GCC Press Review 12 October 2020

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Tatar – Akinci at finishing line for unpredictable second round

Erdogan’s intervention was not enough to manipulate T/Cs. “Electoral” battle without a frontrunner expected during second round of “elections” on October 18th. Ersin Tatar and Mustafa Akinci confirmed predictions. M. Akinci: Stop the interventions we have been experiencing the past few weeks. I’m calling on those who have ears and can hear, as well as those that cannot hear, to leave the future of the Turkish Cypriot people in its own hands. Ersin Tatar: On October 18th victory will be finally ours. I will be in the “presidency” as your representative. This will be our response to those that cannot accept it.

  • A walk in Famagusta: The soil didn’t settle on Ippokratous street
  • Coronavirus: We broke barrier of 2,000 cases
  • Cypriot passport proves tough

Phileleftheros

Akinci withstood the pressure

Final battle with Ersin Tatar next Sunday – Erhurman will be kingmaker in showdown. Historic low participation.

  • Abstention triumphs in occupied areas – They turned their back to the “elections” – 45.28% did not go to ballots – “Constitutional” changes also promoted

Haravgi

Critical battle for solution or partition

M. Akinci and E. Tatar face off again. Stance of Tufan Erhurman is key. Akinci increased his percentage compared to 2015.

  • Barrier of 2,000 cases broke after yesterday’s 20 new cases
  • Organised (Cypriot) community in Britain mobilised over Varosha

Alithia

Erhurman elects the “president”

Yesterday’s voting puts president of Republican Turkish Party in position of kingmaker for the second round of elections. Ersin Tatar and Mustafa Akinci will duel next Sunday. In yesterday’s elections Tatar got 32.35% and Akinci 29.84%. Erhurman came third with 21.68%. Unprecedented abstention due to Erdogan’s intimidation.

  • Today Christodoulides briefs European FMs over Varosha – Guterres initiative begins immediately – Turkey’s pressures on Security Council proved fruitless
  • Twenty cases yesterday: A student, an air steward and a teacher among new cases

Main News

Hoodlums cause tension at Derynia checkpoint on night of T/C election

Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing, Territory, Regional/ International Relations, EU Matters, Energy

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that late on Sunday, a group of people tried to break through the barricade at the Derynia checkpoint, according to an official police statement.

The police said that about 250 people in black clothing and with their faces covered moved towards the Derynia checkpoint where they tried to break through the police barricade. The crowd also lit and threw flares, waved a Greek flag and shouted slogans such as “Cyprus is Greek”. Haravgi cites information that some were holding bats and sticks.

The protesters appeared at around 7pm. Police rushed to the scene and ended the protest at around 8pm. According to reports, police took testimonies and examined surveillance video from the cameras placed at the checkpoint.

Phileleftheros notes that some of the protesters bore symbols of football team Anorthosi. Haravgi points out that the video of the event was shared widely by T/C media since the episode took place while votes were being counted for the first round of the T/C leadership election.

Meanwhile, Phileleftheros recalls that on Monday Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides will brief his counterparts at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg of Turkey’s latest actions in Varosha as well as on its decision to renew a NAVTEX for Barbaros. Alithia reports that Christodoulides told Phileleftheros that he expects UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to move ahead with a new initative to restart negotiations as soon as T/C elections are complete.

Alithia reports citing diplomatic efforts that Turkey had made intense efforts to prevent the UN Security Council (UNSC) from issuing a strong statement on Varosha on Friday, and that it had tried to convince the UNSC to instead only give statements to the press. The UNSC meeting lasted for about an hour. UNFICYP head Elizabeth Spehar briefed the UNSC and expressed her concerns over Turkey’s moves, but avoided condemning them, according to the report.

The same diplomatic sources said that Cyprus attempted to add a condemnation of Turkey’s actions but that two states disagreed.

Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Dendias said in an interview to Greek newspaper Eleftheros Typos that Turkey’s actions in Varosha and its renewal of the NAVTEX for Barbaros undermine the necessary climate for negotiations. Dendias pointed out that sanctions are on the table and that if Turkey hasn’t shown readiness to de-escalate by December, then the EU will move ahead.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy, commenting on Dendias’s interview, said that it is ridiculous to claim that people swimming in Varosha are breaking UN Security Council decisions. Regarding the Turkish NAVTEX issued for exercises on October 28th between Rhodes and Kastelorizo, Aksoy said that it is in response to a Greek NAVTEX for October 29th which Turkey believes is contravening the 1988 agreement.


Abstention in north ascribed to Erdogan’s intimidation

Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Greek Cypriot dailies widely report on the result of the first round of elections for Turkish Cypriot leader, noting that Mustafa Akinci progressed to the second round despite pressures from Turkey and despite Ankara’s open support for his opponent, Ersin Tatar, and that CTP leader Tufan Erhurman is expected to be the kingmaker of the second round.

The dailies also ascribe the historic low participation in a T/C “presidential” election to the coronavirus and intimidation efforts orchestrated by Turkey.

Phileleftheros reports that Akinci withstood the pressure and passed to the second round, coming a close second after Tatar. The newspaper notes that Erhurman is expected to support Akinci in the second round, but that he said decisions will be taken on Monday. The newspaper points out that in his statement after the results were released, Erhurman said that CTP will not allow the people to be divided during such a difficult period.

Phileleftheros also notes the low percentage gained by Kudret Ozersay, who had been considered Turkey’s favourite until recently.

Alithia cites analysts that point out the low participation was caused by the actions of persons tied to the Erdogan government who reportedly warned voters to vote in favour of Tatar. The same sources also cite the coronavirus pandemic and the tension caused by the opening of Varosha as additional reasons.

Haravgi casts next week’s election as a decision point between a solution or a final partition.


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