GCC Press Review 3 Sep 2020

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Probe starting from 2007 until whenever we complete it

Appointment of a three-member committee by the Attorney-general. All naturalisations will be examined since the start of the investment scheme 13 years ago. The mandate will be set by Giorgos Savvides. Parliament is waiting for the opinion of three lawyers on whether it should hand over to police the files it wants as part of investigations into the leaks to Al Jazeera. All the names today in Politis. (Auditor-general) Odysseas Michaelides insists on giving ultimatums and threats to the interior ministry and the attorney-general. Before the probe even started, he… diagnosed serious issues on the loss of state proceeds.

  • Put a stop to Russians and money laundering: The US has made its point on the lifting of the (arms) embargo
  • Students in Britain: The General Staff of the National Guard (GEEF) asked for information from the soldier camp units
  • The state can still handle it – The support (to businesses) due to the pandemic is being extended.

Phileleftheros

Weapons of political importance

The US decision that bothers Ankara reinforces the Republic of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean. Judith Garber: The lifting of the arms embargo on non-lethal weapons is not turned against Turkey.

  • Election campaigns for the parties dictated by the pandemic measures

Haravgi

Lifting of the embargo with Russia as the target…

The US Ambassador to Nicosia sent reassuring messages to its ally and NATO partner Turkey but also clear messages to Russia, stressing that the US decision on the lifting of the embargo on non-lethal weapons for a year does not concern Turkey but was taken to tackle Russia’s destabilising role in the region… Judith Garber: We do not target our ally Turkey. Ban on Russian ships for refueling. Foreign policy with terms and conditions by the US.

  • EDON paid tribute to Giorgos Tsikouris, a hero of the resistance against the (Greek) junta
  • The judicial system is collapsing– Cyprus is among those lagging in the EU on a series of issues on the administration of justice.

Cyprus Mail

President calls for visa probe

House seeking legal advice over leaked citizenship scheme papers.

  • US Ambassador welcomes stronger ties – US ambassador Judith Garber at a press conference in Nicosia on Wednesday called to announce the partial lifting of the arms embargo against Cyprus.

Alithia

The president tells Odysseas off on the Cypriot investment programme

A committee is being appointed to investigate the entire period of operation of the investment programme. The auditor general is called to keep to his role which is the audit of the tax management of the investments. Clash between the police and parliament over the probe on the document leaks.

  • Turkey was irked – She threatens with countermeasures for the lifting of the (arms) embargo.
  • Occupied areas: What the candidate ‘presidents’ say
  • The migration issue is up in the air! – The pressing bills will be on the agenda tomorrow of the House plenary session. The government’s entire effort to deal with the problem of illegal migrants is hanging by a vote. In prison six foreign nationals who went to Pournara (reception centre for asylum seekers) to solve differences and caused problems.
  • The Turkish Lira is dropping – The Turkish economy is plunging.

Main News

‘Lifting of arms embargo does not turn against Turkey,’ RoC & US say

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Regional/ International Relations, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that Nicosia and Washington said the partial lifting of the arms embargo on Cyprus does not target Turkey while Ankara warns with countermeasures against this decision by the US.

Emphasis was given to the linking by the US of the decision with measures to curb Russian influence in the region.

All dailies on Thursday report on the press conference given by the US Ambassador to Cyprus Judith Garber after Washington announced it was partially lifting the arms embargo on Cyprus for one year giving Nicosia the possibility to purchase non-lethal systems from US companies.

Garber welcomed the strengthening of bilateral ties with Cyprus and pointed out that the decision has nothing to with Turkey and its activity in the region.

“Some will ask if we are taking this in response to the most recent developments in the region, the answer is no,” she said.

Cyprus, she said, is an important partner and a key player in the Eastern Mediterranean. She added that this step strengthens the US’  security relationship with Cyprus and increases security in the region.

“This determination which has been in process for months is a consequence of a growing security partnership with Cyprus and our assessment of the Eastern Mediterranean as a region of growing strategic importance in an era of great power competition.”

Asked about the Turkish response to the decision, she said that the US informed Turkey of this decision on Wednesday night and urged that there not be an overreaction to this decision.

The ambassador also pointed out that the law that enabled this policy decision calls on Cyprus to continue its efforts to implement strong anti-money laundering regulations and financial regulatory oversight and to take the steps necessary to deny Russian military vessels access to ports for refuelling and servicing. She urged Cyprus to take those steps.

Garber said Russia plays a very destabilising role in the region, in particular in Syria, pointing out that its impact on Cyprus is very visible with the flow of immigrants coming from Syria to the island.

Cyprus Mail reports that Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides told state broadcaster CyBC later on Wednesday that non-lethal systems means search and rescue equipment or radars to be used for monitoring the area around Cyprus for various reasons such as terrorism or for locating migrants. He also said that Cyprus’ relations with other states are not aimed at turning against Turkey but rather at upgrading security in the region.

Alithia reports that Christodoulides also said that the US and Cyprus have been working on reaching agreements on a series of other issues such as the abolition of visa requirements for Cypriots travelling to the US,  personal data protection and strengthening economic ties.

Citing diplomatic sources, the daily also reports however that the timing of this announcement in the midst of the crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey’s threats for the opening of Varosha, sends out messages to Ankara and others. Turkish provocations on Famagusta were discussed between President Nicos Anastasiades and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a telephone conversation, the daily reported.

Politis reports that US officials call for stamping out money laundering and Russia’s presence while Christodoulides told Politis radio that the only obligations Cyprus has are as an EU member state. He said the Republic’s decisions are not based on the US decisions and interests but on a positive approach and are not aimed at shunning anyone.

The government insists that its ports are open for all ships that want to dock there for humanitarian reasons, the paper reported.

Phileleftheros reports that the US decision is of political importance which can be seen also through Ankara’s reactions. The daily reports that foreign minister has made clear Cyprus has no intention of buying fighter jets of tanks from the US.

The papers also report that Turkey has hurled threats and warned of countermeasures.

The Turkish foreign ministry said the US announcement on the arms embargo ignores the equality and balance between the two peoples on the island and will have negative effects on the efforts to reach a settlement to the Cyprus issue.

The ministry said Turkey expects the US to reconsider this decision and support the ongoing efforts to establish peace and stability in the region. “Otherwise, Turkey, as a guarantor country, will take the necessary decisive counter steps to guarantee the security of the Turkish Cypriot people, in line with its legal and historical responsibilities,” it said.

Haravgi reports that the lifting of the arms embargo does not target Turkey but Russia. In another article, it reports that the Greek foreign ministry welcomed the US announcement.

Alithia and Phileleftheros also report that the US decision was met with reactions on the TC side.

Haravgi cites main opposition AKEL saying that the government has handed over its foreign policy keys to the US demands while reporting that ruling DISY is celebrating the decision on the partial lifting of the arms embargo under terms which turn against Russia.

The daily reports that AKEL spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the government must explain whether it accepts or it will comply with the US demands. He also condemned those celebrating this decision arguing that cultivating the impression that militarisation will help Cyprus’ struggle is a dangerous thing. Cyprus, he said, cannot afford to dissolve its relations with Russia. Stefanou stressed that the US reiterated they do not want a fundamental change in the balance of power in the region, thus clarifying the importance they attach to Turkey.

Haravgi also reports that DISY said this was a decision of great political symbolism while deepening relations with the US is not against any other country. It added that far-right ELAM too shared DISY’s enthusiasm over the US decision.  

Alithia reports that DIKO chairman Nicolas Papadopoulos said that the US decision was a positive one.

EDEK said the US wants to appease the Republic of Cyprus but they do not want to anger Turkey. The party said the decision does not lead to the upgrade of the National Guard or of its weapon systems.

The Solidarity Movement said that this decision was a step in the right direction but it bears no significant military importance since, “helmets, knee pads, boots, air guns and pepper spray will not protect us from the enemy.”

KEY ACTORS
Garber (US Ambassador)
>>
The decision on lifting the arms embargo aims at strengthening bilateral ties with Cyprus & increase security in the region and has  nothing to with Turkey.
>> Urges Cyprus to honour its obligations deriving from the bill by denying access to its ports to  Russian military vessels for refueling and servicing & implement strong anti-money laundering regulations.
>> Russia plays a very destabilising role in the region, mainly Syria which has also had its impact on Cyprus with the arrivals of Syrian migrants.

Christodoulides (RoC FM)
>>
Cyprus’ relations with other states, including the US, are not aimed at turning against Turkey but rather at upgrading security in the region.
>> The lifting of the arms embargo is part of a strengthening relations with US that include also efforts for the abolition of visa requirements for Cypriots travelling to the US,  personal data protection & strengthening economic ties.
>> Cyprus’ only obligations derive from its EU membership & its decisions are not based on US decisions and interests.

Turkish MFA
>>
Warns that the arms embargo announcement ignores the equality and balance between the GCs & TCs and will have negative effects on the efforts to reach a settlement to the Cyprob.
>> Warns that unless US reconsiders its decision & support the ongoing efforts to establish peace and stability in the region Ankara will take the necessary counter steps to guarantee the security of the TCs.

Stefanou (AKEL)
>>
Wants the government to clearly state if it will comply with the US demands that dictate the RoC’s foreign policy.
>> Celebrating the US decision cultivates the impression that militarisation will help Cyprus’ struggle which is a dangerous thing.
>> Cyprus cannot afford to dissolve its relations with Russia.
>> The US’ position that it does not want to change the balance of power in the region clearly shows the importance it attaches to Turkey.

DISY, DIKO, EDEK, Solidarity Movement, ELAM
>>
They welcome the US decision.

EDEK
>>
It is clear the US wants to appease the RoC but not anger Turkey since the decision does not lead to the upgrade of the National Guard or of its weapon systems.

Solidarity Movement
>>
The US decision bears no significant military importance since the equipment Cyprus can purchase, such as helmets, knee pads & pepper spray will not protect the GCs from the enemy.


Turkey called Die Welt report as ‘fictive’

Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security, EU Matters, Energy

OVERVIEW

Alithia reports that Turkey dismissed a report by German paper Die Welt that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had ordered the sinking of a Greek vessel or shooting down of a fighter jet during the standoff.

The paper cites the Turkish foreign ministry saying that the German news report was fabricated.

The fact that the spokesperson of the Greek government brought forward accusations against Turkey based on this fictive report, is a brand new manifestation of the unrealistic and provocative policy of this country, incompatible with international law and customary practices, the Turkish ministry said.

It added that Greek authorities should, instead of wasting time on such baseless media reports, discontinue taking steps which escalate tensions in the region.

Phileleftheros and Alithia cite the Greek government’s spokesman Stelios Petsas telling Open TV that Die Welt is a respectable newspaper and that the report was not refuted by Turkey.
Petsas’ statements were made prior to the Turkish foreign ministry’s announcement. He said the report highlights once more who is being provocative in the region and who is a pillar of stability.

Petsas said Greece was working with its EU and international partners based on international law and the Law of the Sea.

On the list of EU sanctions against Turkey, Petsas said it will be activated in case Turkey does not deescalate tensions, expressing hope it would not be necessary to activate it, the dailies reported.


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