Front Page Headlines
They are reluctantly publishing the list that has turned into a saga
MPs, mayors, state officials, journalists… in the Georghadji records (on the non-performing loans of politically exposed persons). Though DISY & Solidarity voted in favour of the publication of the list, they refused to get a copy with Averof Neophytou stating they would wait and read it form the parliament’s website. Attack on the rest of the MPs by Koulias who claims the list’s publication was illegal and an ethical mishap. “Let me keep my mouth shut,” said the House President. EDEK abstained. The representative of the Maronites in parliament, Yiannakis Mousas was the MP who had sent a letter to the president of the body warning with legal measures if the list was published.
- UNFICYP: The resolution is being approved today
- Presidential address: Everyone is at fault, also the government a bit!
A public address just for show
The president addressed the people with repetitions so as to respond to the opposition. Measures against corruption will be announced today.
- British-Turkish meeting in Tatar’s office
- Resolution adapted to the demands of the times
- Six states support the EastMed pipeline
He with no shame puts the blame on others
The President of the Republic appeared neither apologetic nor modest in relation to the state of corruption and the involvement of his name in the golden passport industry. He neither saw nor heard about conflict of interest, nor was he affected by the code of conduct he himself distributed to the ministers.
- The Security Council shows the way
- Law and accounting offices are under investigation for the naturalisations (of foreign investors)
Passport scheme was ‘weaponised’
Anastasiades says flaws in citizenship scheme were used to smear him.
- FinMin expects 4.5% growth and joblessness to decline
They reluctantly said ‘Yes’
The parties voted in favour of the publication of the Georghadji list. Today the list will be published on the parliament’s website. The question is if lawsuits will follow over violation of personal data.
- Opposition acts like Goebbels! – President Anastasiades rejects the accusations of corruption and strikes back. “I wonder how many more monstrous lies they will employ, those who risked the collapse of the state or the physical or economic survival of thousands of our fellow citizens.” “The government has no objections for the Auditor-General to receive the naturalisation files immediately after the completion of the work of the investigative committee.”
- Cyprus problem: The five-party summit is headed to Geneva
- (Head of Bar Association) Christos Clerides: 200 law firms under the microscope (over processing passport applications) – Nothing incriminating was found about the president’s former law office.
Main News
UNSG: BBF mandate doesn’t mean sides cannot express other opinions
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Alithia and Haravgi report that UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres said on Thursday his mandate from the Security Council refers explicitly to a bizonal, bicommunal solution in Cyprus, but this was not an impediment for the parties to present the positions they wanted to present.
Guterres was replying to a question during a press conference about the 5+1 meeting and whether he will insist on a bizonal, bicommunal federation or if he is open to new ideas, like the one of the TC leader.
He said that he has a mandate from the Security Council for UN involvement in relation to the negotiations. This mandate refers explicitly to a bizonal, bicommunal solution, he said.
“Obviously this is not an impediment for the parties to present the positions they will present. I am always ready to go to the SC and if there is an agreement of the parties enlarging the scope of the negotiations, to be interpreted as a common agreement in this regard,” he added.
He pointed out that the first step is to bring the parties together; to listen to them, to see the result of that discussion.
“And the fact that Ι stick to the mandate I received doesn’t mean that I am not open to listen to everybody, to take the conclusions of that discussion based on whatever the parties come to a common view about the future,” he said.
He added that it was his intention to convene early March an informal meeting of the 5+1. Noting the change in the administration of northern Cyprus, he said it was important to give a chance to all the people to frankly discuss among themselves how they see the future and to see how to move forward.
Alithia reports there might be a change to the location of the informal five-party summit with the UN now considering Geneva due to the surge in coronavirus cases in New York.
It is expected that the UNSG will invite by the weekend all sides to the five-party summit, which is set to take place in the first week of March.
Alithia reports that Geneva was from the beginning considered as the place to host the informal summit and now it seems that it is back in the UN preferences, despite reports the meeting would be held in Greentree, New York.
The dailies, citing TC media, report that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is expected to visit the north next week for consultations with TC leader Ersin Tatar ahead of the five-party summit. They also report on Tatar’s statement that the British FM is also due in the north on February 4. Tatar further said that Ergun Olgun will be the TC side’s negotiator.
Politis reports that the TCs are preparing a strategy ahead of the five-plus-one summit. Phileleftheros similarly reported that Turkey and the occupation regime are coordinating ahead of the five-party summit.
KEY ACTORS
Guterres (UNSG)
>> His mandate explicitly refers to assisting the sides in Cyprus reach a BBF solution, but this does not prevent the parties from presenting their positions, nor him going to the UNSC with a common agreement by the sides for an enlarged scope of negotiations.
>> The goal of the informal summit is to bring the parties together, especially after the change in the TCs’ leadership, listen to them & see the result of that discussion.
UNSC calls on sides to proceed with openness, flexibility & compromise
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on the content of the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution on the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate for another six months, especially references to the Cyprus problem and the informal five-party summit.
The resolution is expected to be adopted unanimously with a written procedure expected to end on Friday. The Security Council’s resolution stresses that the responsibility for finding a solution lies first and foremost with the Cypriots themselves.
It expresses full support for the Secretary-General’s ongoing efforts, and welcomes his intention to convene an informal “five plus UN meeting” with the leaders of the two Cypriot communities and the guarantor power. The UNSC urges the sides and all involved participants to approach these talks in a spirit of openness, flexibility and compromise and to show the necessary political will and commitment to freely negotiate a mutually acceptable settlement under United Nations auspices.
It also urges the sides to renew their efforts to achieve an enduring, comprehensive and just settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in relevant Security Council resolutions. It requests the Secretary-General to submit by 10 July 2021 a report on his Good Offices, in particular on progress towards reaching a consensus starting-point for meaningful results-oriented negotiations leading to a settlement.
The UNSC also stressed that the status quo is unsustainable, and that the lack of an agreement furthers political tensions and deepens the estrangement of both communities, risking irreversible changes on the ground, and reducing the prospects of a settlement. It also expressed deep concern at the ongoing tensions in the eastern Mediterranean over hydrocarbons exploration. It is further convinced of the many important benefits, including economic benefits, for all Cypriots that would flow from a comprehensive and durable settlement.
It noted the importance of confidence-building measures (CBMs) and their timely implementation, and urged the sides to step up their efforts to promote intercommunal contacts, reconciliation and the active engagement of civil society, in particular women and youth.
The resolution also refers to the management of the pandemic and said it regrets that the sides have continued to pursue largely uncoordinated responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It expressed concern that the closure of the crossing points along the Green line has limited opportunities for bicommunal engagement and trust-building activities, and that the continued and prolonged closure of some crossing points threatens to set back the progress made in this area since 2003.
It calls on the leaders to urgently agree on the reopening of all the crossing points and the return to the operating status that existed prior to 29 February 2020 as soon as practically achievable, and to work on harmonizing the protocols governing the crossing points. Any continuing restrictions on movement across the island should not go beyond preventing the spread of COVID-19, it said, adding that the opening of the crossings since 2003 has been an important CBM between both communities and one which is essential for the settlement process.
It also calls upon the two leaders urgently to provide the necessary political support and overall guidance to free the Technical Committees from obstructions in their work and enable them to function effectively, and to empower them to submit proposals for their consideration to enhance intercommunal contacts and improve the daily lives of all Cypriots.
The two leaders are called upon to engage the Technical Committees more actively to ensure effective coordination and cooperation on health matters, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases including through the effective use of the expertise available in the bicommunal Technical Committees on Health, Crisis Management, Humanitarian Affairs and Economic Matters, and to ensure effective coordination and cooperation on criminal matters, and promote peace education across the island, including by further empowering the Technical Committee on Education.
It also said it regrets the lack of progress on an effective mechanism for direct military contacts between the sides and the relevant involved parties, and requests the Secretary General to report further on the reasons behind this lack of progress, and urges full engagement with the proposal on the establishment of such a mechanism presented by UNFICYP, and its timely implementation.
It called for further CBMs including those related to the military, economic cooperation and trade.
On the issue of the fenced area of Famagusta, the UNSC expressed deep concern at developments in Varosha, and called for the reversal of this course of action, reaffirming the status of Varosha as set out in its previous resolutions, while reiterating that no actions should be carried out in relation to Varosha that are not in accordance with those resolutions.
It reiterates its calls on the TC side and Turkish forces to restore in Strovilia the military status quo which existed there prior to 30 June 2000, and reaffirms that UNFICYP’s freedom of movement should be respected. It also expressed concern for the continued deterioration of the law and order situation in Pyla, and urges both sides to continue to work with UNFICYP to establish effective measures to tackle criminal activities.
Phileleftheros and Alithia report that DIKO, commenting on the final resolution text, said that it unfortunately confirms the absence of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) from the forthcoming five-party conference. The party said the tacit tolerance by the DISY government to the downgrading of the RoC to a community especially at a time when the Turkish side is poisoning the basis of the solution was unacceptable.
EDEK said that once more, the attempt by the UN to attribute responsibilities on both sides was glaring, protecting to a great extent Turkey which has the main responsibility for the tensions in the region.
Politis reported that the resolution sets the tone for the way the two sides move within the coming period. Following intense diplomatic consultations at UN headquarters, the resolution includes references to the BBF solution which satisfies the government to some extent, the paper reports.
The daily also comments that references to the existing body of work within the negotiations process, with calls on the leaders to seize the opportunity offered by the 5+1 summit was a diplomatic manoeuvre by the UNSC.
According to Phileleftheros, the UNSC wants to see results by July. It added that the resolution’s content was adjusted according to the demands of the times and mainly to the needs of the informal five-party summit.
KEY ACTORS
UN Security Council
>> Responsibility for finding a solution lies first and foremost with the Cypriots themselves.
>> Fully supports the UNSG’s efforts & his intention to convene a 5+1 summit which sides ought to approach with openness, flexibility and compromise & show the necessary political will and commitment to negotiate a mutually acceptable BBF solution with political equality.
>> Expects progress towards reaching a consensus starting-point for meaningful results-oriented negotiations leading to a settlement.
>> The status quo on island is unsustainable while the lack of an agreement furthers political tensions and deepens the estrangement of both communities, risking irreversible changes on the ground & reducing the prospects of a settlement.
>> Concerned by the ongoing tensions in the East Med over hydrocarbons exploration & believes many important benefits would follow from a comprehensive and durable solution.
>> Calls for more CBMs, including those related to the military, economic cooperation and trade & for efforts to promote intercommunal contacts, reconciliation & the active engagement of civil society, in particular women and youth.
>> The two sides failed to coordinate on the issue of the pandemic.
>> Calls for the opening of the crossings as soon as possible & expresses concern that the closure of the crossing points has limited opportunities for bi-communal engagement & trust-building activities. Their opening in 2003 has been essential for the settlement process while prolonged closure threatens to set back the progress made in this area since then.
>>Calls on leaders to urgently to provide the necessary political support & overall guidance to free the Technical Committees from obstructions in their work and enable them to function effectively, and to empower them to submit proposals to enhance intercommunal contacts and improve the daily lives of all Cypriots.
>> Regrets lack of progress on an effective mechanism for direct military contacts between the sides & relevant involved parties.
>> Concerned by developments in Varosha & calls for their reversal. No actions should be carried out that are not in accordance with SC resolutions.
>> Continues to call on the TC side & Turkish forces to restore in Strovilia the military status quo which existed there prior to 30 June 2000.
>> Concerned for the continued deterioration of the law and order in Pyla & urges both sides to continue to work with UNFICYP to establish effective measures to tackle criminal activities there.
Anastasiades hits back at detractors during anti-corruption address
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on President Nicos Anastasiades’ televised address on Thursday evening ahead of the announcement on Friday of a series of measures to stamp out corruption.
In his address, Anastasiades referred to orchestrated attacks against his credibility and cited the phrase attributed to Joseph Goebbels: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” He also compared the situation to recent events in the United States and the ‘false’ allegations of election fraud there, which millions of Americans came to believe, he said.
The president also spoke of a false picture around the passport scheme, for which he blamed fake news and rumour mongering on social media. This mudslinging, he said, culminated in a wholly unsubstantiated write-up that he had personally made €300 million from the scheme and took the money to the Seychelles on private jets.
The president lambasted his political adversaries for irresponsibly blowing the weaknesses in the passport scheme out of all proportion, but also went on the offensive by accusing them of hypocrisy.
“I readily acknowledge and assume the political responsibilities that can be laid at the doorstep of my administration. Something which, not only did we not disregard, but led the government to amend the programme six times within a space of eight years,” he said. “Despite this, it was not possible to prevent the scheme from being abused by certain hustlers.”
The president also said that if the parliamentary parties, “which today appear as protagonists in the fight against corruption” exercised their constitutional powers and obligations over time, then they would timely adopt the bills that have been pending for years, with the aim of combating corruption. He added that they should also adopt GRECO recommendations to the legislature on issues of transparency and the fight against corruption and should have exercised their institutional control role based on the information provided to them on an ongoing basis.
He added that as the nation’s leader, he would not be dragged into petty squabbling but that his address was intended to set the record straight.
Anastasiades conceded that corruption in public life exists, but again stressed that detractors were making a mountain out of a mole hill. He went on to cite reports by international organisations and entities such as Moneyval and Greco that noted Cyprus’ progress in combating money laundering as well as other aspects of corruption.
He also said he was saddened that his detractors highlighted this issue as the only one faced by the country, ignoring Turkey’s threats “that endanger the existence of Cypriot Hellenism, ignoring the pandemic and the problems that have accumulated, which threaten to bring to their knees businesses, workers and vulnerable groups. They ignore everything.”
In closing, the president said he could not help but feel bitter about the attacks against his person.
According to Phileleftheros, Anastasiades addressed the people just for the show since he did not add anything to the public dialogue while people did not hear anything new. The president compiled in a text which was abusively labelled as an address, everything his executives have been saying lately in the government’s defence.
Cypriot MEPs raise issue of lawsuits against TC journalists by Turkey
Alithia, Phileleftheros
EU Matters, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The papers report that all six Cypriot Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) submitted a joint written question to the European Commission regarding the new lawsuits against TC journalists for allegedly insulting the Turkish state.
In a press release by MEP Demetris Papadakis, issued jointly with fellow Cypriot MEPs – DISY’s Lefteris Christoforou and Loucas Fourlas, AKEL’s George Georgiou and Niyazi Kiziliyurek and DIKO’s Costas Mavrides – the six representatives note that there are more and more cases of TC journalists, who are being accused of insulting the Turkish state in comments posted in social media during the process of choosing the new leader of the TC community in the north.
They argued that this was an attempt by Ankara to silence and intimidate journalists and progressive TCs, while violating the rights of all citizens to freedom of opinion and expression.
Based on these remarks, all six Cypriot MEPs ask if the European Commission was aware of these events and what measures it was willing to take to protect journalists who are EU citizens, in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus.
The dailies also report that Georgiou and Kizilyurek said in another statement that Commissioner Ferreira, on behalf of the European Commission, in response to a question posed to her by them regarding the case of Sener Elcil, stressed that the Commission was aware of the case and expressed its concern about the recent statements, which appear to intimidate Elcil from exercising his right to freedom of expression.
The question concerned the threats from the Turkish government and TC leader Ersin Tatar against the trade union of TC teachers, KTOS, and, in particular, the General Secretary of the trade union, Sener Elcil, who had strongly criticised the new TC leader, but also the Turkish government’s political intervention in the internal affairs of the TC community.
The Commissioner also pointed out that the European Commission is firmly committed to the principles of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the rule of law. These are also core principles which Turkey is called to observe as a candidate country to the EU, and also as a long-standing member of the Council of Europe, she said, according to the dailies.
Six countries express support for EastMed pipeline project
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Energy
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Hungary and Serbia expressed their support on Thursday to the EastMed pipeline project following a video conference by their energy ministers.
The six countries’ ministers held the video conference following an initiative by Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, aimed at enhancing energy cooperation and exploring the opportunities and advantages of the EastMed Gas Pipeline.
The dailies report that in a joint statement, the ministers said they recognise the importance of natural gas as a crucial “bridge fuel” that will facilitate the countries’ long-term energy transition towards a dramatic reduction of their carbon footprint.
Enhancing the security of natural gas supply to Southeastern and Central Europe can be guaranteed through the diversification of alternative supply sources and routes, they said, adding that the ministers expressed their support for the EastMed gas pipeline project, which will utilise regional gas infrastructure.
The ministers also discussed best ways to foster collective activities in the areas of renewable energy, fuel alternatives, encouraging innovation and joint pilot projects. They agreed to convene another ministerial meeting in the near future to discuss their cooperation and set up an ad hoc working group at the experts level to offer technical assistance to the ministers.
During the meeting, Energy Minister Natasa Pilides presented Cyprus’ strategic goals in the fields of hydrocarbons, renewable energy sources and energy saving. She explained that aiming to gradually transition to green energy, Cyprus promotes through the national action plan for energy and climate 2030, specific policies and measures, including support programmes for the period 2021-2027 which will start soon and are over €180 million.
She added that Cyprus was also working to lift soon its energy isolation, among others, through EU common interest programmes, the EastMed gas pipeline, infrastructure on the liquefaction of natural gas in Vassiliko and the connection with a power cable of Israel, Cyprus and Greece, known as the EuroAsia Interconnector project.