Front Page Headlines
The slaughterhouse is bringing the ‘Holy Wednesday’ of new measures
The president has indirectly announced decisions on a lockdown tomorrow. Cabinet is convening tomorrow to codify the new restrictive measures with a suggestion also of a lockdown. No one is assuming responsibility for the lack of checks at Cypra, while Giorgos Perdikis made accusations of ‘turning a blind eye’ due to the state treasurer (wife of Cypra owner). Yesterday 111 new cases were recorded among 2,111 lab tests. The total number of cases is at 6,098. Growing concerns over the situation in hospitals since a new record was recorded yesterday with 85 patients (with coronavirus).
- Varosha-Tatar: The ‘national garden’ and the red lines
Stuck between a rock and a hard place
Tough scenarios in the president’s hands. Concerns over local lockdowns. Scientists do not want to use from now the quarantine card for all districts.
- Lute has booked an appointment and is on her way
Hospitals are still not ready, eight months later
Eight months after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, hospitals are not ready to face extreme scenarios of a surge in cases. After 77 patients, the number has risen to 85 with the reference hospital reaching its limits. Pressure is already mounting also due to staff shortages.
- Tatar: The five-party is the ‘last chance’
- Hundreds of contract soldiers are walking out due to the uncertainty in their professional development
- Rally in favour of democracy and against Turkish interventions today in the occupied areas
Ά great day for humanity’
Drug giant Pfizer says Covid-19 vaccine over 90 per cent effective.
- Health ministry has spent €45.4m on fighting Covid-19 since March
Good news, great day!
German vaccine against coronavirus, 90 per cent effective. Pfizer vice chairman: “Today is a great day for science and humanity.” Shares in international stock exchange markets skyrocketed at record levels. The EU rushed to buy 300 million doses of the vaccine.
- Recital of intransigence by Tatar: I will protect Turkey’s interests
- The parliamentary elections have been set for May 30, 2021
Main News
UNSG envoy Lute is expected to arrive for contacts
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, External Security, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that special envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Cyprus problem Jane Holl Lute told President Nicos Anastasiades she intends to visit Cyprus toward the end of November for exploratory contacts on the prospects of an informal five-party summit.
The dailies also report that TC leader Ersin Tatar, however, continues to talk about a two-state solution. Meanwhile, a protest is set to take place in the north against Turkey’s interference as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to arrive in the north later this week.
Phileleftheros reports that Government Spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said in a written statement that Anastasiades and Lute had a telephone communication on Monday afternoon. Lute informed the president that she intends on visiting Cyprus toward the end of November, in the framework of her preliminary contacts in view of the intention of UNSG Antonio Guterres to convene an informal five-party conference on Cyprus.
Koushos said Anastasiades asked Lute to convey to the UNSG his thanks for his readiness to provide his Good Offices for the continuation of the talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
He also asked Lute to convey to the UNSG that unilateral actions like the ones that Turkey is undertaking in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone and in the fenced city of Famagusta do not contribute to the creation of a good climate for a productive negotiation for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
Lute assured Anastasiades she would convey his concerns to the UN Secretary-General, Koushos said.
Phileleftheros also reports that if conditions allow, Guterres will convene the informal summit either within December or at the beginning of January.
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides told state broadcaster CyBC yesterday that Guterres will decide whether to convene the summit based on what Lute will convey to him following her contacts with the two sides and the three guarantors. On Tatar’s position on the need to change the basis of a solution, the minister referred to the UN and EU positions that stress the solution framework must not deviate from UN resolutions.
The dailies also report on the announcement that a ‘national garden’ is being created in the fenced area of Varosha for Erdogan’s visit on Sunday, while a rally is also set to take place on Tuesday afternoon.
According to Politis, the rally, organised by the Will and Democracy Platform, is in favour of democracy and free will which are considered to be shaken after Tatar’s victory. Serdar Denktash is expected to participate as well as former TC leader Mustafa Akinci despite the fact he has recently undergone gallbladder surgery, the daily reports.
Organisers believe that the impact of its rallies will be similar to those in 2002 and 2003 in favour of a solution based on the Annan plan, it reports.
All dailies also report on an interview of the new TC leader with Turkish daily Sozcu.
Alithia, citing the interview, reports that Tatar is giving a recital of intransigence just before Lute’s arrival by rejecting every convergence reached and clearly stating that his goal is to protect Turkey’s interests in a two-state solution while he will not discuss the issue of guarantees and rejects the map Akinci submitted.
Phileleftheros also quotes Tatar saying, “I will also protect Turkey’s interests,” noting this was a cynical admission by Tatar of his mission as TC leader.
Haravgi also reports that Erdogan is now blaming Greece and Cyprus of being provocative. During his speech at the 12th conference of ambassadors in Ankara, Erdogan said that despite Greece and the GCs’ provocations, Turkey has always maintained its patience and composure on the issue of the Eastern Mediterranean.
He also said that Turkey has never left the negotiations table and expressed hope that the EU would soon be free from the strategic blindness that has alienated Turkey from the bloc. It should be understood, he said, that the language of threats and blackmail is not useful. Our proposal for a conference of the coastal countries of the Eastern Mediterranean in which the TCs will also participate shows our wish for a solution through dialogue, he said, the paper reported.
Reporting on the same speech, Phileleftheros said Erdogan calls for compliance with ‘Turkish law’.
KEY ACTORS
Koushos
>> Unilateral actions by Turkey in Cyprus’ EEZ & Varosha do not contribute to a conducive climate for a productive negotiation for the solution of the Cyprob.
Tatar
>> Insists on a two-state solution, rejects convergences and Akinci’s map on territorial adjustments.
>> Determined to protect also Turkey’s interests.
Erdogan
>> Turkey has been very patient with Greece’s GCs’ provocations in the East Med.
>> Turkey never left the negotiations table & hopes that the EU would soon abandon its strategic blindness that has alienated Ankara & realise that threats and blackmail is not the way.
>> Turkey’s proposal for a conference of the coastal countries of the East Med with the TCs’ participation shows its wish for a solution through dialogue.
Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage to deliver 19 projects
Cyprus Mail
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The paper reports that restoration works on a total of 19 historical monuments and sites in Cyprus are set to be completed before the end of 2020, according to the GC head of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage Takis Hadjidemetriou.
Among the most significant cultural landmarks set to be renovated are some sections of the Venetian walls of Nicosia that have been collapsing in recent years, the Archangel Michael church in Yialousa, the Agios Sergios and Bacchus church near the Salamis archaeological site and the ancient ruins of Afentrika in Rizokarpaso.
An extensive presentation of the project will take place on Tuesday at the Ledra Palace in Nicosia. “These renovations are of enormous importance for everyone,” Hadjidemetriou told Cyprus Mail. “Thanks to this project we are sending a clear message to everyone in the country that the cooperation between Greek and Turkish Cypriots is still possible, regardless of any political climate.”
He also said there was continuous and relentless work from both communities behind every project the committee carries out. “Our common heritage and shared values are the cornerstone of our bicommunal collaborations,” Hadjidemetriou said. He added that the renovation works of certain monuments has been delayed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has inevitably slowed down the entire project. “However, I am confident that we will manage to complete all the renovations on the 19 historical monuments before the end of the year,” he said.
Hundreds of contract soldiers leave army over job uncertainty
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Internal Security, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Haravgi reports that hundreds of professional soldiers are resigning over uncertainty as regards their advancement since discussion and vote by parliament of the regulations on their terms of employment and promotions have been pending since September 2016.
AKEL MP Costas Costa said these problems and many others have been created by the hasty and without documentation government scientific study on hiring professional soldiers after its decision to reduce military service. The MP also accused the government of deciding to hire thousands of professional soldiers shortly before the 2016 parliamentary elections without consulting the political parties and without first having regulations in place.
At the time, the defence minister had said that the regulations on the terms of employment and promotions of these professionals would be submitted to parliament in September 2016, but nothing has been done, the MP said, according to the paper.
The dailies also report that the defence ministry’s budget for 2021, discussed at the House finance committee on Monday, is €70m more than this year’s.
Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides analysed to MPs his ministry’s six-pillar strategic goals. These concern the strengthening of the Republic’s defence cooperation with other states, upgrading relations with the US which were strengthened by the vote of the East Med Act, the introduction of innovative and reform actions, more efficient and effective implementation of financial resources, improvement of the legislative and regulatory framework that governs the military of the Republic of Cyprus and the National Guard and application of an environmental and energy policy.