Front Page Headlines
Merit-based irregularities from a DIKO candidate
The Attorney General finds scandalous schemes by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra for Giorgos Kontouris
- European Council: Nicosia demands changes in references to Cyprus problem
- PEPs with ‘red loans’: They’re afraid of the publication of names
- Murder-Athienou: The plowing of the field uncovered a woman’s body
- Tourism: Gates opening to new markets
University students saving Nicosia
It has been agreed. The Architectural School in Phaneromeni- Archbishopric and Municipality creating housing. Memorandum being signed by the Finance ministry, the Archbishopric, the Nicosia Municipality and the University of Cyprus.
- Race for the Statement of the 27 leaders: Drafts going and coming behind the scenes
- Three arrests for Athienou murder
- Political crisis in Turkey due to economy
- 50% of health professionals did not go to get vaccinated
15 proposals by PEO for support to workers and vulnerable groups
It is making the state face its responsibilities: “The crisis is threatening social cohesion”
- EU matters: Tomorrow’s videoconference of ‘the 27’ with the participation of Biden
- Half of health professionals refusing to get vaccinated. Re-programming for vaccination
50% of health staff not had vaccine
State hospital medics not obligated to get jab, neonatal ICU nurses test positive.
- ‘Agreement on political equality alone will not solve Cyprob’
- Arrest after woman’s body found in the buffer zone near Athienou
Are rapid tests reliable?
Doubts growing. Examples of the non-reliability of rapid antigen coronavirus tests increasing. After what happened with students, with the Auditor General and the Papandreou air base, yesterday’s wrong rapid test on Victoras Papadopoulos sent state officials into isolation. One more death yesterday and 365 new cases.
- Cyprus problem: The five-party the first test for the smoothening of Turkey-EU relations
- Crime: They threw the body into the well and moved it when it started to smell
- Parliament decides today on the publication of the red loans list
- Tourism: Crisis in Turkey affecting Cyprus too
- When health professionals refuse to get vaccinated, putting patients in danger, whose rights are being trampled on in the end?
Main News
Nicosia dissatisfied with EU27 draft conclusions
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Nicosia wasn’t too pleased with the draft conclusions of EU leaders published Tuesday, arguing that they don’t reflect the real situation depicted in the report submitted by the EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell.
Politis reports that President Nicos Anastasiades is expected to request improvements to the text if it is adopted during the upcoming European Council summit, in view of securing a stronger link between Cyprus problem developments and improved EU-Turkey relations. Phileleftheros and Alithia report that Nicosia aims to see positive Cyprob developments as the main criterion for a positive agenda.
Cyprus Mail reports that Nicosia’s positive reaction to Borrell’s report was expected, but it is unlikely that Anastasiades would be happy with the EU making the normalisation of relations with turkey dependent on a Cyprob solution, as this would mean pressure being applied on Cyprus and Turkey to reach a deal. At the same time, the paper reports that the EU is adamant on being present at the Geneva informal summit because it has a stake in the settlement being reached, since it doesn’t want Cyprob to carry on adversely affecting its relations with Turkey, the strengthening of which is a priority for the Commission.
Politis reports that the draft conclusions text notes that on condition that the current de-escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean will be maintained, then a positive agenda can begin to be promoted. Further decisions on the matter will be taken during the June EUCO. Regarding Cyprob, the EU27 said they remain committed to a comprehensive solution and support the resumption of negotiations under UN auspices, clarifying that the EU remains an observer in the event of a resumption of formal talks. The text also stresses that in the event that Turkey resumes illegal activities in the region, then EU member states said they were committed to use all means and options at their disposal to defend the interests of the EU and its member states. The EU also called on Borrell to take forward the proposal of a multilateral conference on the Eastern Mediterranean
Phileleftheros notes that Greek online media presented Athens’ reaction as milder than that of Nicosia, with the former stating that the draft text does not reflect the balance approach Borrell adopted in his report. Meanwhile, Phileleftheros reports that Anastasiades was due in Athens on Wednesday attend celebrations commemorating 200 years since the 1821 Greek War of Independence. Anastasiades is also set to hold a private meeting with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and will participate in the EUCO from Athens.
Politis reports that Ankara on the other hand seems happy with the EU’s approach, and appears ready for a potential positive agenda in the coming period. The dailies report that in a tweet after a dinner with Borrell in Brussels after the Foreign Affairs Council, Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu said Turkey will work together with Borrell to continue the positive agenda. Phileleftheros reports that the brief comment signalled the climate of the meeting. Politis writes that gaps are still visible in the way the EU and Turkey are approaching improved relations, with Turkey emphasising the modernisation of the customs union, visa-free travel to the EU, irregular migration and combatting terrorism, with Cavusoglu centring on Syria, Afghanistan and Libya, while Borrell is attempting to keep the focus on exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey, the Cyprus problem, Libya and the domestic situation in Turkey.
Alithia reports on comments made to state broadcaster CyBC Tuesday by Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides, who said that a Cyprob solution is emerging as an essential factor in the normalisation of EU-Turkey relations. He said that during the recent Foreign Affairs Council there was unanimous agreement on the need for the EU to be present at negotiations and for a solution to be compatible with the EU acquis. Christodoulides said that while the EU has yet to receive an invitation from the UN to participate in the informal five-party summit, the EU has relayed its desire to be present to both the UN Secretary General (UNSG) and Turkey.
Christodoulides said the Republic is continuing preparations, with the negotiating team also receiving input from specialists abroad on the six parameters of the Guterres Framework with documents to be prepared which could be used as food for thought during the preparatory stage, Alithia and Cyprus Mail report.
Cyprus Mail reports that Christodoulides also said that even if agreement was reached on political equality it would not mean the Cyprus problem would be solved since other aspects needed to also be agreed on. There are other issues, on which discussion needs to procced such as that of territory, which is important to the solution efforts, the Minister said.
Meanwhile, Politis reports that Cavusoglu is in Brussels for the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting that will also be attended by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said that keeping Turkey in NATO is a win-win situation. Blinken also said that it’s no secret that Turkey is an old US ally, but that they have their differences regarding the S-400 and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The dailiesreport that the US President Joe Biden will join the EUCO videoconference on Thursday as both sides attempt to repair bonds damaged during the Trump administration.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides (RoC)
>> Cyprob solution emerging as essential factor in the normalisation of EU-Turkey relations
>> Even if agreement was reached on political equality (one of six parameters of Guterres Framework) it would not mean the Cyprus problem would be solved since other aspects, such as territory, needed to also be agreed on
Body found buried in Athienou Buffer Zone farm
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on the discovery on Tuesday of the body of a woman in the Buffer Zone near Athienou, with one man so far arrested.
The body, believed to be that of a foreign national, was found in a shallow grave in a field in the Buffer Zone near Athienou and the Turkish Cypriot Louridjina village, police said.
A 32-year-old third-country national was arrested on suspicion of premediated murder, following witness testimony against him. Politis reports on information suggesting the suspect was in the past in a relationship with the victim.
Phileleftheros reports that police have two issued more arrest warrants.
Reports said the body was found when a farmer ploughed the field late on Sunday. However, he did not notice the woman, but police received information from a third person concerning the body. After police found the body, they alerted the farmer, Giorgos Parpas, of the discovery.
Police believe the murder site to be elsewhere, with the body transferred to the secluded area recently.
A postmortem, to be completed at a later stage, is expected to reveal the exact cause of her death.