Front Page Headlines
Measures to diffuse Limassol-Paphos “bomb”
Both districts in isolation and curfew from 20:00-05:00. Out of 68 people being hospitalised, 49 come from Limassol and Paphos districts, a percentage reaching 72%. For this reason movement to and from the two districts are prohibited. National Guard will also contribute to observation of measures by giving limited number of staff to the Police, as happened last March. Coronavirus cases have also hit the Police. Four deaths and 165 new cases of coronavirus yesterday. Total number of cases reached 6,461. Nine deaths and more than 2,000 new cases since November 1st.
- Cypra slaughterhouse: Drowning in coronavirus and illegalities
- Vaccine for EU: Agreement with Pfizer-BioNTech complete
- National Council: Two “camps” over the next steps
Limassol-Paphos in isolation
Heavy price of local lockdown for two districts as they represent 70% of cases. Today it will be made clear for which services workers can leave the district.
- What the Police plans regarding bans: Blocks on all roads to and from Limassol and Paphos
- Revelations by Anastasiades to leaders: Tatar disconnects himself from what has been agreed so far
- Five days deadline from Labour Ministry: Slaughterhouse at risk of 270,000 euro fine
- They asked that “Ayse” returns home
- No reference made to arrests over Al Jazeera video
Paphos and Limassol… in confinement due to coronavirus
Travelling to and from other districts prohibited. “Curfew” from 8 at night to 5 in the morning. No measures to strengthen public hospitals.
- New protest march by Varoshans
- Negotiations on agreed basis
- Turkish Cypriots sent powerful messages
- Nicosia walls a monument, art and culture after renovation by Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage
- Investigative committee for “golden” passports “warming up”. Two months later it looks into files from before 2013
- Coronavirus… hitch hiked into the slaughterhouse! – 79 out of 107 workers not registered. 276,500 euro fine – There are beds, no intensive care specialists. Theoretical plans for ICUs – Silly excuses over obviously lacking security and health measures at Cypra slaughterhouse. Interior Ministry responds on illegal employment of foreigners
Two districts out of bounds
No movement allowed in or out of Paphos, Limassol. 8pm-5am curfew. Rest of island mostly unchanged
- Four more deaths, 165 new cases
In your homes, after 8pm!
Tough measures in Limassol and Paphos, they enter curfew to halt the pandemic. Movement of persons to and from Limassol and Paphos districts, and between the two districts, also prohibited. Distance-learning again for secondary and higher education only – Church services without presence of congregations. List of losses lengthens – Another 4 dead yesterday.
- After accusation by Interior Ministry of employing 79 illegal workers: Police investigation into Cypra company – Labour Ministry: Administrative fine of 276,500 euro for undeclared workers expected
- They will talk about the Ukrainian issue in the Holy Synod
- For the five-party meeting: DISY-AKEL in favour – Reservations from the others
Main News
President informs parties of Tatar’s stance, parties react as expected
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing, Regional/ International Relations, External Security, Energy, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
President Anastasiades briefed the parliamentary party leaders on his recent meeting with T/C leader Ersin Tatar on Wednesday morning. According to the dailies, all party members repeated their known positions both inside and outside the room. Governing DISY and opposition AKEL supported the President’s participation in an unofficial five-party meeting, while the other parties expressed concerns.
According to information cited by Phileleftheros, Anastasiades told the leaders that Tatar refuses to restart negotiations from where they were left by his predecessor.
Anastasiades is reported to have told the leaders that during the November 3rd meeting, Tatar told him he does not consider himself bound by the Berlin joint statement reached by Anastasiades and Akinci in November 2019. Tatar is reported to have added that Turkey’s position is that there should be a recognition of sovereignty.
Tatar also is reported to not have shied away from admitting that he is following Turkey’s instructions, and to have added that the reason he wants to go to the five-party meeting is that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will also attend.
Tatar’s positions on key aspects of the Cyprus Problem were as follows, according to the same sources: Tatar wants two states, that is, two equal and sovereign communities, wants Turkish interests to be taken into account when it comes to guarantees and military presence on the island and pointed out that former residents of Varosha are free to appeal to the Immovable Properties Commission.
When asked how he can ask for two states given that the European Union will not accept this, Tatar is reported to have answered that there will be no EU in ten years.
Regarding hydrocarbons, Tatar is reported to have said that there have to be mechanisms of joint administration of natural resources that will not overlook the rights of the T/Cs or Turkey.
Anastasiades told the leaders that he believes that Tatar wants to go to the five-party conference to propose additional solution models to those discussed to this day. He also said that the final aim of Turkey is to control the entire island, which is why they insist on the principles of the one positive and equal participation.
Anastasiades also reportedly told the leaders that when he was discussing with Mustafa Akinci he was not concerned because he saw him as an honourable Turkish Cypriot, while Tatar simply relays orders received from Turkey.
The President also told the party leaders that he does not rule out the possibility if a five-party meeting takes place in December, then some member states of the EU might point out that there is no longer a reason to push for sanctions against Turkey. He added, however, that he cannot reject attending a five-party meeting because that would shift the blame on to the G/C side.
Government spokesperson Kyriakos Koushios told journalists after the meeting that Anastasiades will take part in a five-party meeting, noting that this is an informal meeting that will look into the process of possible negotiations.
Phileleftheros also cites information that when European High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell called Ersin Tatar on Tuesday, he also wanted to inform him of the EU’s position on the Cyprus Problem. Borrell told Tatar that the EU will not accept alternative models and that all unilateral actions in Varosha must stop.
The dailies report on Tuesday’s protest for democracy for a second day, reporting also on a social media post by former T/C leader Mustafa Akinci who said a spark had been lit in the north.
Several G/C political parties commented on the T/C protests. Governing DISY said in a short statement that the protest proves there are healthy forces in the occupied areas that can see the dangers brought by Turkey’s control to them and to the entire island. Opposition AKEL welcomed the unity of progressive T/Cs in this critical phase, and confirmed that their message has reached the G/Cs.
The Greens said in a statement that they support all efforts of the T/Cs to disentangle themselves from Turkey’s control and that they hope for a joint struggle by all Cypriots for freedom, peace and security. Citizens’ Alliance expressed hope that T/Cs can see Turkey is serving its own interests and not those of Cypriots. Democratic Alignment said that it hopes that this reaction of the moderate voices in the T/C community will be further strengthened.
The G/C press also reports on new statements by Turkish President Tayip Erdogan on Cyprus. Haravgi reports that Erdogan told a meeting of governing AKP’s parliamentary group that a fair agreement can be reached in a short amount of time if Greece and the G/Cs let go of their spoiled behaviour.
Erdogan also said that exit from the EU’s crisis also passes through Turkey and through opening channels of communication and diplomacy in order to counteract the insecurity created in the region after the US elections.
Phileleftheros reports on statements made by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after a meeting in Athens. Mitsotakis said that Greece welcomes the return of the US to their central role in NATO. He also said that Greece and Egypt are an example of peace and cooperation in the region and that the August deal for partial delineation of their EEZs was a significant moment.
Sisi said that Greece and Egypt will face the politics in the region that contravene international law and strengthen each other’s defence. He said that the deal with Greece is a leap towards the effort for cooperation between all countries in the region. On Cyprus, he said that he hopes for a solution based on international law.
KEY ACTORS
Kyriakos Koushios (government spokesperson)
>> Anastasiades has decided that he will take part in a five-party meeting
>> This meeting will be informal and will focus on the process of possible negotiations
DISY
>> T/C protests show that there healthy forces in occupied areas that can see dangers of Turkey’s control on T/Cs and Cyprus
AKEL
>> Welcomed unity of progressive T/Cs and confirmed message has reached the G/Cs
Greens
>> They support all efforts of T/Cs to disentangle themselves from Turkey’s control and hope for joint struggle by all Cypriots
Citizens’ Alliance
>> Expressed hope that T/Cs can see Turkey is serving its own interests and not those of Cypriots
Democratic Alignment
>> Hopes that reaction of moderate T/Cs will be more strengthened
Limassol and Paphos put under lockdown and longer curfew
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
President Anastasiades announced in a televised speech on Wednesday that the districts of Limassol and Paphos will be put into lockdown starting on Thursday and until November 30th, and that a longer curfew will be imposed in those areas, starting at 8pm and ending at 5am.
According to all dailies, no one will be able to enter or leave the two districts and people can’t go from one district to the other. The only exceptions will be when it comes to essential workers.
Anastasiades explained that the decision for stricter measures for Limassol and Paphos was taken due to the fact that 72% of coronavirus patients currently being treated have come from these two districts.
Health Ministry experts announced that four more people have died and 165 new cases of coronavirus were detected on Wednesday. Three of the four had underlying conditions. Two were hospitalised in the Famagusta General Hospital and the other two at the Nicosia General Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
The dailies also report that European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakidou presented the Commission’s proposals for strengthening EU powers over coordination on health, by increasing the responsibilities of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Medicine Agency.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Kyriakidou pointed out that the way the EU has acted during the coronavirus pandemic shows what can be achieved with cooperation. The Commission also announced on Wednesday that it has finalised the processes needed to sign a contract for future supply of the coronavirus vaccine with pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech.
Varoshans to protest against partial reopening and Erdogan visit
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Territory, Property, Negotiations Process, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The Famagusta municipality will organise a rally at the Deryneia checkpoint on Sunday to protest against Turkey’s actions related to the fenced off city of Varosha. The protest will take place during the announced visit by Turkish President Tayip Erdogan to the city, which also takes place on the anniversary of the “TRNC’s” unilateral declaration of independence.
In a written statement the Famagusta municipal council called on the UN, “our partners and ‘allies’ to prevent, not just verbally, Turkey’s plotting and scheming”.
The Famagusta displaced have also prepared a video that is making the rounds on social media and which is addressed to Erdogan. In the video refugees point out that Erdogan has no right to be in Famagusta, “rejoice in our sorrow, steal our houses and destroy our lives”.
Pointing out that Famagusta is not “your homeland; it was taken by war at gunpoint”, the video calls on Erdogan to “stay away from Cyprus, from Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” adding that the two communities can work together to rebuild a common future.
Phileleftheros also reports that a representation from the Famagusta Municipality will be meeting with President Anastasiades on Thursday. During the meeting they will be briefed on Anastasiades’s recent meeting with T/C leader Ersin Tatar.
Reconstruction of collapsed section of Venetian Walls completed
Haravgi
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Haravgi reports that on Wednesday the Technical Committee for Cultural Heritage handed over the completed renovations of the section of the Nicosia Venetian Walls that had collapsed due to heavy rain.
In a special event, the G/C head of the committee, Takis Hadjidemetriou made reference to the recently completed 19 projects of renovation and reconstructions on both sides of the island, pointing out that the monuments are a result of the history and the culture handed over by Cypriots’ forebears.
Hadjidemetriou also said that the help provided by the UNDP and EU does not only constitute technical and financial assistance, but is also an expression of concern by the UN and the EU for the monuments that are being destroyed by time. As he pointed out, when a monument is destroyed it is lost to all of humanity, and when a monument is reconstructed it is reconstructed for all of humanity.
Holy Synod to convene over disagreement regarding Ukrainian Church
Alithia
Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Archbishop Chrysostomos has announced he will convene the Holy Synod in order to discuss the disagreements regarding the recognition of the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church, the Cyprus News Agency reports citing anonymous sources from the Archbishopric.
The issue began when the Archbishop included the name of Ukraine’s Archbishop, Epiphanius, during a part of the liturgy when the names of Church leaders are listed.
Alithia recalls that the Bishops Nikiforos of Kykkos, Neophytos of Morphou, Athanasios of Limassol, Isaiah of Tamasos and Nicolaos of Amathous disagreed with the inclusion of the Ukrainian Archbishop in the list of recognised autocephalous religious leaders.
The Russian Patriarchate claims the Ukrainian Church as a part of its remit, while the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul recognises it as an autocephalous church.
The five bishops say that the Archbishop’s actions contravene the constitution of the Holy Synod and that they cannot hold liturgies together with him after this. The five also argue that only a Synod of all Orthodox Church leaders globally can decide on the issue.
Man arrested after attempting to extract money for T/C property
Phileleftheros
Property, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
A G/C man was arrested by the Police’s Crime Investigation Unit in Limassol and has been remanded for two days by a decision of the Limassol District Court, in connection with the charge of fraud related to T/C properties.
The 61-year-old man is accused of pretending to be the administrator of a T/C property in Limassol and of attempting to extract money for its sale from a 52-year-old and a 40-year-old. The two men are reported to have given the 61-year-old an advance of 65,000 euro.
After the two discovered they had been defrauded of the money they went to Police. Investigators discovered that the 61-year-old was not in fact a proxy of the property’s owners and had no authorisation to sell it.