Front Page Headlines
School bell for high schools, ‘church bells’ for cases
Students to return to schools bearing a negative rapid test. Five out of the twelve chains of infection detected from 20-26 February involve schools. The Health Ministry is pointing to educators, with POED (primary school teachers’ union) aiming its fire at the Education Ministry over weaknesses in support measures. Yesterday, 283 cases were detected islandwide, the largest number in the week that passed. However, these cases were detected through 45,231 tests, with the positivity rate touching 0.63%. Students of the first and second grades of high schools and technical schools return to desks today and children’s afternoon activities resume. Gyms, dance schools and swimming pools resume operation, while visits are permitted at nursing homes.
- Cyprus Problem: In search of a united front for the solution
European involvement a riddle
Josep Borrell’s visit will show whether the EU is planning on getting actively involved in the Cyprus Problem. Message from Athens ahead of European Council summit.
- Mandatory rapid test for students too
- Coronavirus and unemployment bringing society to its knees
- Paphos had its own Acropolis
The President ‘forgot’ his involvement in the Ayia Napa marina
And favourable treatment in the leasing of land and irregular naturalisations.
- Cyprus Problem: The countdown for the fate of our land and our people has begun…
- On 16 March students return to middle schools. Chains of infection at schools
Schools taking us back
Signs are concerning – Return to middle schools postponed for one week to March 16. The return to Secondary Education schools only with a negative rapid test. AKEL continues its rivalry with the government which continues to accuse it of populism.
- Invitations for five-party: Positive response from Anastasiades-Tatar
- Travel organisations: They’re preparing summer holidays with vaccination certificate
Main News
Upcoming Borrell visit to shed light on EU role in Cyprob
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on the upcoming visit to Cyprus this week by the EU’s Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell, with contacts to focus on the Cyprus Problem.
Phileleftheros reports on the critical importance of the visit, noting that March will be a month of fermentation for the Cyprus Problem, with the EU playing a leading role (directly or indirectly) in developments. Given the important role the EU could potentially play, Phileleftheros reports that Borrell’s visit on March 4-5 is expected to indicate the extent to which the EU is determined to play a role in Cyprob processes.
Haravgi reports that the GC side will convey its wish for the EU to participate at the informal summit as an observer, a pursuit the TC side appears to oppose.
Phileleftheros reports that on Borrell’s agenda is the topic of the form of the solution, with Borrell’s meeting with the TC leader Ersin Tatar expected to indicate whether the EU is determined to deter Turkish pursuits or not, given the EU’s position against a two-state solution.
Another hot topic, Phileleftheros reports, is EU involvement in negotiations, which the GC side has repeatedly called for by arguing that any solution concerns and affects the EU. Turkey and the north however want to limit EU involvement to observer status due to fears of a lack of impartiality given that the Republic of Cyprus and Greece are member states, the paper reports.
The question that remains to be answered is the role the EU itself wants to play, Phileleftheros writes, noting that while the current period of intensified Turkish diplomacy toward the EU favours a stronger EU role, Turkey will nevertheless strive to block this. Phileleftheros reports that Turkey will be taking careful steps ahead of the European Council summit on March 25-26, but decisions on EU-Turkish relations will likely be referred to the summit in June, allowing a clearer picture for Cyprob to emerge.
Meanwhile, the dailies report that the two leaders have received their official invitation for the informal summit from the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres. On the invitations, the UNSG clearly stated the aim of the five-party, which is “to determine whether there is common ground among sides so that a lasting solution to the Cyprus Problem can be negotiated.”
Alithia reports that government spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said Anastasiades has already conveyed his determination to participate in the informal summit to the UNSG, while Tatar’s spokesperson said the TC leader’s positive response will be relayed to the UNSG via representatives of the north in New York.
Alithia reports that in statements on Sunday, ‘foreign minister’ Tahsin Ertugrulogu issued new provocative statements, claiming that if the informal summit fails to produce a new basis for negotiations with the aim of a solution based on sovereign equality, then “it will be decided together with motherland Turkey what will happen in Cyprus, the heart of security and the interests of the Turkish nation in the Eastern Mediterranean.” Ertugrulogu said cooperation with GCs is not the north’s only option and that from the informal summit he expects nothing different than what has been happening for the past 50 years. Ertugrulogu said he is an advocate of a confederal solution, which involves two equally sovereign states and which is the solution framework currently on the table.
Phileleftheros reports on DISY president Averof Neophytou’s announcement that starting Wednesday he will launch a string of contacts with all TC parties and political figures. Averof stated that the contacts will serve to keep hope alive for the reunification of the island, as this might be our last chance to do so.
Politis focuses on the upcoming meeting between the leaders of DISY and AKEL on March 4. The paper writes that if Averof Neophytou and Andros Kyprianou manage to find a common direction for Cyprob, then pressure will automatically be exerted towards involved parties to work towards a solution.
Citing DISY sources, Politis reports that Neophytou’s aim is to create a united front that includes political forces from both sides that support a bizonal bicommunal federal (BBF) solution with political equality. The paper writes that if this is truly Neophytou’s goal and if it bears fruit, then in the event that the UNSG’s initiative leads to a solution plan that Cypriots will be called to vote on, chances of it being accepted will be higher. Politis also reports that Neophytou believes that if a positive climate is created domestically around the matters of political equality and a decentralised federation, then Ankara’s attempt to persuade the international community of the GC’s refusal of political equality will become more difficult. The paper writes that while both Neophytou and Kyprianou are advocates of political equality, AKEL is hesitant over the point in time chosen by the GC side for the decentralisation of competences, as well as which competences these will be.
Politis reports that Neophytou is not requesting from Kyprianou that he grants the president a blank cheque or disregards any differences in opinion, but to contribute to the creation of a mild climate that would facilitate deliberation and cooperation. The paper writes that, for example, going in to this new round of peace efforts, Anastasiades needs AKEL’s Cyprob expert Toumazos Tselepis and AKEL itself, while Neophytou also recognises the importance of the traditionally good relations AKEL enjoys with TC political forces. As such, Politis reports that Neophytou understands that there are slim chances of the GC side influencing the TC side on Cyprob when the GC parties that favour a solution are in disagreement.
According to Politis, veteran politicians are viewing attempts by GC parties to form a common front as positive. Politis cites former president Giorgos Vassiliou saying that a solution has so far not been found due to the divergence in the positions held by AKEL and DISY. He further noted that cooperation between these two parties is of utmost importance since Anastasiades will have no choice but to follow their common direction. Former foreign minister and current member of the GC negotiating team Ioannis Kasoulides also expressed hope that the meeting between the two party leaders will bear fruit and called for more political parties and figures to be included in the united front in favour of a solution.
KEY ACTORS
Ertugrulogu (UBP)
>> Should informal summit fail, which it likely will, the north will decide along with Turkey how it will move forward.
>> Cooperation with GC side not the north’s only option.
>> Favours confederal solution involving two equally sovereign states, which is the solution framework currently up for discussion.
Neophytou (DISY)
>> Contacts held with both foreign diplomats and upcoming discussions with TC political parties serve to keep hope alive for the reunification of the island, as this might be our last chance to do so.
Vassiliou
>> Convergence of opinions and cooperation between AKEL and DISY highly important, as Anastasiades will have no choice but to follow their common direction.
>> Divergence of positions between AKEL and DISY is the reason behind failure to secure settlement.
Kasoulides
>> United front by DISY and AKEL important, as is the participation of more GC political forces in this united front.