Front Page Headlines
Satisfied with… a double standard
Solidarity from partners with sanctions against Turkey in the “fridge”. Athens says it is pleased by European Council conclusions, while Nicosia sends the message that the weight of making a choice now shifts to Turkey. Important references regarding the EU’s commitment to efforts to restart negotiations for the Cyprus Problem, as well as to UN resolutions pointing to the Famagusta issue.
- New sampling: No end to (coronavirus) cases in Larnaca
EU deleted the sanctions
27 give Turkey time until December to change its behaviour. New initiatives by Merkel and Michel.
- Chains lengthen in Limassol as well: Restrictions extended also to Famagusta district
- Iranian singer that left Turkey: He sleeps in a tent in the buffer zone
- They want all EU countries in category B
They raised the bar and passed under it…
President tried to save face. Positive references to return to dialogue. AKEL advises focus to aim of solution.
- More restrictions in Larnaca – Famagusta against the coronavirus
- Russia also concerned over Eastern Mediterranean
- (Nilgun Guney interview) “Our enemies are not on the other side”
‘Ball is now in Turkey’s court’
Anastasiades says sanctions on Turkey in themselves were not the goal, after EU rejects move.
- Cyprus: Extra measures for Larnaca and Famagusta
Ball at Erdogan’s feet
Summit conclusion satisfy Cyprus and Greece. Strict warnings and a time frame until December for Turkey. Turkey intensely annoyed: “We are not going to negotiate with the Greek Cypriots”.
- Local lockdown not ruled out – Effort to break chains: Dasaki Ahnas and Larnaca cause headache – Cases hide their contacts making tracking almost impossible – Seventeen new cases yesterday
Main News
EU does not impose sanctions on Turkey but will reconsider in December
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Regional/ International Relations, External Security, Energy, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The results of Thursday’s European Council, which ended in the early hours of Friday, is the main story in all dailies. The European Council did not agree on adding names on the list of sanctioned individuals involved in illegal drillings in the Cypriot EEZ, but assured Cyprus that Turkey will be punished if it continues drilling, the Cyprus Mail reports.
The newspaper notes that the 27 leaders broke the diplomatic deadlock regarding the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the EU’s effort to impose sanctions on Belarus after a long night of negotiations.
The dailies report that this result aims to allow German chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council President Charles Michel to proceed with their diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Phileleftheros is critical of the EU, pointing out that sanctions were ruled out in favour of efforts for diplomacy, while Politis and Haravgi are critical of the government’s handling of the issue and the high expectations created.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after the meeting that if Turkey does not end its provocations, its behaviour will be reviewed in December. Von der Leyen pointed out that the EU wants a constructive relationship with Turkey and that that would also be in Ankara’s interests.
She stressed however that this will only work if provocations by Turkey stop, and that the EU expects Ankara to abstain form unilateral actions from here on forward. She said that if provocative actions continue or are renewed, the EU will all available instruments and options.
European Council President Michel said after the meeting that the EU is pursuing a double strategy towards Ankara, by offering closer relations but keeping the option of sanctions open if it fails to de-escalate.
The European Council conclusions do not directly mention sanctions, but do point out that in case of renewed tensions the EU will use tools included in the treaties. The reference to specific articles in the conclusions points to targeted sanctions. The conclusions also express satisfaction with the beginning exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey, and lays out a series of issues (such as a customs union or migration) where the EU wants a positive agenda, given that Turkey continues to take sustained constructive steps.
The conclusions also call for the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus to be respected and calls for a stop to all violations of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus. Delimitation of maritime zones should be addressed through dialogue and negotiation and in good faith, the European Council adds in its conclusions, calling on Turkey to accept the RoC’s invitation to engage in dialogue.
The European Council also calls for a return to negotiations for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Problem based on UN resolutions, making specific reference to Security Council resolutions regarding Varosha and adding that the EU is ready to appoint a special representative on the issue. Also, they call on High Representative Josep Borrell to explore ways in which a positive agenda can continue, as well as towards the possibility of an international conference on the Eastern Mediterranean.
President Anastasiades said in a press conference on Friday that he is satisfied by the results, pointing out that the issue was never whether some names could be added to the list but for effective measures to be taken, Phileleftheros reports. Anastasiades also repeated that sanctions on Turkey were not the goal in themselves. He added that it was preferable to have an initiative (meaning the Merkel – Michel) initiative that puts the weight on Turkey on whether it is ready to follow legality or to further isolate itself.
Anastasiades pointed out that the conclusions are satisfactory because they confirm the EU’s solidarity to Greece and Cyprus, calls on Turkey to abstain from unilateral moves and calls the country to negotiate with the RoC over maritime zone delineation, makes specific reference to UN Security Council resolutions on Famagusta and makes any positive agenda for EU – Turkey relations conditional on Turkey ending its provocative actions against Greece and Cyprus.
In his statements after the meeting Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the results were positive for Greece and Turkey – EU relations, noted that the conclusions make positive references to Greek – Turkish dialogue. Mitsotakis also pointed out that the EU was clear that there will be consequences if Turkey continues its aggressive behaviour.
Phileleftheros reports that the Turkish Foreign Ministry reacted to the European Council’s decision by saying that the EU remains hostage to Greece and the G/Cs and adding that calling Turkey’s actions in the region illegal is not constructive language. The Turkish FM also says that the conclusions include positive elements such as the reference to exploratory talks with Greece, but that the Council did not mention that these talks concern not only maritime delineation but all open issues between the two countries.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also noted that there is no reference to the T/C community or for the need for equitable sharing of natural gas incomes among the two sides. And repeated that as far as Turkey is concerned, it is the T/Cs that the G/Cs should be discussing natural gas with and not Ankara. The two communities should meet as soon as possible in order to establish a cooperation mechanism on natural gas, it added.
The Turkish FM assesses a reference to a multilateral conference on the Eastern Mediterranean as positive, and adds that the conclusions partly respond to Ankara’s call to solve problems in the region through dialogue and diplomacy.
The dailies also report that NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg will be visiting Ankara and Athens on Monday and Tuesday. Haravgi reports that according to an official announcement, Stoltenberg will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and other officials in Ankara on Monday, and will also meet with Greek prime minister Mitsotakis, Foreign Minister Nicos Dendias and National Defence Minister Nicos Panagiotopoulos on Tuesday.
Haravgi publishes an interview by former Russian ambassador to Nicosia Georgy Muratov. Muratov, who served as the ambassador from 1996 to 1999, told the newspaper that Russia is ready to contribute towards a dialogue with Turkey. He also reiterated Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s position that the only guarantee of Cyprus’s safety is the restart of negotiations.
KEY ACTORS
Ursula von der Leyen (Commission President)
>> If Turkey does not end provocations its behaviour will be reviewed in December
>> EU wants a constructive relationship with Turkey but this will be only if Ankara abstains from unilateral actions
>> If these are renewed, EU has all available instruments at the ready
Charles Michel (Council President)
>> EU pursues double strategy towards Ankara, by offering close relations but keeping open the option of sanctions
Nicos Anastasiades (Cypriot President)
>> Satisfied by results since sanctions were not an end in themselves
>> Preferable to have an initiative that shifts the weight to Turkey to prove if it wants to cooperate
>> Conclusions call for Turkey to abstain from unilateral moves and negotiate with the RoC over delineation, call for resumption of negotiations and reference UN Security Council resolutions on Famagusta
>> Any EU – Turkey dialogue is conditional on Turkey ending provocations
Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Greek prime minister)
>> Positive decisions for EU – Turkish relations that also contain positive references to Greece – Turkey dialogue
>> The EU is clear that there will be consequences if Turkey continues its aggressive behaviour
Turkish Foreign Ministry
>> Calling Turkey’s actions illegal is not constructive dialogue
>> There are positive elements such as the reference to exploratory talks with Greece, despite no reference to negotiations over all bilateral disagreements
>> No reference to T/C community and sharing of natural gas due to EU being hostage to Greek and the G/Cs
>> Conclusions partly respond to Ankara’s call to solve problems in the region through dialogue and diplomacy
Daughter of T/C designer of RoC flag interviewed in Haravgi
Haravgi
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Artist Nilgun Guney, the daughter of Ismet Guney, the artist who created the flag of the Republic of Cyprus, was interviewed on Haravgi on the occasion of the October 1st independence day anniversary.
Guney said that her father was happy for the distinction of having created the new state’s flag and was always telling a story of how Makarios would joke to him that he should have added two dots on the map of Cyprus, one on the President’s birthplace in Paphos and one on the artist’s birthplace in Limassol.
Nilgun Guney said she is proud her father was the one to design the flag, but is saddened by the fact that many T/Cs consider it to be the G/C flag while some G/Cs don’t like it exactly because it was created by a T/C. She said that the Cyprus Problem is as simple when it comes to people themselves as it is complicated when it comes to politicians. She said that it is wrong that the two sides do not know all the truth and have not condemned war crimes.
Regarding the upcoming T/C elections, Guney said that she is optimistic because people have started thinking independently and not allowing interventions, and that she believes that Cypriots (meaning Turkish Cypriots in the north) are voting seeking peace and negotiations. She added however that Cypriots might not be a majority among voters, while there are others that have different ideas about a solution.
Guney also said that in the case a solution is reached, she would like the flag created by her father to be the one used in the future.