Front Page Headlines
Countdown to targeted relaxations
Opening of the economy in doses from beginning of February. Suggestions on the plan to relax measures that will be put into effect at the beginning of February submitted to President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades. Health Ministry suggests small relaxations during first half of February. Ioannou and Prodromou cross swords on schools issue. One wants primary schools to be opened and the other wants last year of lyceums to be opened. Epidemiologists suggest opening of retail. Reopening of department stores, shopping centres and establishments serving food during the second phase.
- Investigation on naturalisations: His Beatitude’s business brought him before investigative committee
- Exploratory (talks with Turkey): Athens keeps low expectations
We are heading towards de-escalation
Scientists and Health Ministry are cautious – They inform the President today. Suggestions are likely not to include an end date for the procedure on lifting restrictions.
- The stage is set: Mind on legislative and presidential elections in the background
- Money was not spent, Archbishop says
- Sales on passports and many interests
Still counting… a mess with “golden” passports
Syllouris was walking around with emblem of Republic of Cyprus. Anastasiades and Syllouris called to give answers. Archbishop made more interventions regarding passports.
- Exploratory talks start today with cloudy skies
- Another three people lost their lives from COVID-19, while 130 new cases were detected
Schools reopening
Members of scientific team meet with their president today. Primary school students return to classes next Monday – Similar decision for secondary education cannot be ruled out – Final decisions on Wednesday at Council of Ministers.
- Archbishop to appear tomorrow in front of investigative committee on naturalisations: He “testified” about everything in public – In statements yesterday, the primate of the church made detailed references to the Malaysian Low, who received a Cypriot passport having made a contribution of 300,000 euros.
- Andreas Poullikas (interview): Natural gas at the end of 2022
- COVID-19: Three dead yesterday and 130 cases
Main News
EU’s Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Turkey’s behaviour
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council will discuss the EU’s contacts and discussions with Turkey ahead of the five-party conference on Cyprus and the next European Council summit in March, where EU-Turkey relations will be one of the main issues.
Haravgi points out that the issue of sanctions against Turkey seems to be off the table after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s contacts in Brussels, during which EU officials underlined that Turkey should in return sustain de-escalation on the ground.
Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council will focus on transatlantic relations after the change of administrations in the US, Alexei Navalny’s arrest in Russia, relations with Turkey and the EU’s strategy in providing third countries with coronavirus vaccines.
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides is scheduled to have separate meetings with High Representative Josep Borrell and European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi according to an announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cited by Phileleftheros.
Christodoulides and the two European officials will discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus Problem, the upcoming 5+1 (two communities, three guarantors plus the UN) informal conference in New York, EU-Turkish relations and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Politis also reports that the date of the 5+1 conference is expected to be decided in the next few days, together with the approval of the UN Security Council resolution on renewing UNFICYP’s mandate. Politis recalls that Turkey had been lobbying for the conference to take place in March because of the pandemic, while Nicosia insisted that there shouldn’t be delays.
Greece-Turkey exploratory talks begin with low expectations
Alithia, Haravgi, Politis
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Greece has low expectations regarding the restart of exploratory talks with Turkey on Monday, write the dailies, citing reports and statements in Greek media.
Politis reports that the 61st round of exploratory talks, which will begin in Istanbul, are focused on seeking convergences on how to conduct full negotiations regarding the delineation of the Exclusive Economic Zones of the two countries.
Haravgi reports that Turkey’s initial position is that all issues should be on the table, including the militarisation of the islands in the Aegean, while Greece wants to negotiate only on the issue of maritime borders.
Politis reports that Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Alexandros Papaioannou told journalists on Friday that the process that will begin is not one of negotiations but of contacts which are not expected to result in commitments, and where no minutes will be kept.
The two sides intend to explore the possibility of negotiations on EEZ delineation on the basis of international law, Papaioannou said. He added that Greece’s position is that if these negotiations do go ahead but there is no result, the two countries should appeal to the International Court in The Hague.
He repeated that Greece does not intend to discuss the issue of the demilitarisation of the Aegean islands or issues relating to its sovereignty on islands and islets.
Politis reports that Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that Greece is beginning the exploratory talks with confidence, but that Antonis Samaras, a former prime minister and influential member in governing Nea Dimokratia, has publicly expressed his disagreement with these negotiations or even the possibility of appealing to The Hague.
1,170 Pfizer vaccines to be delivered to the north on Monday
Haravgi
CBMs, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Haravgi reports, citing the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), that the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) is due to hand over another 1,170 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to the Turkish Cypriots on Monday. G/C head of the bicommunal Technical Committee for Health, Leonidas Phylactou, told CNA that these doses are in addition to the ones given to cover 1,080 persons the previous week.
Phylactou explained that the RoC has taken into account the needs of the Turkish Cypriots during the planning of its vaccination strategy and will gradually hand over the vaccines it has ordered for the community.
He also pointed out that the coordination with the Turkish Cypriot community is happening through the bicommunal committee, and that transfers of vaccines began last week when the T/Cs finalised their vaccination strategy and after T/C health officials were trained to administer the Pfizer vaccine.
Phylactou also said that there is a problem with the supply of the vaccine by the company and that when production is increased, so will the numbers of dosages transferred to the Turkish Cypriots.
Energy regulatory authority says natural gas coming end of 2022
Alithia
Energy
OVERVIEW
The head of the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (RAEK), Marios Poulikkas, told Alithia in an interview that natural gas will be available for consumers in Cyprus by the end of 2022.
According to the official, natural gas is expected to be imported through a floating terminal by the end of 2022. He said that RAEK aims to guide the natural gas market in Cyprus to develop in an organised manner, following the example of energy markets in other countries.
He pointed out that there will be divergences from competition principles for a limited period of time as the local market develops. After this period, there will be a transition to an open market.
Poulikkas also said that the Cypriot electric grid is being upgraded in order to be able to use renewable sources of energy.
Changing the Cypriot national electric grid into a “smart” grid, which will take advantage of new technologies, will give an opportunity to Cyprus to connect its grid to neighbouring countries, Poulikkas pointed out.
He also said that consumers will start having more options on electricity providers in the next few months. The first private energy company has entered the market at the beginning of this year and more are expected to follow soon, he added.