Front Page Headlines
Turkish games with Barbaros
War of nerves by Ankara in Varosha and in licensed plots of the EEZ. New Turkish illegal NAVTEX sends Barbaros again for research in area between plots 6 and 7, which are being managed by ENI – Total. Just one day before “elections” in the occupied areas, disputes between candidates with Tatar’s pre-election moves in Varosha as the backdrop, create an explosive climate. UN Security Council decided on reversal of Turkish decision to open beach front and respect on application of relevant resolutions 550 and 789.
- Close to derailing: Cases double than desired number
- Defence: Merely 100 million euros for arms expenditures
A minefield for the economy
Ministry of Finance fears unpredictable side effects to finances because of coronavirus. The state has available cash to cover predictable needs in funding for nine months.
- Here is the chaos with homes for foreigners: They took a building allegedly for students but they sponsor asylum seekers
- The devastating journey of a photo journalist: She experienced a nightmare walking in Famagusta’s streets
- Third death from coronavirus in the span of a week
- They prepare new steps in Varosha
- Sizopoulos – Lillikas built bridges
- Golden Dawn members audacious in trial
- Stop put by court to subletting T/C properties
German Foreign Minister begins contacts in the region…
President tried to save face. Positive references to return to dialogue. AKEL advises focus to aim of solution.
- Demarche to reverse faits accomplis
- Akinci openly attacked by Ankara
- A “miracle” made Aphrodite’s gardens disappear
- Golden Dawn’s offshoots acted with slogans on walls
- 33 new cases and one death. Emergency measures at Limassol hospital
- Special entry permit given to housekeepers and workers
All eyes on UN meeting
US and UK express concerns ahead of closed-door UNSC session on Varosha.
- Authorities appeal to public after new Covid death and 33 cases
Playing games with Barbaros?
Turkey again blows up climate – New NAVTEX for Cypriot EEZ. Departure of research vessel did not last long. It returned with a new NAVTEX until November 9th. Uncertainty returned with Barbaros.
- Dead and cases increase – Concern over irresponsible behaviours: One death and 33 cases – Contacts of cases that break the quarantine a headache
- Parliament plenary: Conflict over MPs that left DIKO
- Supreme Court decisions: The tricks by illegal migrants so that they remain in Cyprus
- Golden Dawn trial: Decision on mitigating factors on Monday
Main News
Barbaros returns to Cypriot EEZ with new NAVTEX until November 9
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Energy, EU Matters, Regional/ International Relations, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Turkish survey ship Barbaros moved once again on late Friday afternoon from its location off Paphos and returned in an area near plot 6 of the Cypriot EEZ. At the same time, Turkey issued a new NAVTEX for Barbaros, which will be sent in areas between plot 6 and 7 of the Cypriot EEZ until November 9th. The dailies note that the ship had seemed to be heading out of the Cypriot EEZ on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Haravgi reports that German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas will be visiting Nicosia, Athens and Ankara in order to encourage dialogue and assess the positions of Cyprus and Greece ahead of the upcoming regular European Council which will take place on October 15th and 16th.
Alithia reports that the government is now looking to the EU in its effort to avert the settling of Varosha, and that Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides will be briefing his EU counterparts on Monday in Luxembourg during a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC). President Anastasiades is also expected to raise the issue during the next scheduled European Council on October 15th and 16th. The agenda of Monday’s FAC is focused on Belarus, Kosovo and Latin America, but European sources cited by the Cyprus News Agency recognised that Turkey’s actions in Varosha are not helpful.
The dailies also report that the Ministry for Education has decided that on Monday students in all classes will be informed on the events of August 14th 1974 and how they lead to the takeover of Famagusta by the Turkish invading forces. Cyprus Mail reports that the Ministry will be reinstating “Den Ksehno” (I don’t forget) activities by activating the local committees tasked with organising such events in all primary schools. At the same time, high school students will be briefed on the latest developments and the historical identity and development of the city of Famagusta.
Politis reports that the UN Security Council discussed the issue of Varosha late on Friday. In a statement issued after the meeting, the UNSC asked for Turkey to recall its decision to open part of the city’s beachfront and to respect UN resolutions. The UNSC also called against any unilateral moves that can cause tension on the island, called both sides and the guarantors to engage in a constructive dialogue and expressed support to the Secretary General’s intention to restart negotiations picking up on his November 2019 meeting with the two leaders.
The Security Council was expected to reaffirm previous resolutions, the Cyprus Mail writes. UN Secretary General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told the media that the UNSG considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than the inhabitants inadmissible.
Cyprus Mail cites statements on the issue by US Senators Robert Menendez and Chris Van Hollen who sent a letter to US President Trump asking him to urge Turkey to comply with UN Security Council resolutions. They added that they support a return to dialogue, but that Turkey is creating tension in the Eastern Mediterranean and that its Varosha move calls its commitment to diplomacy into question.
A US embassy spokesperson in Nicosia told the Cyprus News Agency that the country is following the situation closely and called Turkey’s action inconsistent with UN Security Council resolutions. British High Commissioner Stephen Lillie also said the UK was concerned and reaffirmed the UK’s support to a settlement in Cyprus.
Also, the House of Representatives also passed a resolution on Friday condemning Turkey’s actions. The resolution, which was tabled by DIKO, was approved unanimously. The resolution also rejected any attempt to change the basis of the solution of the Cyprus Problem from that of reunification as a bizonal bicommunal federation.
Phileleftheros reports on a protest held by Famagustan refugees on Thursday at the Deryneia checkpoint. According to the newspaper, the Famagustans were critical of the government as well as political leaders Averof Neofytou and Andros Kyprianou that participated in the gathering, with protesters pointing out that politicians have responsibility for the fact that Famagusta was left in the hands of the Turkish side. DISY leader Neofytou left the protest quietly while AKEL leader Kyprianou discussed with protesters the track record of his party during the Annan Plan referendum as well as the party’s supports to Presidents Kyprianou and Papadopoulos, both from DIKO. Government spokesperson Kyriakos Koushios who was also at the event told Politis 107.6 radio that Famagustans were right to complain.
Former Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said during an interview broadcast on DISY’s YouTube channel that the situation in Varosha is reversible as long as no faits accomplis are created. Kasoulides added that if talks on reunification restart immediately after elections in the north, then everything will be judged at the negotiating table.
In a statement, Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Dendias said that during their latest meeting, his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Ankara would soon provide a date for the beginning of the exploratory talks between the two sides.
Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told French newspaper Le Figaro that the prospect of exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey is an encouraging step in the right direction. He recalled that the European Council gave its solidarity to Cyprus and Greece and supported their sovereign rights. He added that Turkey’s decision to open part of the fenced city of Varosha is an unacceptable provocation and that it weakens efforts towards de-escalation.
Haravgi reports that Cavusoglu said during the GlobSec2020 forum in Bratislava that the G/C is not ready to share anything with the T/Cs, citing once more statements attributed to President Anastasiades. According to the Turkish Anadolu agency, Cavusoglu said that Turkish actions in the Eastern Mediterranean are illegal only according to the opinion of the G/Cs and those EU countries that support them. Cavusoglu asked the Cypriot ambassador who was also present whether the government accepts that T/Cs also have rights on hydrocarbons around the island.
Alithia recalls a statement by President Anastasiades made on CyBC on Thursday night. Anastasiades said that the partial opening of the Varosha waterfront does not stand in the way of restarting negotiations, since this was a pre-election move that does not for now affect the property right of Varosha’s legal residents.
Alithia reports that AKEL spokesperson Stephanos Stephanou said that Turkish actions in Varosha rightly cause anger and underlines that the Famagustan refugees have shown decisiveness to prevent these actions. However, he adds, in order for this decisiveness to yield results, it needs to be connected with a drive to restart negotiations for a comprehensive solution within the agreed parameters. Stephanou notes that continuing negotiations from where they were left off at Crans Montana would mean bringing back to the table the map submitted by the T/Cs which gives Famagusta to G/C administration.
DIKO president Nicolas Papadopoulos disagreed with Anastasiades’ statement on need for negotiations and said that it is an indication that the G/C side has begun retreating. Papadopoulos pointed that two months ago, Anastasiades had said that there can be no negotiations at gunpoint. He said that if the government repeats the same policies regarding Famagusta as it did regarding the EEZ, then it is likely that the G/C side will be left with the results of these infringements.
Solidarity disagreed with Anastasiades’s statement and said that returning to negotiations in today’s conditions would mean giving in without conditions and without a battle and would push the legal residents of Famagusta to sell out their properties, or even return to the city under T/C administration.
In another development, Phileleftheros reports in a comment that the Antiquity Department (currently a part of the Ministry of Works and Transport) is opposing its transfer to a new Deputy Ministry for Culture, citing issues connected to cultural monuments in the occupied areas. The same comment, which does not give further details, points out that the Law Office of the Republic has examined the issue and pointed out that issues of cultural heritage will be a federal competency in case of a solution.
Interior Ministry to remove shacks from T/C properties in Larnaca
Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Property, Economy
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that the Interior Ministry, as the Guardian of T/C properties is planning to demolish shacks that have been standing on T/C properties on Grigoris Afxentiou Avenue in Larnaca’s city centre since 1975.
Haravgi reports that Larnaca Municipality has taken the iniative to provide assistance to the affected shop owners, pointing out that the buildings will be demolished for health and safety reasons and that the municipality will not claim the properties for its own use. The Interior Ministry meanwhile says it will not be responsible for erecting new structures on the properties.
Larnaca mayor Andreas Vyras told Haravgi that the municipality is not interested in using the properties, but that they are concerned over the fact that the buildings are made of metal sheets and pipes and were not built with the proper permits. He added that the constructions pose a health and security risk given also that they are located opposite a school.
Vyras added that the Municipality has sponsored the drafting of architectural plans for new buildings (to the cost of 12 thousand euros), but that the Interior Ministry is not intending to construct them due to financial considerations. He said that the Municipality has given the shop owners other options such as compensation or the provision of alternative locations, but that these options need to be considered by the Interior Ministry.
The Interior Ministry says that it intends to contact the affected shop owners after it has issued demolition decrees and will consider various alternatives, such as renting out other properties or compensating those affected. However the Ministry has made clear that it cannot follow the Municipality’s planning since it would cost about 1 million euros, and notes that if the shop owners want to remain in the same plot they would need to construct new buildings.
Haravgi notes that AKEL MP and head of the parliament’s committee on refugees (displaced) Skevi Koukouma has said that the health and safety considerations, as well as the need to beautify the area, are well understood, but added that viable and commonly accepted solutions need to be found so that the displaced are not victimised yet again.
In another development, Phileleftheros reports that the Nicosia District Court ruled that subletting a T/C property without permission constitutes fraud. The court was ruling in a case brought by a user of a T/C property against a lodger that refused to pay rent. The court asked for the Guardian of T/C Properties to reclaim the property, which has been sublet illegally, and asked for the Attorney General to investigate the issue.