GCC Press Review 6 Jan 2021

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Curtain closing for two-three weeks

Suggestions by epidemiologists with small differences for total lockdown. On Thursday, Council of Ministers will be making final decisions, while considering the special circumstances for certain groups of workers. For the time being there is no indication of whether the SMS system for movements will be reinstated, while the most likely scenario for schools is that they will close. The import of vaccines from non EU-countries is also being considered and contacts have already been made with Israel for the purchase of 100 thousand doses, though a positive outcome is not expected.

  • Proposals for CBMs submitted to Guterres
  • Buffer Zone: KEVE and OEV demonstrate over surveillance system
  • AKEL: Andros rebuts Kotzias
  • Parliamentary elections: Independent participation by former Varosha residents
  • DISY-elections: Pindarou standing by

Phileleftheros

Ministers weighing stamina

The balance is tipping toward decisions for partial lockdown. Two scenarios from scientists. They are trying to square the circle of the pandemic. We lost 22 people in one week. Rate of cases among population rising. The rate of cases per 100,000 people rose to 614.3/100,000 compared to 457.3 on December 27. Larnaca in difficult situation, edging 1,000 cases per 100,000 people. 5,455 cases in two weeks. 491 involved people aged over 70 and 883 children. EU’s national strategies up in the air. Discomfort increasing over vaccine shortage.

  • In three and a half months, 194 victims of violence sought shelter – The longer confinement at home draws on, the more cases of abuse increase
  • President’s letter to UNSG: Suggests placing Varosha and Tymbou under special regime
  • Cyprus-USA to face common challenges
  • National Guard food ends up in trash

Haravgi

They lost control and are running behind developments

Scenarios for partial or total lockdown on the table. The situation in public hospitals is very difficult. 85 COVID-19 deaths in one month. The government appears to be unprepared for the new wave of the pandemic, running behind the worrying spread of the virus among the community, while the measures it has taken are failing to deliver. Deliberations over whether they will move forward with a partial or total lockdown, something that will be decided by the Council of Ministers tomorrow.

  • Lute returns to Cyprus on Sunday
  • A. Kyprianou: “Neither did I go to Athens in January 2017, nor did I meet with Katrougalos”
  • Open-air cinema being completed in Dheryneia Buffer Zone

Cyprus Mail

Covid’s deadliest week in Cyprus

Advisory team briefs president, decisions on any more measures on Thursday

  • Visa waivers to the US ‘as soon as possible’

Alithia

Ball in Ministers’ court

The decision for new measures against coronavirus tomorrow. Everything points to lockdown. Over 3,000 available appointments for vaccination run out. New appointments will open up islandwide next Monday, again for those over 80 years old. Black December with 85 deaths. Hospitals nearing limits.

  • Occupied areas: Checkpoint crossings affected
  • Demographic problem: We’re ageing and not reproducing

Main News

New details emerge regarding informal summit, proposed CBMs

Politis, Phileleftheros, Haravgi, Cyprus Mail
Negotiations Process, CBMs

OVERVIEW

Politis reports that the government on Tuesday confirmed that the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy Jane Holl Lute will be returning to the island on Sunday for contacts with both leaders the following day in view of laying the groundwork for a five plus one informal summit. Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said the summit will likely take place in Switzerland within the first ten days of February.

Politis reports that further details regarding the informal summit, such as duration and structure, are still unclear, while Phileleftheros reports that the possibility for a resumption of substantive negotiations through a new process on Cyprus Problem is still pending.

Politis reports that the Greek Cypriot side is placing high importance on the enhanced involvement of the EU in the negotiations process.

The dailies also report that the government confirmed that ahead of Lute’s arrival Anastasiades sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres last week, containing a list of confidence-building measures (CBMs) that could be implemented to better the climate between the two sides.

Politis reports that in the letter, Anatasiades stated his position in favour of a solution in the form of a bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF), while stressing that he will not accept any solution that deviates from UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.

Phileleftheros reports that Anastasiades’ proposed CMBs revolve around the three axes of Famagusta, Tymbou, and the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The daily reports new information regarding the proposed CBM involving the Cyprus EEZ, claiming that in his letter Anastasiades reiterated his request for Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus to discuss and finalise the delimitation of maritime zones. Anastasiades also reiterated the government’s proposal for setting up an escrow account into which a portion of future gas proceeds earmarked for Turkish Cypriots – roughly proportionate to their population size – would be deposited.

Haravgi reports that Christodoulides clarified to the paper that Anastasiades’ proposed CBMs do not aim towards improving the climate between the two sides but towards pushing for a solution to the Cyprus Problem. The paper said Anastasiades’ reference to a BBF in his letter to Guterres was noteworthy since such a position was so far absent from his rhetoric.

Haravgi also mentions the proposals submitted by AKEL to Anastasiades on specific moves that would show that the president is determined to return to the negotiating table, such as the acceptance of political equality and motivating the Turkish Cypriot side to return to negotiations through the hydrocarbons issue.


KEVE/OEV want local company behind Buffer Zone surveillance

Politis
Internal Security

Politis reports that the Cyprus Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (KEVE) and the Cyprus Employers and Industrialist Federation (OEV) have voiced their concerns to Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides over the government’s intention to procure a Buffer Zone surveillance system from Israel by direct assignment, stressing that the same, or an even better system could be purchased from local companies and at a better price.

In a letter to Petrides, the two business organisations requested that the procurement procedure is re-examined and that an open tender is launched for local companies.

The paper reports that a tender for the Buffer Zone surveillance system was launched in 2015, with the project budgeted at 5 million euros. Citing informed sources, Politis reports that the project will now be procured from Israel for 15 million euros plus 1.5-3 million euros extra for infrastructure.

Politis also reports that Cypriot companies have also raised the matter of national security, since if the project is assigned to Israel then a third country will have access to the data that will be collected by the system.

The paper notes that the surveillance system will allow the Defence Ministry to free up an important amount of human resources that currently monitor the Buffer Zone, while the cameras will allow decisions to be made in real-time with comprehensive footage of the situation.


Famagusta refugee initiative to run in May parliamentary elections

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Governance & Power Sharing

The dailies report on a new initiative ‘Mono Ammochostos’ (Only Famagusta) made up of Famagusta refugees, who announced on Tuesday that they will be running as independents in the upcoming parliamentary elections in May. The initiative states its aim is to secure a position in decision-making circles that concern the occupied territories of Famagusta.

The initiative, which introduced itself as independent and non-partisan, said it will focus on ‘saving’ the Famagusta area, especially in light of what it views as the indifference of the government and the majority of the population in response to the recent partial opening of the fenced area of Varosha on October 8 and the Turkish president’s ‘picnic’ there on November 15.


AKEL leader rebuts Kotzias’ allegations

Politis, Phileleftheros, Haravgi
Regional/International Relations

The dailies on Wednesday report on AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou’s rebuttal of revelations made by former Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias regarding his term in office. In his latest book, Kotzias alleges that Kyprianou requested his removal from office from former Greek PM Alexis Tsipras just after the Crans-Montana negotiations process ended in 2017.

According to the dailies, Kyprianou issued a written response on Tuesday in which he categorically refuted the accusations made by Kotzias, stating that neither was he in Athens in January 2017, nor did he meet with the then-Greek Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Georgios Katrougalos, who Kotzias claimed accompanied Kyprianou during his request to Tsipras.

Politis reports that Kyprianou revealed in an interview with a local television station that the real version of events was that he had told Tsipras that if Kotzias continues to meddle in the domestic affairs of Cyprus, he would be forced to respond on the matter publicly. The paper also states that during that time, Kotzias and President Anastasiades had an intense verbal altercation.

The dailies reported that Kyprianou said that Kotzias knows full well what was shared in their discussions but also in discussions with Tsipras, during which Kyprianou said the former Greek FM was always present, as were other officials from his ministry and AKEL officials.

Kyprianou said the allegations not only offend Kotzias himself but also tarnish the good relations that AKEL and Greek political forces have so far enjoyed.


Government deliberating stricter restrictions amid pandemic flare-up

Politis, Phileleftheros, Haravgi, Cyprus Mail, Alithia
Internal Security

The Council of Ministers will be convening on Thursday to decide on stricter measures in a bid to curb the current heightened spread of the virus and provide some breathing room for public hospitals which are nearing their limits.

The dailies report that the government is tasked with deciding on whether to impose a partial or total lockdown similar to the one back in March, which saw only vital services remain in operation.

Phileleftheros reports that all scientists stand behind tougher measures, with particular focus on limiting the movements of the public.

Politis reports that due to the effectiveness of rapid tests and the rollout of the vaccination program, it is unlikely that the movement of the public will be restricted as it had been in March, though tougher measures on this front are expected. The daily also reported that in light of the severity of the pandemic at the moment, scientists do not expect the stricter measures to give rise to any significant epidemiological improvement before February.


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