Front Page Headlines
A stop to irregular hiring
The contracts of non-permanent staff at the civil service will not be renewed. The House finance committee gave the green light yesterday for filling 448 first-appointment positions in the civil service. Needs will be covered from now on by hiring permanent staff through written exams. Gradual abolition of part-timers. The practice of purchasing services from the private sector is also being limited where not necessary and where needs can be covered by existing staff.
- Briefing of political leaders – The Yavuz left, we got left (the) Famagusta (issue).
- Occupied areas: Tatar relies on conspiracy theories
- Steering clear of a lockdown: The situation is unstable but under control
They are getting ready for Varosha
Turkey opened a new chapter of tensions despite the Yavuz’s departure. Moves aimed at Sunday’s elections.
- Hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh continue non-stop
The road to diplomacy and dialogue opens
Since the government went below the bar it set on the veto and sanctions on Turkey and finding itself in a worse position compared to three years ago in Crans-Montana, the road is opening up for dialogue while pressure on the president for the restart of the talks right after the ‘presidential’ elections is mounting. Today the National Council convenes. Greece and Turkey have held six meetings under NATO auspices.
- (AKEL Leader) They are chasing after (developments on) the opening of Varosha
Nicosia welcomes Yavuz departure
Government says it’s a positive development but questions whether it’s gone for good.
Move with a prospect?
The departure of the Yavuz from the Cypriot EEZ. Intense behind-the-scenes contacts will telephone calls by Anastasiades to Merkel on Famagusta. A move by Turks is not ruled out and/or a visit by Erdogan. A move by Turkey is expected in support of Tatar.
- Noble’s buyout by Chevron has been completed – The agreement has been approved.
- Nagorno-Karabakh: the numbers of civilian deaths is rising
Main News
Nicosia welcomes Yavuz departure but expects more
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations, Energy, External Security
OVERVIEW
The government welcomes the departure of Turkish drillship Yavuz from Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but concerns remain over possible moves on the opening of Varosha in a bid by Turkey to give one of the candidates, ‘prime minister’ Ersin Tatar, a further push to win the elections in the north, the dailies report on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, President Nicos Anastasiades will brief on Tuesday late afternoon the political leaders on the outcome of last week’s European Council summit.
The dailies report that the government welcomed the Yavuz’s departure from the Cypriot EEZ with caution.
Government spokesman Kyriakos Kousios said that its departure was a positive development, but it was unclear whether the ship was leaving for good. He noted that Turkey’s seismic research vessel Barbaros remains within the Cyprus EEZ while threats to settle the fenced city of Famagusta continue. He said Nicosia will await developments to evaluate the situation.
The European Commission too welcomed the Yavuz’s departure. The dailies quote statements by spokesman for EU external affairs, Peter Stano, to the Cyprus News Agency that this was another welcome step towards de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean. He added that the bloc hopes to see similar and additional steps in this direction as described and discussed by leaders at the EU Council last week.
Alithia, citing sources, reports that Anastasiades, after the Yavuz’s departure, had on Monday two very important telephone conversations, one with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the other with European Council President Charles Michel. Discussion was Turkish provocations in Cyprus and threats to open Varosha. Anastasiades pointed out that the vessel’s departure was a positive first step but for the dialogue to resume, Turkey must cease all provocations, which is what the latest European Council conclusions also mention, the paper reported.
Alithia, and most dailies report that Turkey is expected to make a move on Varosha in a bid to help its preferred candidate, Ersin Tatar, win elections in the north.
Phileleftheros reports that Ankara’s plans, despite the Yavuz’s departure, are not aimed at deescalating tensions.
Citing information, the paper reports that Turkey is planning to make a move ahead of Sunday’s elections in the occupied areas by either opening a part of the closed area of Varosha or resuming water supply to the north in tandem with a visit by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend the ceremony. The fact that the government was aware of the intentions of the Turkish side is reinforced by the fact that President Anastasiades sought and succeeded in having references to the relevant UN resolutions on Famagusta included in the text of the conclusions of the European Council, the paper reported. It is recalled that at the Summit, Anastasiades had received assurances from German Chancellor Angela Merkel the Turkish side would make moves for de-escalation.
According to information, Merkel asked Anastasiades not to insist on sanctions against Turkey because this would harm the effort that she undertook. She told Anastasiades her attempt concerned a stop to new Navtex messages and/or the withdrawal of one or both of Turkey’s drilling rigs from the region, the daily report, adding that there is still no clear link between the two but the withdrawal of the Yavuz is a just a few days after the summit is a fact.
On the issue of Varosha, Phileleftheros, citing diplomatic sources, reports that Turkey’s actions on the closed-off area are linked with Sunday’s elections and that it is not ruled out that announcements on the opening of Varosha may be made when Ankara wants to help Tatar win the elections. This could be within the next 24 hours or next week, before the second round of the elections, the daily reported.
Politis, citing TC sources, reports that it is unlikely Ankara will make such a move prior to the elections since it does not believe it would help Tatar win more votes. Any move on Varosha would further escalate tensions ahead of consultations on the Cyprus problem in the coming period, the daily said.
On the Cyprus problem front, the paper reports that the UN Secretary-General is very determined to move immediately to the issue of the resumption of talks immediately after the elections in the occupied areas. This belief stems from the content of Guterres’ conversation with both Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci. TC sources left open the possibility of Guterres meeting with the two leaders, especially in the event of Akinci’s election, the paper reported, adding that the has not been confirmed by the GC side. The most possible scenario, is exploratory contacts in the near future, possibly by UNSG envoy Jane Holl Lute, especially if Tatar is elected, as the Secretary-General wants to be sure that there is fertile ground for an informal conference-meeting to avoid a premature impasse due to opposing positions of the two sides, Politis reports.
Haravgi reported that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said during an event in Limassol that, according to information, Turkey will open a beach in Varosha, pointing out this issue has been ongoing for years. He said his party has been warning that substantive talks would stop Turkey from proceeding with new faits accomplis and that whenever there was an impasse, Turkey would create new faits accomplis to force the GC side negotiate on Ankara’s terms. But they did not pay heed, he said.
Kyprianou also accused the government and ruling DISY of downplaying Turkey’s threats as mere PR stunts and called on them to see things in their true dimensions and with the due seriousness and draw a tactic aimed at the restart of substantive talks aimed at the solution of the Cyprus problem.
The daily also criticises the government of not achieving what it had promised at the EU leader’s summit since it set the bar too high and is now in a worse situation than three years ago after the talks in Crans-Montana. It added that the road for dialogue is now open while pressure on Anastasiades for the restart of the talks right after election in the north is mounting. The daily also cites spokesperson of Turkey’s defence minister, Sebnem Aktop saying that six meetings have already taken place between Greece and Turkey under NATO on measures for preventing possible conflict in the East Med. Aktop also said the Turkish armed forces will continue to defend Turkey’s and the TCs’ rights and interests in every corner of the ‘Blue Homeland’ (Mavi Vatan); in the Black Sea, the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean and will continue to guarantee peace and security in Cyprus, the daily reports.
DISY leader Averof Neophytou said the ship’s departure was a response to all those who had downplayed the recent EU summit decisions and showed Anastasiades had acted correctly.
Opposition parties, however, are not as optimistic.
DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos said that as long as Turkey feels its gunboat policy is successful, it will maintain tensions in the region. The message sent is that the Republic of Cyprus is isolated and ineffective, he said.
The Solidarity Movement said that Turkey could send the Yavuz back at any time. It questioned what promises Nicosia had given at the EU summit so the drillship would leave and reiterated that Cyprus was weakened within the EU.
The Greens said that although a positive step, the departure of the Yavuz was incomplete. What would genuinely help de-escalate tension in the region is the full restoration of sovereignty of Cyprus’ maritime areas and the ending of Turkish plans to settle Famagusta.
KEY ACTORS
Kousios (RoC spokesperson)
>> Yavuz’s departure is a positive step but Turkey keeps the Barbaros in Cyprus’ EEZ & continues to threaten to open Varosha.
Stano (EU spokesperson)
>> The EU welcomes the Yavuz’s withdrawal as a step towards de-escalation in the East Med & hopes to more steps in this direction as per the call of the EU leaders last week.
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> AKEL has been warning the government for years that substantive talks would stop Turkey from proceeding with new faits accomplis & of its tactic of forcing the GCs negotiate on its own terms by imposing new faits accomplis whenever an impasse is reached, but was not heard.
>> Calls on the government & DISY, that are downplaying Turkey’s threats, to see things the way they are & draw a tactic aimed at the restart of substantive talks aimed at the Cyprob solution.
Neophytou (DISY)
>> Yavuz’s departure is a response to all those who had downplayed the recent EU summit decisions & proof that Anastasiades had acted correctly.
Papadopoulos (DIKO)
>> As long as Turkey feels its gunboat policy is working, it will maintain tensions in the region.
>> The latest EUCO outcome sent the message that the RoC is isolated and ineffective.
Solidarity Movement
>> Wants to know what promises Nicosia had given at the EU summit so the drillship would leave.
>> Feels that Cyprus was weakened within the EU.
Greens
>> To genuinely help de-escalate tension in the region Turkey must fully respect Cyprus’ sovereignty but also ending plans to settle Famagusta.
Aktop (Turkey’s defence min spokesperson)
>> The Turkish armed forces will continue to defend Turkey’s & TCs’ rights and interests in the Black Sea, the Aegean and East Med & will continue to guarantee peace and security in Cyprus.
Neophytou warns of last chance on Cyprob
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations, External Security
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that DISY leader Averof Neophytou said that the Cyprus issue will enter deep waters soon and warned that this would be the last chance for a solution.
Neophytou was speaking after a meeting with British High Commissioner to Nicosia Stephen Lillie, as Britain’s ambassador to Greece Kate Smith and Sir Dominick Chilcott, Britain’s ambassador to Turkey.
“Developments are coming on our national issue. We must thoroughly prepare because the Cyprus issue will enter deep waters,” Neophytou said, adding that the Cyprus issue is no longer a Cyprus-Turkey problem, but it is also European and geopolitical.
Asked whether his comment was the assessment of the British diplomats, Neophytou said: “This was my opinion prior to the (UN) general secretary’s announcement that developments are on the way and is in line with our contacts and with the diplomats but also with contacts in Europe.”
“I believe it will be a last chance to try to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. A very serious effort on the part of the international community and the EU,” he added.
Phileleftheros also reports that Neophytou, on another occasion, said in his social media profile that he agreed with the lawyer Achilleas Demetriades’ proposal for setting up a bicommunal hospital on the pandemic in the grounds of the Nicosia airport in the buffer zone.
He said this was a good suggestion and added that the hospital could also be used to treat other conditions, not just Covid-19 patients.
The Institute of Neurology and Genetics is also at the disposal of the TCs on Covid-19, but unfortunately, they do not make use of it, he said, according to Phileleftheros.
KEY ACTORS
Neophytou (DISY)
>> Foresees developments that will put Cyprob in deep waters.
>> The Cyprob is no longer a Cyprus-Turkey problem, but also European & geopolitical.
>> A very serious effort by the international community & the EU is underway on the Cyprob which could be a last chance to find a solution.
>> Eyes positively the idea on a bicommunal hospital that could also treat other ailments & not just Covid-19 cases.
>> The TCs waived the opportunity to use the CING on Covid-19.
Arrest of man suspected of smuggling tobacco from north
Haravgi
Economy, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that a 57-year-old man from Limassol, arrested on Monday after a chase, was found to carry in his car 10 kilos of tobacco, €10,000 and 5,000 Turkish Lira.
The man, who is known to the police for the smuggling of duty-free items mainly from the occupied areas, is now being investigated for the smuggling of tobacco.
The man is suspected of smuggling the tobacco and sell it to regular customers of his.
He was arrested on Monday after failing to stop for a police check in Limassol and crashed with his vehicle, after being chased by patrol cars, into three police cars and a number of private ones.