Front Page Headlines
A 600,000 euro “little gift” for two MPs
Odysseas briefs the Parliament, again without names. A third MP with a 130,000 restructured loan is called to pay 13,000 less in order to settle his debts. Serious moral issue as there is information that the three MPs did not reveal their conflict of interest and they took part in decision making. Parliament must ask the Audit Office to reveal the names of the MPs that are favoured by writing off of loans.
- About turn!: “No” from parliament to hiring SYOP (professional soldiers)
- Giorgos Perdikis: Look elsewhere for the leaks
- Coronavirus: Cases in schools, bishop found positive
- The art of dissent: The fight over the canvas continues…
Witch hunt by parliament
A political mess over passports and leak to Al Jazeera. Perdikis denies and attacks, the Police is inactive, Nouris is silent and Odysseas will submit findings on Thursday.
- Europeans should speak French: France points towards sanctions
- Commissioner: He stepped over the limit / Archbishop: He should be fired: Uproar over teacher’s paintings continues
- Students from two classes in quarantine for two weeks: Alarm at schools about coronavirus case
- They put aside loans of two MPs
- Dialogue until… Oruc Reis comes out
- Kition Bishop found positive for coronavirus
They attempt to obfuscate “golden” passports issue
There is an attempt to “cover up and hide possible liability”. Attempt to misdirect from essence of the scandal. G. Perdikis: I am not involved with leaks…
- Prosecution based on culture of theocratic system
- Professor and Kition Bishop found positive for coronavirus
- Brussels’s goal is de-escalation and dialogue, not imposition of sanctions
- Parliament said no to blackmail over SYOP. Ministerial decision to postpone (military) service in effect
Stuck in the buffer zone
An Iranian artist sleeping in an abandoned house in no-man’s land, is denied entry.
- French support in EEZ
- MPs deliver final blow to conscripts hoping to study at UK universities
- Cyprus: Scores turn out to protest in support of art teacher
- Opinion: Turkey and the politics of distraction
Coronavirus entered schools
State services on alert for dealing with situation. Kition Bishop and two employees of the bishopric found positive for coronavirus. Strict measures in Greece: Gatherings only up to 9 people, only 20 people at weddings – funerals. Coronavirus shows its teeth in Europe – new strict measures and fears of new lockdown.
- Aim is to handle migration flows: New laws on migration – Creation of a Team for Prevention of Irregular Migration to control flows from occupied areas
- Towards de-escalation: Erdogan: I am ready for a meeting with Mitsotakis
- In favour of sanctions: Strong support from France
- As expected: No from parliament in hiring of SYOP
- Giorgos Gavriel: The teacher that divided society with his work
Main News
France gives its support to RoC’s call for additional sanctions on Turkey
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security, Energy, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on Friday’s visit to Cyprus by French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune, ahead of Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council and Thursday’s European Council.
Politis reports that Baune met with Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides and afterwards said in a statement that a fait accompli against Greece and Cyprus cannot be accepted and that Europe should show its solidarity to Cyprus during the next European Council. Baune also said that there is an agreement to reach a solution over the problems in the Cypriot EEZ, and that Cyprus has the right to seek recourse at the International Court at The Hague.
Christodoulides said he hopes that the rest of the EU member states will show the same determination that France is displaying in order for decisions that have already been taken, meaning the addition of names to a list of sanctioned persons and companies over Cyprus, to be implemented.
Later on Friday Baune flew with a helicopter over Cyprus to witness first hand Turkey’s activities in the EEZ, as well as over Varosha, accompanied by Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides and the chief of the National Guard.
The Cyprus News Agency reports that a representative of the German chancellor told journalists that the effort remains to reach de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean, aiming towards the start of a dialogue, avoiding to take a position on Cyprus.
The newspapers also report, citing CNA, that an EU official said he does not accept there to be a legal decision on sanctions during Monday’s FAC, but only a briefing on the situation by the High Representative.
Phileleftheros reports, citing information, that the FAC is not expected to clear up the issue of sanctions of Turkey and that decisions will be taken by the leaders during the European Council.
Meanwhile, the dailies report that Turkey has renewed a NAVTEX extending the presence of research vessel Barbaros in the Eastern Mediterranean. According to the new NAVTEX, the vessel will be in Cypriot waters until October 18th.
Turkish President Erdogan said in a statement that he is ready to meet Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and added that the issue is what will be the matter of discussion and in which framework these talks will happen, the dailies report.
Alithia reports that Erdogan told journalists on Friday that these negotiations could happen at a third country or over teleconference. He added that if the Greek prime minister insists on doing what was done in Kastelorizo then there is no point in discussion. He also said that Turkey is already having discussions with German chancellor Angela Merkel, the EUCO President Michel and the prime ministers of Italy and Spain, Giuseppe Conte and Pedro Sanchez.
Regarding the Oruc Reis, Erdogan said that its withdrawal is an approach that sends a message, but does not mean that Turkey’s seismic research is over. Erdogan said that when its repair are over then its work will restart, but added that diplomacy should be given a chance.
Phileleftheros reports that Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Dendias said after a meeting with his Slovenian counterpart that Greece is ready to enter into a dialogue but not under threat and blackmail. Dendias repeated that the withdrawal of the Oruc Reis is a positive step but added that Greece wants to confirm that Turkey is honest in its intentions.
In energy developments, Haravgi reports that Greek company Energean has signed two contracts for the transfer of natural gas from Israel’s EEZ to the country. According to an announcement by the company, Energean will transfer up to 1.4 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, for a period of 20 and 15 years. Energean also says in its announcement that these deals move it closer to covering the full capacity of its future Floating Production Storage Offloading unit.
Haravgi also reports that the EuroAfrica Interconnector project, which aims to connect the electricity grids of Egypt and Cyprus, has received two tenders from cable providers. The cable connecting Cyprus and Egypt will be 498 km in length and will have to be sunk to a depth of 2,200 meters under sea-level.
New regulations on migration as Police focuses on flows from north
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Migration & Citizenship, Internal Security, Human Rights, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Alithia reports that the House of Representatives approved three new pieces of legislation on Friday which aim to help the government handle migration flows. According to this new legislation, the head of the Asylum Service will be able to issue a decision to repatriate or deport an asylum seeker at the same time as a decision to reject their application.
The new laws also set a deadline of thirty days for rejected asylum seekers to appeal their decision and shortens the time during which the appeal must be examined.
The newspaper also reports that the Police will be setting up a special team to prevent irregular migration, which will focus on migration flows from the occupied areas.
Police spokesperson Christos Andreou told CNA that this new team becomes active starting Monday. It will focus on information regarding traffickers, particularly their connection to human trafficking or terrorist networks. Andreou also said that Cyprus has requested that EUROPOL guest officers specialised on migration that work in Cyprus to be increased from three to five, and that the request was approved.
Haravgi reports the government has submitted an action plan to the Council of Europe confirming that is continuing its efforts to ensure migrants due for deportation are held in the Menogeia camp and not in police stations.
In the report, which was submitted to the body’s Council of Ministers, the Republic of Cyprus reports on the implementation of decisions taken by the European Court of Human Rights in 2018 and 2019. The ECHR had found in two cases that the RoC held migrants that were due to be reported in inhumane conditions, and imposed a total of 10,000 euros in fines.
The RoC points out to the CoE that since 2013, foreign citizens that are due to be reported are held in Menogeia, and adds that the Chief of Police has instructed officers to transfer everyone arrested for this purpose to Menogeia without delay.
In related news, Haravgi also reports on a teleconference held by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German chancellor Angela Merkel (who currently presides over the Council of the EU) and Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the new structures needed to house migrants in Lesbos after the fire that destroyed the island’s Moria camp.