Front Page Headlines
Larnaca has kick started the match before the whistle for the new measures
Decisions on football in a meeting between the health minister and the football association (CFA). Weddings and mass gathering events are being cancelled while the detection of cases in hospitals and schools is raising concerns. The epidemiologists and the health ministry are concerned over possible spread of the transmission chains in other districts. Decisions are expected today on the increased cases in football. The health minister says it is not the fault of the protocols but of those who do not follow them.
- Anastasiades at the UN General Assembly: Speech-response to Erdogan
- Elections are coming: 700 jobs are opening up in the public sector
Nicos’ invitation to Tayyip
Cyprus’ president called on Turkey’s president to dialogue to resolve the problems. Nicosia and Ankara are on tenterhooks over the EU leaders’ summit.
- Cape Greco is the main entry gate of migrants – Of the 77 arrivals by sea this year, 10 arrived there. This year 375 people arrived by sea of which 185 were sent back to Lebanon.
- Cyprus is building housing units in Mati (in Greece for people who lost their homes during the 2018 Attica wildfires)
The Larnaca-Famagusta hospitals are… haemorrhaging
A group of 14 doctors at Larnaca hospital sent a letter on Wednesday to the health minister against the managing team complaining about a chaotic situation that puts at risk patients’ health. A letter was also sent from the AKEL leader over the Famagusta hospital in which healthcare provision has become extremely problematic.
- Greece and Turkey state their readiness for dialogue
- The health minister did not clarify what kind of probe is being carried out against the teacher-artist
‘Protocols aren’t being adhered to’
Authorities warn over clusters as Larnaca measures come into force.
- Ankara acting like a regional bully says president
- Rich Brits eye Cyprus for citizenship
Basically, the pandemic is just beginning
Warning by Kostrikis on the coronavirus. Health minister: Unless we adhere to the measures, the situation could get out of hand in a matter of days. We are entering the winter months, people will be in closed spaces and transmission rate will rise.
- Anastasiades’ speech at the UN General Assembly: Accusations by the president against Turkey – We are ready for the restart of the talks from where they left off in Crans Montana.
Main News
Anastasiades uses UNGA address to respond to Erdogan’s claims
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/International Relations, Negotiations Process, External Security, Energy, Human Rights
President Nicos Anastasiades’ address at the 75th UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday evening was also a response to what Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the same event, but also accusations against Turkey’s conduct and a call for dialogue based on international law, the dailies report.
In his speech, which was pre-recorded, Anastasiades stressed his commitment to immediately resume the Cyprus problem peace process, in line with the joint understanding reached with the UN Secretary-General and the TC leader last November in Berlin which sets the principles for the resumption of a new round of negotiations. He reiterated that for the talks to resume with realistic prospects for success, it was imperative to create an environment that will be conducive for constructive and good faith negotiations, on an equal footing and not under conditions of intimidation and threats.
He also refereed to Turkey’s continuous
occupation of Cyprus and a series of provocative actions which run contrary to
international law, the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the UN
Convention on the law of the Sea (Unclos) either through illegal drillings in Cyprus’
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or by threats for the imminent opening of the
fenced city of Varosha under Turkish military control.
“What is most disappointing is the futile effort of Mr Erdogan, in full
defiance of historic truths, to impress that tensions in the Middle East are
due to the unilateral actions undertaken by Greeks and Greek Cypriots,” Anastasiades
said.
He added he would never have expected that a country which has been condemned
repeatedly by a plethora of UN Resolutions, decisions of the Security Council,
as well as of the European Court of Human Rights for its illegal invasion
and occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus, would allege that, behind the tension
existing in the Eastern Mediterranean for a while, there are countries acting
with the understanding of the “winner takes it all”.
He also implied that, on the contrary, it was Turkey that uses might in order
to “take it all” and that prefers a power-based interstate conduct rather than
a rules-based one.
He also questioned Erdogan’s statement that
Turkey is not after anyone else’s right, remedy and legitimate interest neither
in the Eastern Mediterranean nor in any other region.
Anastasiades asked which country invaded and still occupies Cyprus, invaded
Syria, had military intervention in Libya, violates the sovereign rights of
Greece and intervenes in the internal affairs of Iraq.
To Erdogan’s comment that Turkey could not turn a blind eye on the violations against her and the TCs and that their interests were being ignored, Anastasiades asked whose interests are being ignored when Turkey’s claims, limit Cyprus’ EEZ by 44 per cent at the expense of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
He also said that Turkey chooses to
disregard the convergences reached between the leaders of the two communities
both in 2011 and 2015 which provide that Federal Cyprus will continue being a
contracting party to Unclos and any revenues accrued from the exploitation of
the state’s natural resources will be allocated to the federal government.
“And I wish to remind that these convergences were never challenged by Turkey
or the Turkish Cypriot side,” he said.
He pointed out that for this exact reason the issue of hydrocarbons was neither
raised during the intense negotiating period between 2011 and 2017 nor was part
of one of the elements of the framework of the UNSG as presented at Crans-
Montana.
He also said that Turkey disregards the fact that the Republic of Cyprus has
established a National Sovereign Fund which safeguards the interests of Greek
and Turkish Cypriots from any revenues accrued from the exploitation of
hydrocarbon deposits
“Our priority is to settle disputes in a sincere dialogue, based on international law and on an equitable basis,” Anastasiades said.
He said that if Erdogan truly adheres to this
as well “and if he sincerely believes that Turkey’s actions against the
Republic of Cyprus are compatible with international law, then why doesn’t he
accept our proposal for a sincere bilateral dialogue or to refer the whole
issue to the International Court of Justice?”
International law cannot be applied unilaterally, according to one’s whims, he
said.
Anastasiades also called on Erdogan to apply the same things he demands about TCs
on the Kurds.
Arguing that the Turkish implanted settlers might now outnumber TCs and that Turkey insists on maintaining the Treaty of Guarantee, the right of intervention and the permanent presence of Turkish troops, he said if Erdogan considers that what he demands for the TCs is compromising and just, “then why doesn’t he grant the same rights to the Kurds, bearing in mind that their population proportion is close to the population proportion of the TCs?”
Anastasiades also asked if it was uncompromising to aspire establishing an independent and sovereign state, without any foreign guarantees, any right of intervention by a foreign country and free from the presence of occupation troops.
“Which other of the 193 UN member-states is under Guarantees by a third country?” he asked. “Is it unjust to advocate establishing a normal state in which all decisions will be taken only by its citizens, free from foreign dependencies?,” he asked.
He also asked if any constitution of a Federal State provide that for every decision at a federal level at least one positive vote by one constituent member is required, especially when the constituent member is controlled by a third country.
Alithia reports Anastasiades launched a full attack on Erdogan adding that he dedicated the biggest part of his speech to report Turkey’s illegal actions in the Cypriot EEZ and Ankara’s destabilising role in the region.
Cyprus Mail reported that Anastasiades harangued Turkey over its aggressive posture toward its neighbours effectively portraying Ankara as the regional bully while by contrast, he said Cyprus is acting as a facilitator for synergies and cooperation by promoting a web of partnerships including trilateral and multilateral schemes along with Greece with Egypt Lebanon Jordan Israel Palestine and Armenia.
According to Politis, Anastasiades chose the podium of the 75th UNGA to respond point-by-point to Erdogan’s references on everything that is taking place in the East Med but also the Turkish president’s accusations that it is the non-solution to the Cyprus problem is the GC side’s fault.
Phileleftheros reports that Anastasiades did not suffice to just respond to Erdogan on everything he had said as regards the Eastern Mediterranean but he also picked up the gauntlet on other regional issues for which the Turkish president expressed his positions before the UNGA.
According to Haravgi, Anastasiades could not resist the temptation of putting the blame on Turkey for the hiatus reached at Crans-Montana while at the same time repeating he was ready for the talks to resume from where they left off.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Ready to immediately resume the Cyprob talks in line with the joint understanding reached with the UNSG & the TC leader last November in Berlin but for the talks to resume with realistic prospects for success, it is necessary to create an environment that will be on an equal footing and not under intimidation and threats.
>> Erdogan, whose country has been condemned repeatedly by a plethora of UN resolutions, that uses might in order to “take it all” & prefers a power-based interstate conduct rather than a rules-based one, should not blame GCs and Greece for the tensions in the East Med.
>> Questions Erdogan’s statement that Turkey is not after anyone else’s rights in the East Med or in any other region given it invaded and still occupies Cyprus, invaded Syria, had military intervention in Libya, violates the sovereign rights of Greece and intervenes in Iraq’s internal affairs.
>> Questions Erdogan’s comment that Turkey could not turn a blind eye on the violations against her and the TCs given Turkey’s claims, limit Cyprus’ EEZ by 44 per cent at the expense of both communities on the island.
>> Accuses Turkey of choosing to ignore the convergences reached between the two leaders in 2011 and 2015 which provide that Federal Cyprus will continue being a contracting party to Unclos & any revenues accrued from the exploitation of the state’s natural resources will be allocated to the federal government, which were never challenged by Turkey or the TCs.
>> The issue of hydrocarbons was neither raised during the 2011-2017 negotiating period nor was part of the elements of the Guterres framework as presented at Crans- Montana because of those convergences.
>> Calls on Erdogan, if he shares the RoC’s principle of settling disputes within international law & on an equitable basis and if he truly believes Turkey’s actions against the RoC are compatible with international law, to enter a sincere bilateral dialogue or to refer the issue to the ICJ.
>> Calls Erdogan, if he feels what he demands for the TCs is compromising and just, to grant the same rights to the Kurds, since their population proportion is close to that of the TCs.
>> Asks if the GCs’ wish for an independent and sovereign state, without any guarantees, and right of intervention by a foreign country & free from the presence of occupation troops is uncompromising.
>> Asks which other of the 193 UN member-states is under guarantees by a third country & if any constitution of a federal state provide that for every decision at a federal level at least one positive vote by one constituent member is required, especially when it is controlled by a third country.
Anastasiades: Yes to sanctions on Belarus but on Turkey as well
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, External Security, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on President Nicos Anastasiades’ interview with French daily Le Figaro in which he discusses about the upcoming European Council and Nicosia’s stance on sanctions against Belarus.
According to the papers, Anastasiades, asked if Cyprus vetoed sanctions against Belarus he said that on the contrary, Nicosia is in favour of these sanctions and had also suggested harsher sectoral sanctions against Belarus.
He added, however, that Cyprus insists that there should not be ‘selective sensitivity’ by the EU as regards violations of international law or human rights.
He also said that he expects a response to Turkey by the European Council but this time with actions and not just words. He added he expected diplomatic and political solutions to the Turkish issue.
Anastasiades said that during the informal summit of the EU foreign ministers in Berlin, everyone agreed on expanding some existing sanctions against Turkey “because we want to send a clear message that its behaviour cannot go unanswered and without any consequences and we will respond with actions.”
He said while Turkey has become a troublemaker in the region putting at risk peace and security but also the EU, the bloc has not acted in unison and determination to tackle this situation.
Anastasiades also said that President Macron’s and France’s position was the most decisive as it showed a clear and strong determination against Turkey’s illegal tactics.
As regards the Cyprus problem, Alithia reports that the president pointed out that Cyprus responded positively to Guterres’ intention for a new conference on Cyprus, which Turkey rejected.
Politis reports that Nicosia believes the goal of adding a few more names on the existing list of sanctions on Turkey is still feasible. Anastasiades hinted during the interview with Le Figaro, that he would raise the issue of Famagusta at the European Council, so it is possible that there will be some reference to the issue by EU leaders, Politis reported.
Phileleftheros reports that the prolonged anticipation as regards developments in the East Med keeps both Nicosia and Ankara on tenterhooks with their leaders on a race to convince the EU leaders and institutions on the legitimacy of their positions.
Anastasiades will need to continue his efforts to convince his European partners about the Turkish aggression, the dangers Cyprus is facing and even more so, and get them to agree on decisions against Ankara.
Ankara too is in diplomatic fever with the Turkish president being in constant communication with EU leaders and institutions. Erdogan’s contacts with German Chancellor Angela Merkel are daily, the paper reported, citing media reports in Europe and Turkey that Germany is trying to help Erdogan open channels of communication within the EU in order to defuse tensions even more before the crucial European Council.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Cyprus, not only did not veto EU sanctions on Belarus, it even suggested harsher sectoral sanctions against it but at the same time, the bloc should not choose which countries it will impose measures on in cases of violations of international law or human rights & which not.
>> Expects the EU leaders to respond to Turkey’s actions in the East Med with actions & not just words.
>> Though Turkey has become a troublemaker in the region which affects also the EU, the bloc has not acted in unison and determination to tackle this situation. Only France’s response was a decisive one.