GCC Press Review 18 Jan 2021

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Internal auditing essentially non-existent

Auditing units in ministries and deputy ministries range from understaffed to non-existent. With a letter to parliament, the Commissioner of Internal Audit asks auditing units to be staffed with sufficient number of employees, with adequate credentials and specialisation in auditing, without delay. Her service is also understaffed. Cases of vested interests, corruption and mismanagement are not detected because internal auditing is full of holes. In two ministries and two deputy ministries auditing units do not even exist. Government has earmarked the creation of an independent authority against corruption while keeping internal auditing units understaffed. Commissioner believes that if independent authority is created there is the danger of an overlap of responsibilities.

  • Pfizer vaccine: Delivery of 1,000 doses to T/Cs today

Phileleftheros

Tripping up through reports

References that create difficulties on the eve of new effort on Cyprus Problem. Lute stays until later notice.

  • Gift to the members of the investigating committee: Honorary compensation for “golden” passport investigation tripled – President and members were going to receive up to 10,000 euros each, now they will receive 30,000 euros
  • Hospitals remain “in the red”: Indications that epidemiological situation stabilising
  • 11 Syrians at criminal court over murder

Haravgi

Wave of foreclosures despite assurances

New big wave of non-serviceable loans coming. Moratorium only for a few and foreclosures for most. Parliament’s legislation saved hundreds of borrowers.

  • Raise in payments for investigative committee members
  • Three deaths and 157 new cases, while 208 patients are being hospitalised, 56 in a serious condition

Alithia

Pandemic changes pre-election campaign

Parliamentary elections in the shadow of coronavirus. Coronavirus changes also the way we vote. May elections will bring big problems and challenges. Menelaos Vasileiou: Aglandja model for the parliamentary elections.

  • Decisive meeting today with Anastasiades, Averof and Sizopoulos: Critical day for the budget – One cannot exclude possibility of it coming down to one vote
  • Fever at the UN: All scenarios for the five-party meeting
  • Erdogan: A charm offensive on the EU – Who wants to whack him out

Main News

1,000 Pfizer vaccines to be delivered to the Turkish Cypriots

Politis
CBMs, Internal Security

OVERVIEW

Politis reports that the T/C side is due to receive 1,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday morning through the Agios Dometios checkpoint.

According to information published by several newspapers, the T/C side is expected to receive its share of the vaccines that have arrived through the EU at 8.30 in the morning through the Agios Dometios checkpoint. The transfer was arranged with the coordination of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health.

According to the same reports, another 1,000 doses are in storage and will also be transferred to the T/C side at a later stage. The dailies point out that the north has also started vaccinations, using Chinese vaccines sent from Turkey.

In another development, Alithia reports that President Anastasiades is due to take the second shot of the coronavirus vaccine on Monday, at the Latsia Health Centre. Anastasiades had taken the first dosage of the vaccine on December 28.

Meanwhile the government started distributing the second dose of the vaccine to all those that were vaccinated at the beginning of the process in care homes as well as in hospitals. By January 15, 10,226 people were vaccinated. Also on Monday, another 3,466 appointments for vaccinations of citizens above 80-years-old are to be made available.

The dailies report that three more deaths and 157 new cases were detected on Sunday in the government-controlled areas. 208 persons are still being hospitalised, 56 of whom in a serious condition.


Government reportedly concerned over content of UN reports

Alithia, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Phileleftheros reports that the government is concerned by the fact that the draft of the UNSG’s report on the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate does not mention the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) but instead mentions G/C authorities, and that Nicosia is expecting this to be corrected in a new draft.

The newspaper also notes that President Anastasiades told political party leaders on Thursday that in both the draft report on UNFICYP as well as in the draft report on the UNSG’s Good Offices, there is no reference to Security Council Resolutions, while the RoC is not directly mentioned.

According to the newspaper’s diplomatic sources, Nicosia believes that the UN attempted to please the Turkish side and Ersin Tatar in order for him to appear more flexible. The newspaper also points out that while at the beginning Tatar appeared determined to table a two-state solution, when he talked with UN representative Elisabeth Spehar, he pointed to the need for negotiations instead.

The newspaper also reports that UNSG special envoy Jane Holl Lute will remain Antonio Guterres’ representative during the process of preparing the restart of negotiations, but that it cannot be ruled out that a new envoy be appointed if her efforts are successful. This issue is expected to be one of the topics to be discussed in the informal five-party conference (two sides, three guarantors plus the UN).

Phileleftheros also reports that the CBMs proposed by President Anastasiades (such as opening of Tymbou airport along with the return of Varosha – both under UN administration) are being seen positively by the media in the north, despite the T/C leadership’s message, sent through various channels, that it will not accept.

Meanwhile Alithia reports on the scenarios of how the informal five-party conference will take place, citing a report by Omega TV. According to the channel’s sources, the UN Secretariat aims to organise a process similar to that followed at the Crans Montana conference, which will cover three days.

The two leaders and representatives of the guarantors will have a dinner with the UNSG on the night of the first day. On the second day, the sides will meet with the UNSG separately and on the third day all five representatives will meet again. The same sources say that the conference could be extended beyond three days if necessary.


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