Front Page Headlines
Happy new lockdown year 2021!
Strict new measures, little hope for easing them during Christmas. Extension of existing restrictions and suspension of operations of shopping centres and eating establishments. Lyceums and private tutoring schools closed from Monday. Religious services without the faithful. Parties complain of failure of the government to handle the pandemic leading to an economic dead end. Ministry of Health announced two dead and 363 new cases yesterday, with total number of cases reaching 13,649.
- Summit: A dinner of decisions with Turkey in the background
- Occupied areas: “Cabinet” to Tatar’s specifications
“Fire and advance” without a goal
Government and scientists say the measures have failed but decided to repeat them. Increase of positive tests causes concerns.
- Summit: Brussels show their teeth to Turkey but without sanctions
Burden again on businesses-workers
- Pournara: They still live in tents
- Sanctions draft – slap on the wrist for Turkey
Rules tightened, Christmas in peril
Measures to last until December 31 but will be reviewed again before holidays.
- EU to toughen sanctions on Turkish drilling, Erdogan shrugs off threats
Almost a new lockdown
Coronavirus: They tightened the belts more. Operation of dining establishments postponed. Services and other religious ceremonies without congregations. Operation of lyceums and higher level and tertiary educational institutions will be with distance learning starting Monday. Another two dead yesterday and 363 new coronavirus cases.
- The time of the EU leaders – Brussels take decisions on Turkey: Tough battle over sanctions – Draft of conclusions disappointing for Athens and Nicosia – Erdogan: Sanctions will not affect us
- Occupied areas: Arikli announced 8,000 new “citizenships” in advance
- The state rents building complex to house illegals
Main News
Cyprus & Greece seek to strengthen EUCO draft on Turkey
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Regional International/ Relations, External Security, Energy, Territory, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on the draft conclusions of Thursday’s European Council (EUCO) that focus on the Eastern Mediterranean, pointing out that Cyprus and Greece will push for the inclusion of stronger language, while Turkey is also expressing its discontent on the EU’s stance.
According to a letter sent by EUCO President Charles Michel to the leaders, the issues surrounding the Eastern Mediterranean are going to be discussed during a working dinner.
Politis reports that Cyprus and Greece believe the draft is not strong enough on Turkey and that the two countries will strive, with the help of France, to strengthen the wording regarding possible sanctions. Politis also points to the fact that the EU is hoping to be able to coordinate its policies towards the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey in March, after Joe Biden has taken power in the US.
Phileleftheros reports, citing the draft that was published by the Cyprus News Agency, that the wording of the draft is strict, without however adopting or announcing additional strict measures. Instead the proposal is for additional names to be added to the pre-existing list of sanctioned persons and companies involved in illegal drillings in the Cypriot EEZ, as well as to extend the scope of the list of sanctions so that it can also include persons and companies involved in seismic research in the waters contested between Greece and Turkey.
The draft also notes that since the October European Council, Turkey has escalated its behaviour in the Eastern Mediterranean, but notes that Turkey withdrew Oruc Reis and states that this decision should not be reversed if Greece and Turkey are to resume exploratory negotiations.
In the draft, the leaders reiterate the will of the EUCO to promote a mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey, and recall that their offer for a positive agenda is on the table should Turkey wish to promote cooperation with the EU and to solve differences through dialogue.
According to the draft, the leaders will also call on High Representative Josep Borrell and the Commission to submit reports regarding EU-Turkey political and economic relations, and on the EU’s options which will be examined in an upcoming EUCO in March 2021. The draft also notes that the EU will seek to coordinate on these issues with the US.
The draft also condemns Turkey’s unilateral moves regarding Varosha and reiterates the Council’s support of a comprehensive solution within UN parameters. On Libya, it calls on all parties to continue working based on what was agreed during the Berlin process.
Alithia reports that Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during a meeting of the EU heads of state and government who are members of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) that Turkey has rejected the EU’s offer for a positive agenda. Mitsotakis said that Turkey had plenty of opportunities to put an end to provocations, but only chose to do so a few days before the Council. He also mentioned that Turkey continues to take provocative steps against Cyprus, including the illegal opening of part of Varosha.
Mitsotakis said that the European Council will have to stick to its previous decisions and send a clear message to Turkey during Thursday’s EUCO. He added that Greece’s wish is for relations with Turkey to be normalised, but that the EU should not expect Turkey to change its behaviour if it does not apply pressure.
The dailies report on statements made by the Turkish President’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Kalin, during an event held by the Brussels office of the German Marshall Fund. Kalin commented on the draft saying he was disappointed by the language calling for sanctions. Kalin added that this language will not work, that Turkey believes in its prospects with the EU and that this shouldn’t be influenced by the narrow agenda of a couple of member states.
Phileleftheros also reports on statements by Turkish President Tayip Erdogan upon his departure for a visit to Azerbaijan. Commenting on the prospect of sanctions from the EU, Erdogan said that the EU has been imposing sanctions on Turkey since 1963 and that such a decision does not concern Ankara, which will continue to be patient. Regarding Greece, Erdogan accused Athens of always leaving the table and that its policies are based on lies.
Ombudswoman calls for further improvements in migrant camp
Alithia, Haravgi, Politis
Migration & Citizenship, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou-Lottides issued a report on the situation in the migrant Pournara reception centre at Kokkinotrimithia, noting that the situation has improved due to measures that have been taken since April, Haravgi and Alithia report.
Haravgi focuses on Lottides’s finding that some migrants still live in tents. Alithia leads in its story with a decision by the Council of Ministers that the state will rent a building complex to house a significant number of migrants.
In her report, Lottides notes that since she submitted her report on the humanitarian situation in the camp in April, the authorities have taken important measures towards the right direction, including the replacement of tents with pre-fabricated houses, the creation of a safe zone for unaccompanied minors and the quicker processing of administrative procedures such as one-on-one interviews with asylum seekers.
Lottides also suggests that about 200 residents of the centre that meet the necessary requirements be immediately given permission to move outside the premises, and that the 13 unaccompanied minors living in the centre be transferred to other establishments.
Also, she calls on the Ministry of the Interior to coordinate with the Ministry for Health and social services in order to assess and record the needs of all residents of the centre that belong to vulnerable groups, and to introduce medical screenings upon the arrival of new asylum seekers. She also points out that all people that have stayed for 14 days in quarantine should immediately move to the main area of the centre.
The report also points out that electricity should be provided without delay to the entire camp, and that hygiene facilities should be increased (especially in the quarantine zone) while the issues with the availability of hot water should be solved. Lottides also calls for an increase of doctors and nurses and tackling of issues regarding availability of medicine.
The report was drafted after a visit of officials from the Ombudswoman’s office on December 4, meant to assess the implementation of recommendations included in her April 23 report.
Meanwhile, Politis interviews UNHCR representative Katja Saha on the situation regarding refugee rights in Cyprus. Saha underlined that the asylum system in Cyprus needs to be redesigned and that this was made even more apparent by the increased arrivals of migrants and asylum seekers to the island over the past few years.
Saha also said that the UNHCR coordinates closely with the RoC, and that it appreciates the government’s efforts to improve conditions at the migrant centres, but notes that many challenges remain for asylum seekers. She also said that since the pandemic there have been some concerning trends when it comes to Cyprus keeping its obligations to provide access to asylum procedures.
The UNHCR representative noted that arrivals to the country during the first nine months of 2020 were reduced due to the pandemic, but added that Cyprus remains first in the number of arrivals relative to the overall population. Most asylum seekers come from Syria, India, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Pakistan, Nepal, Iran, DR Congo, Nigeria and Egypt.
She also noted that the current system is not designed to take into account a large number of applications, and that as a result the government has had to deal with all applications in the same way regardless of whether they were submitted by economic migrants that face no dangers back home, or by vulnerable persons, unaccompanied minors or people who were victims of torture in their countries. This is why, she said, about 19,500 applications are still pending.