Front Page Headlines
Limassol is flirting with a lockdown
If the new, stricter restrictive measures do not pay off we are turning back to last March. Yesterday 94 new coronavirus cases were announced with the total number since early October reaching 600. The health minister and the epidemiology experts were urgently called to the Presidential Palace. They are suggesting today new targeted measures. The tracing strategy is changing due to the rapid increase of the close contacts of the confirmed cases.
- European Council: The decisions on Turkey in December
- Dherynia crossing: Police are alert
Scenarios on restrictions again
All possibilities are open on new measures. Things are getting out of control. Meeting today at the Presidential Palace. The number of patients in hospitals is rising.
- Conclusions on Turkey: The high-level summit has chosen a mild response – Charles Michel: Turkey’s behaviour will be daily monitored. Anastasiades and Mitsotakis say they are satisfied with the European Council’s conclusions.
- (It will cost) €10m to locate the 70 missing persons from Assia – Initially € 400,000 will be requested for a study on the Dikomo dump site.
- The (passport) scandal is going to Brussels – The state treasurer asked for an opinion before Syllouris and Giovani are paid because the conditions of their resignations and the (police) probes make this an unprecedented situation. The government will not accept incomplete applications for naturalisation. The Ministry of Interior is trying to get a step ahead of mediators.
- Pressure and threats from Tatar’s circle
- Nea Salamina-Anorthosis FC: Derby in the shadow of Turkish provocations
Ankara is pushing it with three new Navtex
The European Council deplores Turkey’s unilateral actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and is calling on it to respect the resolutions on Famagusta and to work towards de-escalation. Ankara, however, issued yesterday three Navtex messages for military exercises in the area.
- Varosha: Gazing at the solution
Track trace unit drowning
System rendered almost useless. Situation at a tipping point. Another 94 cases.
- Upcoming exhibition on how buffer zone impacted artists
- AKEL MP Adamou gets nod for House Speaker
Have we lost the war (on Covid-19)?
Today new measures are expected to be announced. 94 cases yesterday. Local lockdown and night curfews will be discussed today at the crucial meeting at the Presidential Palace. Limassol seems to be having the biggest problem.
- Strict EU message: They are calling for a reversal of Turkish provocations in Varosha
- Ankara’s intervention in Tatar’s favour is intensifying
- Adamos Adamou is the new House President – He brought the parties together.
- Shock in Limassol: Dead infant found in the rubbish
Main News
EU leaders call on Turkey to reverse actions on Varosha
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Energy, EU Matters, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades expressed satisfaction with the call of the European Council on Friday for Turkey to reverse its actions as regards the opening of part of the Famagusta fenced area, the dailies report.
Though Turkey’s behaviour was not initially to be included in the Council’s conclusions, since the EU leaders said they would look into the issue of sanctions on Ankara in their December summit, following insistence by Greece and Cyprus, a few paragraphs were added.
The European Council reaffirmed its conclusions of October 1-2, 2020 and deplored renewed unilateral and provocative actions by Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean, including recent exploratory activities.
It urged respect for UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789 and underlined the importance of the status of Varosha. It also reiterated its full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus.
The European Council urged Turkey to reverse these actions “and work for the easing of tensions in a consistent and sustained manner.”
It said it will remain seized of the matter in order to follow up on its conclusions earlier in the month.
Government spokesman Kyriacos Kousios said President Nicos Anastasiades welcomed the European Council’s calls on Turkey to reverse its actions as regards the fenced area of Varosha.
European Council President Charles Michel said after the meeting that they would discuss the issue of Turkey’s actions in the Eastern Mediterranean in December.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that leaders had reaffirmed support for Greece and Cyprus but were also open to talks with Ankara.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after Friday’s European Council summit Turkey’s actions were provocative and that it was regrettable that, instead of Ankara easing tensions, it is escalating them, the daily reported.
“We have to work for the positive side of our agenda. Further development of our relations with Turkey is in the interest of both sides, also of the EU which is something I want to emphasise, but also of Turkey,” she said.
Alithia reports that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he suggested a European arms embargo on Turkey. He said the EU or member states should consider to not allow the sale of weapons to Turkey that could be used to threaten the sovereignty of two member-states.
“Turkey remains consistent in its provocative and aggressive behaviour,” Mitsotakis said.
Haravgi also reports that Turkey issued three new Navtex messages for two military exercises, in the Aegean between October 19-21 and the Mediterranean between October 19-21 and October 22-23.
KEY ACTORS
European Council
>> Deplores renewed unilateral & provocative actions by Turkey in the East Med, including recent exploratory activities & reiterates its full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus.
>> Urges Turkey to respect UNSC resolutions 550 & 789 on the status of Varosha & to reverse its latest actions on the fenced area.
>> Calls on Turkey to work for the easing of tensions in a consistent and sustained manner & warns it is monitoring the situation.
Kousios (RoC spokesperson)
>> Anastasiades welcomes EUCO’s stand.
Macron (France)
>> The EU leaders continue to support Greece and Cyprus but are also open to talks with Ankara.
Μerkel (Germany)
>> Finds Turkey’s actions provocative and regrettable that, instead of Ankara easing tensions, it is escalating them.
>> Believes the bloc needs to work on the positive side of its agenda with Turkey since further development of relations with Turkey it is in the interest of both sides.
Mitsotakis (Greece)
>> Calls for a European arms embargo on Turkey that remains consistent in its provocative and aggressive behaviour.
Search and excavation of Assia missing to cost €10m
Phileleftheros
CBMs, Human Rights, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that the Committee on Missing Persons will need around €10m to locate and exhume the 70 missing persons from Assia who are believed to have been moved from Ornithi area in Afania where they had been initially buried, to a dump site area in occupied Dikomo.
The fact that the dump site has been turned into a park means that crews have no clue where to look, the daily reports.
CMP will initially seek the approval from the EU of €400,000 for a study on whether it would be feasible to excavate the former dump site area. Sources told the daily it will be very difficult to locate the remains if it is proven that they indeed were taken to the dump site given that there was an around 30-metre deep ditch which was filled with various materials and was finally levelled.
It is believed the missing persons’ remains were moved to the dump site in August 1996 in two or three stages. The contractor hired to create the park had installed in the ground vents to remove the methane to avoid the possibility of explosions. CMP has invited the Portuguese expert who installed the vents for a preliminary study. Based on his estimates, the study will cost around €400,000.
Relatives of the Assia missing persons, however, have secured an independent opinion according to which the risk of fire or explosions in the case of excavations in the former dump site area is almost non-existent given the long period of time that has passed since the dump site was in use.