Front Page Headlines
Protocol violation by N. Papadopoulos
He did not inform MPs that he had contact with a COVID-19 case. A person from his close family circle, with which the DIKO president came into contact before the test was confirmed, was found positive to the virus. He was at parliament on Thursday and did not share the fact, as he was obliged to, that he had contact with a coronavirus case. There are reports that he was also present at party headquarters yesterday. Nicolas Papadopoulos: “After being informed of the positive case, I avoided any contact with them.” Claims that he took the test and that it is negative.
- EU-Turkey: Message from the “27” for dialogue in Cyprus
- Investigative (committee on passports): Pulled rug under Auditor General’s “reasoned opinion”
- No improvement: Another 3 deaths and 424 cases
- Passports: Discord between Attorney General and Bar Association president
Partners gave us another haircut
The “27” once more turned a blind eye to Turkey at the summit. Nicosia is satisfied, Athens restrained.
- 17 new cases in care homes: Another three dead, another 17 in critical condition
- Testimonies in possession of Committee on Missing Persons: 70 from Ashia are in three pits in a dumping ground at Dikomo
- A relative requests their exhumation and their transfer from the occupied areas: They robbed and murdered four enclaved
- 3 persons sent to trial over incident at Dias
- A 16-hour trip with 300 euros from Piraeus to Cyprus
Nicolaides-Clerides opinions “burn” Nouris
- The “27” left an open “window” for Turkey
- New barbed wire close to buffer zone with political implications
Bishops tread on a ‘fine line’
Police, AG say rebel Morphou bishop has broken no health decrees… yet.
- President ‘absolutely satisfied’ with Council steps on Turkey
- Erdogan: US sanctions would disrespect Turkey
Everyone points to March
EU gave Turkey mild sanctions and a new grace period. Anastasiades fully satisfied, parties critical. Cyprus gained a decision for the appointment of an EU representative to the Cyprus Problem negotiation. Merkel: I do not rule out new sanctions and arms embargo.
- Black Friday yesterday with new losses and increased cases: Another three dead yesterday – Intense reactions: Shops, dining centres and theatres locked up yet again
- Shipping deputy minister: Tenders for Cyprus-Greece ferry link opened
- USA: Senate approved sanctions against Turkey over S-400
- By investigative committee: Auditor General was caught unprepared
- “Dias” Group: Three arrested over disturbances sent to court
Main News
European Council settles on light sanctions – Ankara gives Lute a date
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, External Security, Energy, Regional/International Relations, Territory, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Thursday’s European Council (EUCO), which ended early on Friday morning, concluded with the leaders of the 27 member states deciding on mild targeted sanctions against Turkey, postponing further decisions for the March EUCO meeting and sending the signal that they expect developments in the Cyprus Problem.
Phileleftheros and Politis report that the date of UNSG envoy Jane Holl Lute’s visit to Ankara has been fixed for December 15 and 16, and that this happened – as expected – immediately after the results of the EUCO were known.
In a statement after the Council, President Anastasiades said that he was absolutely satisfied with the conclusions and the fact that more names would be added to the sanctions list. “Considering the stated position of a small number of member states that, without ignoring the systematic delinquency of Turkey, consider that the choice of diplomatic dialogue is the appropriate way instead of the imposition of sectoral sanctions, I must say that I am absolutely satisfied with the conclusions of the European Council on the eastern Mediterranean” Anastasiades said according to the Cyprus Mail.
Phileleftheros reports that in a statement after the Council, Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the EU has taken a step and made its first decisions. Mitsotakis said that the position being formed in the US and the EU is that Turkey creates more problems than it solves, and added that if Turkey does not change its behaviour there should be no doubt that the EU will take harsher measures in March.
Politis points out in its report that the other countries of the EU decided to take a milder approach which objectively is what the sides want at this stage despite public statements. The report also points out that despite statements from Greece and Cyprus on the need for sanctions, their actions on a diplomatic level were directed to strengthening the wording of the EUCO conclusions and to add some names on the list of individuals and companies sanctioned over illegal actions in the Cypriot EEZ.
Politis also points out that even France, after its intense rhetoric against Turkey, said that it was pleased by the result of the Council. According to the same analysis, it becomes apparent that it is Germany that is largely able to make things happen on an EU level and that France was convinced to take a step back at this stage.
Phileleftheros meanwhile was more critical of the result, describing it as another “haircut”, in reference to the 2013 financial crisis. According to the newspaper, the position that prevailed during the Council was that of Germany, which believes that strong sanctions against Turkey would act as a boomerang against the EU itself.
Statements by NATO’s secretary general on the need for member states to view Turkey as an ally seemed also to have played a role. Also, the newspaper notes, by postponing decisions to March the EU wants to give time to the new Biden administration to take power in the US so that the EU and the US can coordinate on Turkey and other issues.
According to the dailies, in the conclusions the European Council asks Turkey to consistently de-escalate in the Eastern Mediterranean, it condemns Turkey’s actions in Varosha, calls for the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus Problem.
At the same time, the European Council announced that additional names would be put on the sanctions list regarding the Cypriot EEZ, and also opened the way for the possibility of expanding the scope of the list to cover actions taken in Greece’s territorial waters.
The European Council calls on High Representative Josep Borrell and the Commission to prepare reports on the EU’s political and economic relations with Turkey ahead of re-examining EU-Turkish relations in March. EUCO notes Turkey’s unilateral moves in the Eastern Mediterranean and its increasingly tense rhetoric, while also pointing out that a positive agenda remains an option if Turkey moves towards dialogue.
According to the dailies, Turkish President Tayip Erdogan reacted to the EUCO conclusions by saying that the sanctions agenda does not have positive results. Erdogan also thanked EU countries for keeping a positive stance and for not giving what some countries were expecting. He reiterated Turkey’s expectations on the visa issue and expressed the wish that this discussion can be completed.
T/C leader Ersin Tatar was more negative on the conclusions, saying that once more there is no reference to the T/Cs which means realities are not taken into account. He also accused the EU of staying behind the times by continuing to support a solution model based on the bizonal bicommunal federation, and said that the EU cannot have a neutral role in the Cyprus Problem and that for this reason an EU good offices mission cannot be accepted.
Cyprus Mail also notes that opposition party AKEL commented on the results, pointing out that once again the conclusions “shattered the false hopes cultivated by the government about severe sanctions on Turkey”.
Haravgi reports that DISY said that Turkey is now called to show that it has received the messages sent by the EU and that Europe has shown a lot of patience. DIKO said that the results have left the RoC exposed and without the necessary diplomatic weapons. EDEK said that the postponement tactics used by the EU because of economic interests continues, while the Greens and Citizens’ Alliance expressed disappointment in the EU.
Meanwhile, Cyprus Mail reports that after the summit, German chancellor Angela Merkel said that EU leaders plan to discuss arms exports to Turkey with NATO allies and the US.
KEY ACTORS
European Council
>> Turkey’s unilateral actions and provocative activities in East Med still taking place, including in Cypriot EEZ
>> Withdrawal of Oruc Reis noted, but EU insists on sustained de-escalation and exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey
>> Reaffirms strategic interest in cooperative relationship with Turkey, and offer of positive agenda remains provided Turkey shows readiness, especially on migration
>> EUCO invites Council to adopt additional listings regarding Turkey’s illegal drillings in Cypriot EEZ
>> Calls on High Representative Borrell and Commission to submit report on EU – Turkish relations and options on how to proceed, including possibility of extension of scope of targeted sanctions (note: to cover provocations against Greece)
>> Condemns Turkey’s unilateral steps in Varosha, remains committed to comprehensive settlement of CyProb within UN framework and expects the same from Turkey
>> Asks Borrell to move ahead with proposal for multilateral conference on EastMed
>> EU will seek to coordinate on EastMed with the US
Nicos Anastasiades (Cypriot President)
>> Absolutely satisfied with the European Council conclusions and the addition of names on list of sanctions, considering position of small number of states that prefer diplomatic dialogue rather than sectoral sanctions
Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Greek prime minister)
>> The EU has taken a step and taken its first decisions
>> Position forming in the US and the EU is that Turkey creates more problems than it solves
>> No doubt that if Turkey does not change its behaviour the EU will take harsher measures in March
Tayip Erdogan (Turkish President)
>> The actions agenda does not have positive results
>> Thanked EU countries for keeping a positive stance and not giving what some countries were expecting
Ersin Tatar (T/C leader)
>> Once more there are no references to the T/Cs, which means realities are not taken into account
>> The EU is behind the times as it continues to support a bizonal bicommunal federation
>> The EU does not have a neutral role in the Cyprus Problem and that for this reason a mission of good services by the EU cannot be accepted
Government reportedly planning to install barbed wire along buffer zone
Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Internal Security, CBMs, Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
The RoC government is planning to install barbed wire in areas along the buffer zone, citing the need to prevent migrants from crossing from the occupied to the government controlled areas and in an effort to prevent smuggling, Haravgi reports.
The newspaper points out that the government’s insistence in finding ways to circumvent the Green Line Regulation raises important questions that touch on both the Cyprus Problem and migration.
Haravgi reports it has confirmed information that the government has communicated with the UN asking for permission to install barbed wire in specific locations along the buffer zone in order to prevent the entry of migrants from the north.
According to the report, the UN consulted with the other side and said that installing barbed wire would not be possible between the buffer zone and the occupied areas, but that it could be done between the government controlled areas and the buffer zone.
The areas where the government plans to install barbed wire stretch from the Astromeritis/ Zodia checkpoint all the way to Akaki, as well as in specific spots near Athienou.
Haravgi recalls that several fields in the buffer zone are being used by G/C farmers, and reports that the communities of the affected areas in western Nicosia district have not been informed.
According to the newspaper, the ministries involved in the issue are the Ministries of Justice, Defence and the Interior, and that the final go-ahead on this is expected to be given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When contacted, all the three ministries declined to comment and pointed to the other ministries. The National Guard and the Defence Ministry said this was an issue for the Ministries of Justice and the Interior, while the Ministry of the Interior said that it will only fund the project but is not responsible for installing the barbed wire. The installation, the Interior Ministry said, is something that will be taken up by the National Guard or the Police. The Police on the other hand said it had not been informed of such plans.
In a related development, Phileleftheros reports that the last two (out of a total of 11) men wanted for the murder of a 20-year-old Syrian man in Chloraka were handed over by the T/C authorities to the G/C side on December 7. The two men had escaped to the occupied areas and then to Turkey, but Turkey sent them back to the north.
The coordination for their hand over from the north to the south was achieved through the bicommunal Technical Committee on Crime and the UN.
Ashia missing believed to be buried under Dikomo dumping area
Phileleftheros
Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports on the well-known reports regarding the transfer of most of the remains of the 70 missing people found at a mass grave in Ornithi, near the village of Ashia, to a different location which is believed to be the former Dikomo dumping area.
According to the testimonies reprinted by the newspaper, about 10 to 15 persons are believed to have taken part in moving the remains to Dikomo. The 70 civilians, most from Ashia, had been executed during the Turkish invasion in 1974. Their remains are believed to have been deposited in three pits at the Dikomo dumping area.
The newspaper cites information acquired by the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) through discussions with witnesses and persons that allegedly took part in the transfer, which points to the remains being buried in the centre of the old dumping ground.
The issue was recently discussed in the parliament’s committee for refugees (internally displaced) and missing persons.
In another development, Phileleftheros reports on the case of four G/C elderly enclaved that are believed to have been murdered on September 2, 1974 by T/Cs. Michalis Komodromos, a relative of the two couples, called Phileleftheros requesting help to achieve the exhumation of Eleftherios and Theognosia Kosti Ttelli and Michalis and Sotira D. Komodromos so that they can be buried in the government-controlled areas.
The four elderly people had remained in the village after it was taken over by the Turkish army on August 16, 1974.
According to the testimony shared by the relative with the newspaper, two or three T/Cs from Aloa had gone to Pigi where the victims lived and stole pieces of wood in their yard. They later are reported to have returned and taken them away. The four were never seen again.
According to information since collected by their relatives, the four missing could have been murdered by a T/C that has been known to brag that he killed 125 G/Cs. The relatives are aware of four possible burial grounds. Komodromos said that he visited these sites with representatives from the Committee on Missing Persons and that pictures were taken.
CMP G/C head Leonidas Pantelides told Phileleftheros that he was not aware of the case as it came up before he was appointed but that he would look into it.