers, the self-employed, small and medium-sized businesses – must be supported.
- The alert has not ended yet
- GC and TC parties are calling on the two leaders to prepare the ground for talks
Macron calls for harsher sanctions
‘It would be a serious mistake by the EU not to respond to Turkish provocations’
He told Turkey his ‘French’
Emanuel Macron said it like it is. Macron: It would be a mistake to let the Eastern Mediterranean’s security to Turkey. You can count on our support on sanctions. President: France’s initiatives are covering Europe’s absence. This ought to have been Europe’s role. Turkey: It says Greece’s reaction is over the top and calls for adjustments on everything.
- The desecration of Hagia Sophia is being sealed: Today the first prayer in Erdogan’s presence – Fears over a possible stampede of fanatics who will rush to pray. 101 ambulances have been secured.
Main News
Macron calls on EU to effectively address Turkish conduct in East Med
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Energy, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades’ meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris and the messages to Turkey but also the EU is main item in most papers today.
According to the dailies, Anastasiades said that France, under the leadership of Macron, is a ray of hope against all the worrying developments in the region.
“The presence of the French navy in our wider geographical area proves in practice the leading role and determination of France to act as a pillar of security and stability,” he said, adding that Cyprus will always be the most hospitable country in terms of the French fleet and not only. Anastasiades also pointed out that Cyprus, as a country of real stability and security in the region has helped evacuate chemicals from Syria in the past helped in many crises in the Middle East such as in the case of Lebanon and will, if necessary, contribute again to this direction. He added this was achieved through bilateral relations with all neighbouring countries.
He added that violations in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), threats over the opening of Varosha, the recent developments in Syria Iraq Libya and now in Greece highlight the EU’s absence. He also thanked Macron for France’s stand on the Cyprus problem and his initiatives so that the Mediterranean is not under the control of Turkey and other powers instead of the EU. Anastasiades reiterated that the EU must not just stick to declarations but take the lead and support its member states.
Macron said that in this part of the Mediterranean which was vital for France and Cyprus, energy and security issues were essential and pointed out there is a power struggle of Turkey and Russia which are asserting themselves more and more while the EU is still doing too little.
“It would be a serious mistake to leave our security in the Mediterranean in the hands of other actors. This is not an option for Europe and it is not something that France will let happen,” he said, calling for more sanctions to stop the violations.
“I stand fully behind Cyprus and Greece in the face of the Turkish violations of their sovereignty It is unacceptable that the maritime space of EU member states be violated and threatened Those who are doing that must be sanctioned,” he said.
Macron also invited Anastasiades at the MED7 summit that will take place in Paris towards the end of August, beginning of September.
The dailies also report that Cypriot Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides met his French counterpart Florence Parly and discussed developments in central and eastern Mediterranean and bilateral relations in defence and security. The two ministers expressed a joint will to enhance defence cooperation between the two countries which is attached to the joint effort for an effective response to the continuing challenges in the region as well as to promote peace and security according to the international law.
Alithia also reports that chairman of the European Peoples’ Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, called on Thursday on the Council and Commission Presidents to keep the dialogue open, but also to consider sanctions against Turkey for its recent activity in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Addressing the EP Plenary Weber said that Turkey’s military actions and the decisions on the Hagia Sophia are not only a Greek-Turkish or a Cyprus-Turkish issue, but a European-Turkish issue.
I think, he added, “that we should keep the dialogue open, no doubt about this, but now it’s also time to act, probably also to consider sanctions against Turkey we have to act and we have to act now,” the paper reports.
Cyprus Mail also reported that Turkey on Thursday issued a Navtex with which it sought to override and annul a Navtex previously issued by Cyprus in the latter’s Search and Rescue Region concerning a rocket test firing exercise by the Russian navy scheduled for August 18. The area of the planned exercise lies in waters south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo and falls within Cyprus Search and Rescue Region which also happens to coincide with the Nicosia Flight Information Region, the daily reports. Cyprus issued the Navtex after the Russian navy sought and secured permission from Cyprus to conduct the war games, the daily reported. Turkey has issued a counter-Navtex for the same exercise by the Russian navy conveying the message that only it has jurisdiction in the area, not Cyprus.
Phileleftheros reports that Nicosia is satisfied by the meeting’s results. Macron’s messages on Turkey’s provocations are welcomed by the Cypriot government which it finds them a positive step. In the energy field, the reassurances that Total is not leaving and will carry on with its exploratory programme are deemed as important. There are no developments on the issue of the naval base but it remains in both sides’ plans, the daily reported.
It also reports that the meeting of the seven south European countries (MED7) is of particular importance since it will take place on the eve of the European Council which Nicosia hopes will discuss the issue of Turkey and decide sanctions on Ankara.
Politis, citing government sources, reports that Nicosia finds the president’s visit to France as a successful one since it proves the excellent relations between the two countries.
The paper also reports that France has always been displaying special interest in the Eastern Mediterranean not because of Cyprus. Through the presence of its fleet in the area, joint marine exercises with the countries of the region as well the licensed offshore blocks in the Cypriot EEZ, France attempts to gradually establish an increasingly upgraded position and role in the wider region.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> France’s initiatives in the East Med, that fill in the void created by the EU’s absence, is a ray of hope against all the worrying developments in the region.
>> Cyprus will always welcome the French fleet whose presence in the East Med proves in practice France’s leading role & determination to act as a pillar of security and stability.
>> Cyprus too is a pillar of stability & security in the region & has helped in crises many times and will continue to do so which is made possible through its bilateral relations with all neighbouring countries.
>> Macron’s initiatives aim at sparing the Mediterranean from being under the control of Turkey and other powers.
>> Wants the EU to actively support its member states.
Macron (France)
>> The EU is not doing enough to prevent Russia and Turkey from carving out their spheres of influence in the East Med, an area of vital importance for France and Cyprus, energy and security issues.
>> France will not allow for the Mediterranean’s security to be left in the hands of other actors & warns EU it would be making a serious mistake to do nothing.
>> Fully supports Cyprus & Greece in the face of the Turkish violations of their sovereignty.
>> Finds unacceptable that the maritime space of EU member states are violated & threatened & calls for sanctions against Turkey.
Weber (EPP)
>> Turkey’s actions that affect Cyprus and Greece also affect the EU-Turkey relations.
>> The EU can keep dialogue with Turkey open but at the same time it must promptly consider sanctions against Turkey.
‘Critical day for Greek-Turkish standoff ‘
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
On the standoff between Greece and Turkey, the dailies cite Turkish media that report that seismic vessel Oruc Reis will set sail for the Mediterranean after the necessary preparation.
The vessel was anchored off Antalya in Turkey but reports on Thursday said a towboat arrived in the morning near the seismic vessel while the Turkish navy has sent several frigates to protect Oruc Reis.
Phileleftheros reports that everything handing by a thread since the next 24 hours are crucial for the course of developments. The paper reports that on Friday the first prayer will take place inside Hagia Sophia after Erdogan’s decision to turn it into a mosque, the Oruc Reis is ready to move to the Eastern Mediterranean without ruling out this taking place today, while the seismic vessel will be accompanied by an entire fleet of the Turkish navy, unmanned aircraft as well as F-16 fighter jets.
Athens and Nicosia are monitoring developments while the armed forces of both countries are in a state of readiness, the paper reported.
Haravgi too reports that the situation is tense in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean with Greece and Turkey making military, political and diplomatic moves.