Front Page Headlines
They begin dialogue and Cyprus… its sanctions
Athens – Ankara agreed on exploratory talks. EU Summit scheduled for September 24th and 25th postponed because of a case of coronavirus, but workings on burning issues are in full swing behind the scenes. Government insists on extending sanctions list, with member states expressing discontent over Cyprus’s stance on the issue of sanctions against Lukashenko. Yesterday’s teleconference between Merkel – Michel – Erdogan mark the restart of dialogue between Greece and Turkey. Turkish President also talked with Macron, despite their different approaches.
- Health Ministry blows whistle: 20 red cards for Nea Salamina!
- K. Sakellaropoulou: Pilgrimage to Cyprus’s History and struggles
- Ultimatum by Vyras: Reservoirs until June 30th 2021
An extension in suspense
Greece and Turkey announced the beginning of a dialogue, Ankara issued yet another Navtex. Tomorrow’s summit postponed.
- Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou went everywhere in one day
- Deadline to move by June 30th 2021: Ultimatum by Larnaca Municipality to oil companies
- Audit Office findings come out tomorrow: Nicolatos’s investigation committee rushes to catch up on naturalisations
- Knives drawn in internal (politics) over EU
- A mess in Nea Salamina, cases reached 20
Greece – Turkey agreed on dialogue
Summit postponed for October 1st and 2nd. Exploratory negotiations begin in Istanbul. Erdogan: Regional conference with participation of T/Cs.
- AKEL worries, government annoyed
- Commission: There is no agreement over halloumi
- Ultimatum by Larnaca Municipality for liquid gas companies to go by June 30th 2021
- Interior Ministry’s blunder over Ktima Makenzy has high cost
- Two chains of coronavirus in Larnaca: Contact tracing in Kition Bishopric and Nea Salamina – Ethnikos Ahnas football player also positive to the virus
Crucial EU heads summit delayed
Erdogan suggests congress on east Med with Turkish Cypriots as Athens – Ankara agree talks.
- Cyprus: Paphos mayor hits back at TC (property) accusations
- Business: East Med Gas Forum now an international body
Rapid developments
Greece – Turkey begin dialogue in the shadow of the new Turkish Navtex. Telephone conversation between Erdogan and Macron. Summit postponed for October 1st and 2nd
- Worry over chains of confirmed cases: Larnaca on the same path as Limassol – Further restrictive measures in the city not ruled out
- Over naturalisations: Odysseas – Nouris clash intensifies
Main News
Greece and Turkey agree on exploratory talks as EU Council postponed
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Regional/ International Relations, External Security, Energy, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on the agreement reached by Greece and Turkey to begin exploratory talks, a teleconference between Council President Charles Michel, German chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Tayip Erdogan, and on the postponement of Thursday’s European Council (EUCO) for the 1st and 2nd of October due to a coronavirus scare. The coverage also focuses on European reactions to Cyprus’s decision to block sanctions on Belarus, and the reaction of the G/C opposition.
Cyprus Mail reports that EUCO President Michel has decided to enter into quarantine after it was found that last week he had come in contact with a security officer who tested positive for coronavirus, according to Michel’s spokesperson.
Phileleftheros reports that the Greek Foreign Ministry was the one to announce the start of exploratory discussions between Greece and Turkey. The Greek Foreign Ministry announced that the new round of exploratory negotiations would take place in Istanbul, shortly, without giving a date.
Phileleftheros reports that the upcoming Greek – Turkish dialogue contains uncertainties since, while the agreement was being announced, Ankara was issuing a Navtex asking for the demilitarisation of Lemnos.
Politis points out that the postponement of the European Council has given time for diplomatic activity to resume to try and settle the issues that have come up due to the Cypriot position. The newspaper also points out that international media has heavily criticised Cyprus’s stance.
Oikonomiki Kathimerini reports that there are four scenarios after Nicosia’s veto on Belarus sanctions. The first is for Belarus sanctions to move forward while Nicosia gets something in return such as the withdrawal of Yavuz as negotiations resume – German chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly suggested this to President Anastasiades and got the response that Nicosia would also like Barbaros to withdraw.
The second scenario is that there will be a new dead end and no sanctions on Belarus. The third would see Cyprus getting the addition of names on the list of sanctioned persons and companies over Turkish drilling. And the fourth would see the adoption of the Greek position to prepare a list of sanctions to be activated if Turkey resumes illegal activities.
In a speech at the UN’s General Assembly, Turkish President Erdogan covered a range of issues, from Libya to Kashmir, and made particular references to the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Haravgi reports.
Erdogan said that the problems in the region are a result of the stance of Greece and the G/Cs since 2003, and added that his priority is to enter into an honest dialogue based on international law and equitable treatment.
He also said that Turkey will not accept any imposition in the other direction, and said that steps to exclude the country from regional cooperation will not have results. He insisted that Turkey does not have plans to take the rights of others, but that it cannot ignore efforts to leave T/C interests out of the equation.
He also repeated the suggestion for a regional conference on the Eastern Mediterranean, pointing out that it should include the T/C community, and accused the G/C side of attempting to turn the T/Cs into a minority.
Phileleftheros reports that Erdogan expressed Turkey’s displeasure with the signing of the charter of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) during his teleconference with Michel and Merkel. According to the newspaper, Turkey wants to cancel out the effectiveness of this forum through its insistence on a regional conference.
Meanwhile Alithia, Politis and Phileleftheros report that the charter of the EMGF was signed during a teleconference by all countries involved, including Egypt, Greece, Italy, Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Cyprus. Energy Minister Natasa Pelides, who signed the charter on behalf of Cyprus at the Presidential Palace, said in a statement that the EMGF is an organisation that is open to all countries in the region, if all founding members give their unanimous consent.
Phileleftheros reports that the signing of the charter was delayed by about six months due to the insistence of Jordan to allow admission of new countries not with unanimity but through a majority vote. Nicosia had refused since this would create the possibility of Turkey being able to enter the organisation without first recognising the Republic of Cyprus. The newspaper also reports that the European Union and the World Bank want to become an observer in the EMGF along with the US and France.
Haravgi reports that T/C leader Mustafa Akinci hailed the Greece-Turkey agreement as a positive development in a written statement. Akinci said that, being a person that supports finding solutions through diplomacy, he wishes for this development to benefit the peoples of both countries. He also said that it would be useful if during the upcoming EU summit, EU and Turkey can come closer through Turkey taking specific steps and both finding a way to progress on issues such as the customs union and visa liberalisation.
The dailies also report that President Anastasiades contacted Greek prime minister Mitsotakis to communicate the country’s position when it comes to what was agreed in Berlin by the Foreign Ministers. Mitsotakis reiterated that Greece supports Cyprus and understands its positions.
Meanwhile opposition AKEL criticised the approach of the government during Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council (FAC). AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou said that the party is concerned over what will happen during the upcoming summit, as well as over the fact that Cyprus has once again found itself in a dead-end.
Kyprianou said that AKEL was sorry to say that the FAC’s results were disappointing and that Cyprus had been isolated, with the country’s EU partners not supporting the country in its positions, and made a point of underlining that not even Greece supported Cyprus. He also said that he is concerned that the government focuses on sanctions rather than the talks and that Nicosia’s tactics have not paid off so far.
Government spokesperson Kyriakos Koushios responded that it was the wrong time to attack the government, just days before the summit (which has since been postponed), and accused the opposition of not finding a negative word to say about Turkey. He countered that Greece as well as other countries did support Cyprus, and noted that Nicosia agreed on principle on the need to impose sanctions on Belarus, and to take the matter to the European Council.
Phileleftheros reports that DISY spokesperson Demetris Demetriou responded that Cyprus has not been isolated and pointed out that other countries, including Greece, supported Nicosia’s position. He accused Kyprianou of trying to cancel out the G/C side’s efforts to restart negotiations for a comprehensive solution while not making a reference to Turkey.
AKEL responded in turn that the opposition had not attacked and that it is the government who goes on the offensive when it is criticised for its failures.
Phileleftheros also notes that the smaller parties supported the government, citing announcements by DIKO, EDEK, Solidarity and the Greens.
KEY ACTORS
Greek Foreign Ministry
>> Exploratory talks with Turkey will begin in Istanbul shortly
Tayip Erdogan (Turkish President)
>> Tensions in the region are a result of Greek and G/C unilateral actions since 2003
>> Turkey’s priority is an honest dialogue based on international law & equitable treatment
>> Suggests a regional conference that should include the T/Cs
Natasa Pelides (Cypriot Energy Minister)
>> The EastMed Gas Forum is an organisation open to all countries in the region
Mustafa Akinci (T/C leader)
>> Talks between Greece and Turkey a positive step
>> EU – Turkey should come closer on a range of issues, including Customs Union and visa liberalisation
Andros Kyprianou (AKEL secretary general)
>> Concerned what will happen during the upcoming summit since Cyprus has been isolated
>> Not even Greece supported Cyprus
>> Government focuses only on sanctions and not resumption of negotiations
Kyriakos Koushios (government spokesperson)
>> Wrong to attack the government just days before summit
>> The opposition had nothing to say against Turkey’s stance
>> Greece and other countries did support Cyprus’s positions
>> Nicosia agrees on principle on need to impose sanctions on Belarus
Demetris Demetriou (DISY spokesperson)
>> Cyprus has not been isolated
>> Kyprianou is attempting to cancel out the efforts made by G/C side to restart negotiations
Bicommunal iniative calls on UN and EU to help revitalise Famagusta
Haravgi
Negotiations Process, Territory, Property, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on an iniative by Deryneia Municipality, which lies on the buffer zone next to Famagusta, to create an open-air cinema in an area within the buffer zone.
The Bicommunal Initiative for Famagusta has called the UN and the EU to actively support an effort for the sustainable revitalisation of Famagusta, Haravgi reports.
In a letter sent on International Peace Day, 21st September, the civil society organisations involved in the initiative propose the creation of a joint bicommunal framework under the UN that would work towards the rebuilding and reunification of the area of Famagusta, as well as to encourage groups and organisations that work towards a federal future for Famagusta as a European city.
They also ask that the UN and the EU encourage the two leaders and the guarantor powers to return to comprehensive negotiations.
The Initiative expressed its disagreement with current plans to unilaterally change the status of the fenced-off city, as this would contravene UN Security Council resolutions 550 and 789 which call for opening the area under UN administration.
Paphos mayor responds to AKEL’s accusations over usage of T/C properties
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
Property, Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Paphos mayor Phaidonas Phaidonos issued a response to criticisms by opposition AKEL concerning his interventions at T/C properties in the city’s old town.
Cyprus Mail reports that in a statement, Phaidonos said that all he does is apply the law and act for the equality of the citizens. He added that from the day he took over the municipality he has worked to remove “hundreds of illegal and irregular concessions of T/C property to non-refugees (note: G/C displaced) but also to refugees who were not beneficiaries”.
Phaidonos accused those who reacted to his moves of ignoring “this phenomenon of rot and corruption” or even participating in it for decades. The mayor also said that partisanship and bribery had been taking advantage of the situation for years, with decisions being taken to serve political party allies in arbitrary ways.
AKEL MP Andreas Fakontis said that the mayor has substituted the functions of the Interior Ministry’s guardian for T/C properties, by evicting refugees and demolishing real estate without permits and without the agreement of the municipal council.
Meanwhile, Haravgi reports that the state has had to pay 250,000 to guard the Ktima Makenzy event space (build on T/C property) in Larnaca, while the issue of its illegal use was being processed by the courts. The newspaper also notes that the government has had to assign a new T/C property to the affected G/C businessman, at a reduced price.
In another related development, the president of the parliamentary committee on refugee affairs, AKEL MP Skevi Koukouma, said on Tuesday that the state in which displaced G/Cs live in T/C properties is unacceptable. During the discussion, which focused on the need for the Interior Ministry, as the guardian of T/C properties in the government controlled areas, to repair dangerous and unsuitable buildings, Haravgi reports.
Koukouma said that the Ministry should assess the state of each dangerous building and decided whether repairs are necessary, since the newest buildings have been standing for 50 years while the oldest buildings up to 80.
She added that the funds for repairs should increase from the 6 million euros given today and that the Guardian service should be strengthened with more staff. The representatives of the Ministry agreed with this assessment.
Specifically, there are currently only 8 crews and 4 inspectors covering 4,667 T/C homes leased to G/Cs.