Front Page Headlines
Relaxations under pressure with the fear of mutations
No concern over the safety of vaccines which if needed can be modified. Mandatory self-isolation for 72 hours and laboratory test for those arriving in Cyprus from abroad, the Council of Ministers decided. Limited in scope relaxations for activities in sport and culture after the intense protestations of sports and cultural actors. Illusory decrease of the positivity rate, the epidemiologists say, shifting their focus onto hospitalisations and ICUs. The British strain of the virus found in 9 more samples, while the South African strain was not found in any of the 24 samples examined.
- Cyprus Problem: The British FM in Cyprus
- Listed buildings: Archbishop not getting out unscathed
- White Paper: Asset declaration legislation a ruin
- ‘Golden’ passports: In seven years they changed the criteria five times
- President’s testimony: Fire en masse from parties against Anastasiades
- Culture: 4 million euro emergency support
- GESY: Changes in the earnings of doctors
Hospitals moving towards a crash
Auditor General: Nightmarish scenarios of forced sale of public hospitals. “Elimination of deficits in the State Health Services Organization practically impossible.”
- All putting plans on paper while waiting for Guterres
- Nicholas: President referring to confederation
- There was a rift in opinion between Ministry-Legal Service: Presidential Palace searching for Law Office’s reports
- War today at Nicosia Municipality over revocation of Cathedral permit: Intense behind-the-scenes (goings on) in the shadow of demolition
- Electronic home monitoring for prisoners: Proposals for alternative sentencing by the Ad Hoc Committee on decongestion of the Central Prisons.
- End to harassment in the field of Sport
- Heavy fines for waste coming from the EU
Poverty record for Cypriot pensioners
The risk of poverty rate increased further. EKYSY: Abolition of 12% penalty and widow’s pension. Increase in unemployment among ages of 30-39 (8,779).
- Dominic Raab in Cyprus for contacts
- The truth is blaring and cannot be concealed
- They want to give the Archbishop a grace period – UNESCO calls for implementation of legislation on listed buildings. Occupied municipalities: Destruction of monuments unacceptable.
- New uprising at ‘Pournara’: Inhumane living conditions, particularly for the children
- Conflict and arbitrariness over Turkish Cypriot (properties): Criminal and disciplinary investigation
- Rapid tests on students returning. One death and 139 new COVID-19 cases
Tougher travel rules imposed
Travellers from category A and B countries must self-isolate from this Saturday.
- Experts issue White Paper on tackling corruption
- High risk groups should not be given AstraZeneca vaccine expert says
They will drag the issue of naturalisations on until the elections
Opposition parties are hoping for votes. The Watchdog Committee that is controlled by DIKO and AKEL is discussing anew today the issue of the president of the Republic’s trip to the Seychelles with the jet of the Saudi Arabian sheikh. Nicholas: Parliament has a duty to continue its investigation.
- Doctors with salaries of up to €230,000!
- On listed buildings: The Archbishop did not manage to ‘tame the spirits’. New reactions
- With the eyes of experts: White Paper on asset declarations
- Fitch evaluation: Cyprus’ finances strong compared to other countries
- Council of Ministers on coronavirus: Relaxations and stricter (measures)
Main News
Raab touches down in Cyprus, Mitsotakis expected Monday
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on the growing mobility around the Cyprus Problem ahead of the informal five-party summit, with the media stressing the importance of the visit of UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Thursday.
The dailies report on a press release issued by the British High Commission in Nicosia on Wednesday, which noted that during his visit, Raab “will reiterate the UK’s support for achieving a just and lasting settlement of the division of the island and reaffirm the UK’s commitment to the bilateral relationship during talks with President Nicos Anastasiades.”
“We will be working closely with our Cypriot partners to drive forward a successful resolution to the conflict in Cyprus at UN talks in the next few weeks,” Raab said ahead of the visit, according to the press release.
Phileleftheros reports that a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said that Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides and Raab are expected to discuss the next steps in the Cyprus Problem in view of the informal summit “which aims for the resumption of negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus Problem on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF).” The Foreign Ministry said that the meeting will also touch on the full breadth of bilateral relations, including citizens’ rights post-Brexit, pandemic management, air connectivity, and the safe resumption of tourism.
Phileleftheros says Raab’s visit on Thursday is expected to shed light on London’s intentions, as the UK is seeking to play a stronger role in Cyprus Problem processes. Haravgi reports that Raab’s visit is made all the more interesting by the contrasting information currently spreading regarding the UK’s position on the solution model of the Cyprus Problem. Politis reports that the visit is of significance since in addition to the UK’s role as a guarantor power, the UK also plays an important part in the processes and deliberations on the substance of the Cyprus Problem.
Politis reports that while the UN is clear that the solution model remains a BBF, it is of crucial importance if Raab repeats what other British officials and diplomats have said about the UK testing the waters on both sides regarding the framework of the solution.
Phileleftheros reports that processes underway during this week and the next on both sides are a warm-up for what is to follow during the informal five-party summit, the time and place of which has yet to be set. The paper reports that each side is preparing its next moves, as the north did with the Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu earlier this week and as the Republic will do through the visit of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday.
Phileleftheros reports that on Wednesday, Anastasiades and Mitsotakis agreed that the latter should have a brief stopover in the Republic on Monday en route to Israel in order to discuss and coordinate on the Cyprus Problem, particularly in view of the upcoming informal five-party summit. The two leaders will hold a private meeting before discussion is opened up to representatives of both countries, while Anastasiades will then be holding a working lunch for Mitsotakis and his delegation.
Alithia reports that against the backdrop of Cyprus Problem mobility in which Nicosia takes centre stage, the situation in the Republic is growing tense in view of the renewed rejection by AKEL Secretary General Andros Kyprianou of the invitation extended by President Anastasiades for the participation of AKEL’s Cyprus Problem expert Toumazos Tselepis in the Republic’s negotiating team. The paper reports that for the participation of Tselepis, Kyprianou laid down the condition that Anastasiades accepts political equality under a BBF.
Phileleftheros and Politis also report on a tense backdrop among the TC community following Cavusoglu’s visit. Politis reports that the former TC leader Mustafa Akinci stated that only through focus on a decentralised or loose federation can positive results arise, while both papers, citing the Press and Information Office, note the reaction of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), which stressed that only a federal solution can protect the rights, culture, and identity of TCs as any other solution will not be accepted by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the EU.
KEY ACTORS
UK
>> Seeks a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus Problem, which it will strive toward by working with both sides.
Papadopoulos: President’s loose federation sounds like confederation
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on statements issued on Wednesday by DIKO leader Nicholas Papadopoulos, who said that President Anastasiades also spoke to him about a Cyprus Problem solution in the form of a loose federation.
Haravgi reports that during a teleconference held by Papadopoulos, it posed a question regarding whether he was informed of Anatasiades ever acting in favour of a two-state solution, to which Papadopoulos replied: “Unfortunately yes. All information appears to point to the fact that the President, if he hasn’t specifically accepted the discussion on a basis of confederation or two states, he at least let it be assumed that he is ready to discuss on this basis.”
The dailies report that Papadopoulos said that he was not only referring to Anastasiades’ discussions with the Archbishop and with Turkish officials, but also with ambassadors, European officials and diplomats, who appear to have understood that Anastasiades is open to discussing a confederation.
The papers also quote Papadopoulos saying, “I have personally spoken with the President and I must admit that what he described to me as a loose federation, I understood to be a confederal solution.” When asked to clarify, Papadopoulos said Anastasiades spoke of “a loose federation, to limit the competences of the central government”.
Papadopoulos expressed concern over the possibility that if the President held similar discussions with the TC side, then Turkey may have gotten the idea that Anastasiades is ready to abandon the bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF) framework. Papadopoulos also said that, in light of Anastasiades’ comments, it is no coincidence that TC leader Ersin Tatar is putting forward the position of a two-state solution.
Alithia reports that Papadopoulos also welcomed news of the upcoming visit of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with Papadopoulos stating that he does not believe that Athens would be willing to discuss anything other than a BBF.
US supports BBF solution, says nominee appointment to UN
Alithia
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Alithia reports on a letter by the US Ambassador-Nominee to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield addressed to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Bob Menendez, in which Thomas-Greenfeld states that the US supports a bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF) as a solution to the Cyprus Problem.
Thomas-Greenfeld said that “the United States supports a Cypriot-led comprehensive settlement to reunify the island as a bizonal, bicommunal federation, which would benefit all Cypriots as well as the wider region.”
Thomas-Greenfeld also expressed support for the UN Secretary-General’s efforts to convene a five-party summit on Cyprus, as well as for the presence of UNFICYP on the island. She also stated the US’ deep concerns over Turkish actions in Varosha, the paper reports.
KEY ACTORS
Thomas-Greenfield (US)
>> US supports BBF solution to Cyprus Problem, which would benefit Cypriots and the wider East Med region
>> US supports UNSG’s efforts to convene five-party summit
>> US deeply concerned over Turkey’s re-opening of Varosha
Steps taken after vessel docks in north before anchoring in Republic
Phileleftheros
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that authorities mobilised on Wednesday noon after discovering that a Panamanian-flagged ship which requested permission to anchor off Kato Paphos due to rough seas was in violation of international conventions as it had previously stopped over at a port in the north.
Citing competent sources, the paper reports that the merchant vessel that was carrying fertiliser and other agricultural products had departed from a port in Turkey and was headed to Rostov, Russia. The paper reports that the vessel had initially anchored in Larnaca before continuing on its journey, but shortly after issued a new request to anchor off Kato Paphos due to rough seas.
Phileleftheros reports that authorities then took the opportunity to carry out inspections in line with laws and regulations, and found that after its departure from Turkey the vessel had also made a stop at Bogazi in the north, which authorities deemed a violation of international conventions.
Phileleftheros reports that government authorities were informed, which in turn raised the matter with both the company that owns the vessel and with international organisations.