Front Page Headlines
2021 budget with a dribble passed DIKO
The government finally got the ‘Yes’ from EDEK and the Solidarity Movement. The budget passed with 29 votes from DISY, EDEK, Solidarity Movement, Cooperation of Democratic Forces and ELAM against 26 ‘No’. This unlocks the implementation of the economy support measures after the imposition of additional restrictions against the spread of coronavirus. Strong confrontation on corruption and ‘toothless’ insistence by Nicolas Papadopoulos on the delivery of naturalisation files to Odysseas (Auditor-general).
- EU-Turkey: Intentions must become actions
- Pandemic: Optimism though the ICUs are full
- Earthquake: We were shaken, but not scared
Andri (Eleftheriou) gave names
She testified about a former official of the Cyprus Olympic Committee as the perpetrator of the sexual abuse against her. A series of testimonies will be launched today starting with the head of the Cyprus Shooting Sport Federation.
- The EU is asking Turkey to turn its words into actions
- Agenda-barometer on Cyprus-US relations
- Solidarity, ELAM, DIPA are finalising their (election) tickets
- The whole of Cyprus was rocked in the rhythm of a magnitude 5 (earthquake)
Proposal by AKEL for protection from foreclosures
The proposal submitted yesterday by AKEL gives two important rights so that borrowers can apply to the court for suspension of the sale if the loan includes abusive clauses and secondly, in case of sale, the bank is obliged to provide housing for the borrower and their family.
- New commitment by the EU through Borrell for support to the speedy resumption of the (Cyprob) talks
- Cyprus is fourth in the Eurozone as regards debt – Cyprus’ public debt is 20 percentage points higher than the Eurozone average. 119.5 per cent of the GDP in Cyprus, 97.3 per cent is the European average. Greece is at 200 per cent, followed by Italy, Portugal, Cyprus.
Sigh of relief as budget is passed
President says crisis averted for the country, lauds ‘maturity’ of the parties.
- Cyprus shook by 5.0 earthquake
Relief!
The budget has been approved and calmness restored. An end to the horror show following strong controversy. 29 deputies voted in favour and 26 against. Satisfaction by the government. We avoided dangers and adventures. The economy rolls up its sleeves for growth to get started… President: Thank you for averting a new crisis.
- Appeal to justice: TC claims part of Paphos airport
- Earthquake: 5.0 shook Cyprus and beyond
- Coronavirus: Relaxations to the restrictive measures are being prepared
Main News
Borrell: Ankara must turn words into actions
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that EU High Representative Josep Borrell called on Turkey, before a meeting in Brussels on Thursday with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, to translate its words on its intention for better relations with the bloc into actions.
He also said the EU was fully committed to supporting a speedy resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus problem.
Borrell said the aim of the meeting with Cavusoglu was an important step in the direction of looking for mutual strategic interests, the development of a cooperative and reciprocal relationship anchored in common values and principles. He said that 2020 has been a complicated year for these relations but that recently, an improvement in the overall atmosphere and some important steps were observed. One good step, he said, was the announced resumption of direct exploratory talks between Turkey and Greece. “Such efforts have to be maintained. Intentions and announcements need to be translated into actions,” Borrell said.
He added that another important step was the efforts of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a resumption of the Cyprus settlement talks under UN auspices. “We are fully committed to support a speedy resumption of those negotiations,” he said.
The EU official also said the bloc strongly wished to see a sustainable de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the wider region and a substantive dialogue to strengthen the importance of the political processes related to regional conflicts, be it in Libya, Syria or Nagorno Karabakh.
He also said that they would talk in a frank and open way, about the political situation in Turkey and the prospects of accession. We remain concerned about the situation in Turkey from the point of view [of rule of law and human rights situation] because it is an important neighbour and we want to build with Turkey a common and shared future, he added.
Cavusoglu said 2020 was a troubled year for Euro-Turkish relations but the December summit was a positive development to create a more positive atmosphere since it favoured the resumption of the dialogue between the two sides. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited Borrell and Ursula von der Leyen to Turkey, he said.
He said Ankara has submitted a very detailed proposal for a conference on the Eastern Mediterranean while on the agenda was also discussion on visa liberalisation.
Phileleftheros also reports that Greece’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexandros Papaioannou, during yesterday’s regular briefing of diplomats, clarified that the 61st round of exploratory contacts with Turkey, set to take place in Istanbul, were not negotiations but informal, non-binding, confidential discussions in order to explore the points of convergence for possible future negotiations on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, based on international law.
He pointed out that if there is no agreement in the negotiations that may follow the exploratory talks, the two sides will have to agree on a text that will then be submitted to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the daily reports.
Alithia reports that the EU is calling on Turkey once more to turn into actions its declarations on de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Haravgi reports that there has been a new commitment by the EU on the Cyprus problem while Turkey insists on a conference on the Eastern Mediterranean.
KEY ACTORS
Borrell (EU)
>> Calls on Turkey to turn words into actions regarding better relations with EU & de-escalating tensions.
>> Resumption of Greco-Turkish exploratory talks & UNSG’s efforts for a resumption of the Cyprob talks seen as important steps.
>> EU committed to support a speedy resumption of the Cyprob negotiations.
>> EU wants to see a sustainable de-escalation in the East Med & wider region & substantive dialogue to strengthen importance of political processes related to regional conflicts.
Cavusoglu (Turkey)
>> 2020 was a troubled year for EU-Turkey relations but December summit was a positive development since it favoured resumption of dialogue between two sides.
>> Turkey would like to see a conference on the East Med.
All eyes on how new US president will handle Cyprob
Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies analyse the impact of the new US administration on the Cyprus problem.
In an article analysing Cyprus’ relations with the US, Phileleftheros reports that cooperation between the two countries under the Joe Biden administration will be judged based on four points: the continuation of bilateral relations, Washington’s stance on the Cyprus problem, its relations with Turkey and US policy in the region.
Nicosia’s assessment starts from the fact that Biden will first look at the interests of his own country. The current situation in the United States is also being taken seriously, with the US government showing that it wants to put a lot of weight in that direction before embarking on what Biden himself described as a comeback of the US, the paper reports.
The daily cited a tweet on Thursday by US Ambassador in Cyprus Judith Garber who said that the Republic of Cyprus is a valued partner of the United States. The paper further reports that it remains to be seen in action whether this strategic cooperation will continue. Garber was responding to a tweet by President Nicos Anastasiades who had congratulated the new President and the new Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, for the assumption of their duties. Garber thanked Anastasiades for the warm welcome to the new US President and Vice President. “The Republic of Cyprus is a valued partner of the United States, and I look forward to continuing to deepen our bilateral relationship with the new administration,” she said.
The daily also reports that the US stance on the Cyprus issue was always a barometer of Cypriot-American relations. The fact that we are entering a critical period for developments in the Cyprus issue, whatever stance the new US administration will take, is considered crucial for Nicosia, it added. Nicosia notes that Biden, as Vice President of Barack Obama, had an involvement in the Cyprus issue while his team had made clear positions in relation to the Cyprus issue before the elections. What’s left is for these positions to be verified in practice, the paper reported.
The Turkey chapter is crucial and has had a positive or negative impact on relations between Washington and Nicosia. US-Turkish relations are a puzzle that everyone is waiting to see solved with Biden not revealing his intentions before he was sworn in, which raises questions about the direction in which the relations between the two countries will move. But the reproving attitude the new Secretary of State Antony Blinken held in Congress, contributed to the already negative climate prevailing in Washington against Turkey, Phileleftheros reports.
Haravgi reports that former Foreign Minister and former ambassador to Washington Erato Kozakou Markoullis, expressed the position that a more consistent policy will be pursued by the United States on the Cyprus issue and on the issues of Turkey’s provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Markoullis told the Cyprus News Agency that Biden knows the Cyprus issue very well from his almost 40-year term in the Senate and his two terms as vice president. He is perhaps the only US President with such deep knowledge and experience in foreign policy, she said, adding that most of the staff he has appointed for foreign policy and security issues are well acquainted with the Cyprus issue and the wider issues of the Eastern Mediterranean.
The former minister, however, pointed out that the US stance will also depend on the GC side’s behaviour and the messages that will be sent. “The bi-zonal bi-communal federal solution is a standing US position and we must convincingly seek their support in overturning Turkey’s and the TC leadership’s partitionist plans,” she said, the daily reports.
The daily also quotes international relations expert Zenonas Tziarras saying that the Cyprus issue is not expected to be high on the agenda of the new US government and that it is not expected that Biden will play a catalytic role as regards reaching an agreement to the Cyprus issue.
Supreme Court rejects TC property appeal citing irregular procedure
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Property, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The papers report that the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by a TC man as regards claims to his property, part of which is within the Paphos airport’s grounds.
The man filed an appeal after the district court dismissed his case for not following the indicated procedure as regards claiming his property which was expropriated in 1994 and part of which, 13,824 square metres, was used for the construction of the Paphos airport.
According to the court, the complainant did not first file an application with the interior minister, who is the Guardian of TC properties in the government-controlled areas, to claim his property, as per the law. He could launch legal proceedings after this application is rejected, however.
The Supreme Court ruling said that though the man had gone to the competent authorities to enquire about his property, he did not file a demand with the Guardian over violation of his rights as per the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as provided for in the law on TC properties.
It said that the man, in his letters to the interior ministry back in 2010, had requested information on the status of possession and use of his property, and that he was reserving all his rights over the illegal use and exploitation of his property. He did not however invoke any violation of any of his rights enshrined in the Convention nor did he claim any remedy as regards the property.
In the case the indicated procedure is not followed, the district court has no authority to deal with such a case, the Supreme Court said.
DIKO MEP joins voices against Erdogan’s “neo-Ottoman” rule
Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
EU Matters, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that DIKO MEP and member of the Socialists and Democrats political group in the European Parliament, Costas Mavrides, participated in a protest in Brussels against the actions of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Mavrides said that the event was organised by an international coalition of 18 civil society groups that are against the aggressive actions and crimes of the Turkish president. The group’s first event was held outside the European Parliament under the slogan ‘Stop Erdogan Now’. The group calls for strict sanctions on Turkey by the EU.
Mavrides said during his address that he too had a dream just like Martin Luther King. “The historian of the future will look back and record that on this icy day in 2021 a small group of people committed to freedom, justice, human rights and peace we launched an international coalition of citizens against Erdogan’s crimes,” he said.
The MEP made clear that this protest was not against Turkish people but against the neo-Ottoman behaviour of Erdogan and his government.