Front Page Headlines
Tech push leaves elderly behind
The pandemic has forced everyone to live increasingly online, but not all older people have been able to adapt.
- New record of 314 cases as 92 found in slaughterhouse cluster
- Biden says ‘honoured’
- Coffeeshop (opinion): What’s the real story behind EU Sherpa and spoof announcements
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President being trapped
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- Christodoulos Giallourides (opinion): The Cyprus Problem in light of new regional and international state of affairs
- Andreas Angelides (opinion): Demands two states while full dominion is enough
- Giannakis Omirou (opinion): On a two-state solution
- Vasilios Konstantopoulos (opinion): Erdogan’s Hitler-like tactics and the relaxed reaction from Europe
- Christos Iacovou (opinion): EDEK and the issue of the bizonal
Anastasiades in direct talks with Cavusoglu
Antonio Guterres asked Ms. Lute to begin having contacts. Ersin Tatar was very honest in his meeting with the President saying he is fully aligned with Turkey. The five-party meeting will be focused on procedure but will define the discussion of the essence and mainly if the basis of negotiations will change. What is the assessment of the Turkish side’s diplomatic plan in case the secretary-general convenes a five-party meeting. Ms. Lute’s dilemma.
- Elections in the US: Biden, The new planet leader: White smoke from Pennsylvania – What to expect for Cyprus from the new President – Why was Trump the main persona of the elections? – The rise of the left wing of the Democrats in the USA – Ioannis Gregoriades (interview): A Biden election would be an opportunity for Cyprus Problem
- AKEL: Its suspended step
- Analysis: The hot potato of the two-state solution
- Church of Cyprus: Moscow’s four burnt cards
- Transparency: Government and parties in deep water
- Coronavirus: New record with 314 cases
Tayip’s feast in Varosha
Erdogan to party with friends club, Nicosia scolds the United Nations. We reveal letter by Foreign Minister to Spehar.
- Zero hour for American elections: Unity of the USA a challenge
- An informal five-party meeting a one-way street
Passport in the dock over three houses
Big auditing house, a seaside law firm and seaside land development company under investigation.
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- Cyprus Problem: Road map has cul-de-sac
They made a fool out of Cyprus and add insult to injury
- Those who live at the expense of the people should be ashamed
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- Zero hour for the Cyprus Problem. Can we go until five-party meeting and close it there?
- The day after is difficult for forces supporting federal solution in the T/C community
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- They are afraid of a repeat of negotiations with current situation
“AKEL is certifiably a party of corruption”
AKEL’s conflict with government and DISY intensifies again. From Zannetos’s imprisonment over the Dromolaxia scandal and the uncovering of Giovanni by Al Jazeera, to AKEL’s event against corruption.
- USA turns a new page with Trump threatening with new legal battles: Jo Biden new planet leader – Anastasiades: “Congratulations to my good friend and friend of Cyprus US President-Elect Joe Biden. I look forward to work closely with you in order to enhance the relations between our two countries.”
- Ersin Tatar: Federation is dead, we will open Varosha through the “committee”
- Negative record: New shock – One dead and 314 new cases of coronavirus – 92 at a slaughterhouse in Nicosia
- Natasa Pilides (interview): 800 million euro investments coming to the economy
- Analysis: Do we need another strategy for Turkey?
Main News
Lute to explore prospects of informal five-party meeting
Alithia, Haravgi, Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis, Simerini
Negotiations Process, Regional/ International Relations, External Security, Energy, Property, Territory, EU Matters
The dailies report that UN envoy Jane Holl Lute is expected to begin her contacts ahead of a possible visit to Cyprus and possible preparations for an informal five-party meeting of the two Cypriot sides and the guarantors.
Politis reports that this meeting will focus on the process, including also what the aim of negotiations would be. The newspaper reports, citing information, that Lute will first discuss Turkey’s positions with all involved parties, before moving forward with the preparations for a five-party meeting.
A T/C source commented to Politis that President Anastasiades will not have the opportunity to speak directly to Turkey, citing the fact that Ersin Tatar admitted during his meeting with Anastasiades that he is not well-informed on the Cyprus Problem, and that the new T/C leader had to constantly contact his associates for specific information.
Kathimerini reports citing information that Tatar took part in last Tuesday’s meeting with President Anastasiades having agreed with the Turkish government on the aims of the T/Cs and Turkey going into the negotiations. The messages sent by Tatar to the G/C side and the international community on Tuesday were that he believes that the prospect of a federal solution is over for a majority of the T/Cs, that it is time for the sides to start focusing on alternative models for a solution, that sanctions imposed on the T/C side should be re-examined and that he will be following a coordinated policy with Ankara.
Meanwhile, Politis reports that the election of Joe Biden as the next US President could affect the Cyprus Problem. In an interview, Turkey expert and Bilkent University researcher Ioannis Gregoriades told the newspaper that Biden’s election will bring an end to a period during which Turkey could act without repercussions from the US. He also noted that relations with Greece and the Cyprus Problem are not currently high on the agenda of Turkish public opinion, unlike the Kurdish issue and the economy.
In a separate analysis, Politis points out that Joe Biden is knowledgeable and involved on the Cyprus Problem, but that this shouldn’t make G/Cs over optimistic regarding the US’s stance on Turkey. The analysis points out that Biden’s election will signal a return of the US to the Middle East and North Africa region and greater interaction with the EU.
Turkish property developers and investors eye Varosha prospects
Kathimerini, Phileleftheros
Property, Territory, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Kathimerini reports, citing T/C sources, that the new T/C leader insists that Varosha will not be returned to G/C administration or to UN administration, but that it will be reopened under T/C administration, despite reactions even among T/C organisations and parties.
The newspaper notes that the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI) and the Konya Municipality, as well as Turkey’s Minister for the Environment and Urban Development Murat Kurum have gotten involved in Varosha ahead of Turkish President Tayip Erdogan’s visit on November 15th.
Kathimerini notes that TOKI, founded in 1984, is the Turkish government’s organisation for developing mass housing projects all over Turkey. Since 2004, TOKI has taken over the development of significant areas in large Turkish city, causing reactions in the country and abroad over the architecture and aesthetics of its projects.
In Varosha, TOKI is expected to take an active role in renovating, demolishing and building housing, tourist accommodation and shops, in accordance with projects promoted by the T/C side. According to information cited by the newspaper, the Turkish government intends to involve more Turkish municipalities that are headed by AKP mayors in Varosha’s development.
The newspaper cites sources saying that Turkish land developers are focusing on the city and that the T/C side has contacted G/C owners behind the scenes in order to assess whether they wish to return under T/C administration. According to the same information, some G/C owners are willing to sell properties to T/C and Turkish buyers.
A source told the newspapers that Turkish developers are making plans such as building and developing hotels and casinos, widening the beachfront and creating artificial islands off the coast of the city with the rubble from buildings that will be brought down.
Phileleftheros also reports that a circle of Erdogan’s friends, including developers and investors which are involved in many money-making initiatives outside Turkey, are expected to get involved in Famagusta.
The newspaper reports, citing sources, that the T/Cs are moving forward with works in Varosha ahead of Erdogan’s visit, such as paving roads and adding lighting. According to the same information, some buildings are expected to be demolished for safety reasons and a small number of G/C owners will be called to return.
Phileleftheros also points out that there has been Russian investment north of the fenced-off city and that the aim is for the creation of a new cosmopolitan city extending from the Famagusta port to Salamina and Apostolos Varnavas. The T/C side also has been asking UNFICYP to vacate its headquarters inside Famagusta, but the UN has said that this is not going to happen.
The newspaper also publishes a letter sent by Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Kornilios Korniliou to UN representative in Cyprus, Elizabeth Spehar, in which the Republic of Cyprus expresses its concerns over the developments and points out that UNFICYP is responsible for monitoring the situation and to take action to prevent Turkey’s plans for the region.