Front Page Headlines
Unexpected boom with 705 new cases
Concern and fear over new flare-up together with partial lifting of restrictions. Tests conducted yesterday surpass 59,000, while the positivity rate rises over 1% again, reaching 1.19%, something causing particular concern to the Health Ministry and epidemiologists. From yesterday’s cases, 317 emerged from the process of tracing the contacts of already confirmed cases. Positive cases in Larnaca and Nicosia on an upward course, with the situation being monitored with interest. Patients remain steady at 193, with epidemiologists on alert and expecting the consequences of yesterday’s cases on hospitalisations to assess whether new measures are needed.
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They were forging Nouris
Lawyer and a co-worker of a politician were legalising foreigners by forging the signature of the minister. They ‘entered’ his office and ‘sent’ the approvals from his personal fax.
- Ankara takes EU out of the room of the Five-party: Despite the willingness of Brussels
- Dangerous games with the stealing of flags in Pyla: One from the Turkish Cypriot school, the other from the Greek Cypriot one
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Government refusing to abolish the penalty for those who choose to retire aged 63.
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- Pandemic: One death and 705 new coronavirus cases. 193 patients, of which 45 are critical
UK tourism: a new hicup
Cyprus may not be high up on Britain’s traffic lights system for outbound travel.
- Gymnasiums open, authorities on alert for virus outbreaks
They’re publishing the new list and are justifying their loans
Parliament’s rage against Odysseas. Reference by Adamou to ‘blusterers’. Andros: AKEL agreed to publication of list to not give cause. Decision for appointment of audit body just words.
- For Varosha-Tymbou: Deadline by ECHR to Turkey until May 14
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- Disagreements in occupied areas over halloumi
Main News
Anastasiades asks Michel to persuade Turkey of need for goodwill
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades called on Friday on the President of the European Council Charles Michel, who is set to visit Ankara next week, to convey to the need for Turkey to show political will, allowing the resumption of substantive talks on Cyprus, the dailies report.
Government spokesman Kyriacos Koushos said that Anastasiades held a teleconference call with Michel in the morning ahead of the visit next week of Michel and European Commission Presient Ursula von der Leyen to Ankara. Michel and Von der Leyen are set to visit Ankara on Tuesday for a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They are expected to discuss EU-Turkish relations as well as the Cyprus problem, particularly as regards the matter of the EU’s participation at the informal five-party summit to be held in Geneva at the end of the month.
Koushos said that during the teleconference, Anastasiades reiterated his determination to engage constructively at the conference in Geneva and asked Michel to stress the urgent need for the Turkish side to show the same political will as the GC side, in order to create the necessary conditions for the resumption of substantive talks.
Anastasiades also referred to the importance of EU presence at the Geneva conference, but also at formal negotiations when they resume, in order to strengthen the prospects for resolving the Cyprus issue and to reach a functioning, lasting solution, Koushos said.
Politis reports that Nicosia has high expectations from the meeting between the top EU officials and Ankara, since the former will have the opportunity to probe Erdogan on his views ahead of Geneva and also get a clearer understanding of how Erdogan views a potential positive agenda with the EU. The paper reports citing sources that the EU officials are set to table before Erdogan their request for active EU participation at upcoming Cyprob processes, beginning with the upcoming Geneva meeting, something that Ankara has so far refused. The paper writes that Turkey is however willing to accept that an EU representative remains in a room adjacent to where meetings will be held and hold meetings if they wish. The matter is expected to clear up by next week, the paper writes.
Anastasiades also reiterated that the apparent de-escalation of tensions on the part of Turkey in the Republic of Cyprus’ EEZ should have duration and consistency. Koushos said Anastasiades also stressed that threats involving Varosha in violation of the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions continue, just a few weeks before the Geneva meeting.
They also discussed immigration, with Anastasiades pointing out the particularly difficult situation that has developed in Cyprus, the spokesman said. Anastasiades reiterated that Cyprus continues for years to hold the first place among the EU member states in terms of the ratio of population size to the number of asylum and international protection applications. Anastasiades said this was a problem further exacerbated by Turkey’s continuing refusal to meet its obligations to all member states, Koushos said.
Phileleftheros reports that what can be deduced from Anastasiades’ videoconference with Michel, is that the latter appears determined to firstly put pressure on Ankara to secure EU participation in Cyprus talks and secondly to ensure that the basis for negotiations remains a bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF).
The dailies report that Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez announced that Turkey will soon resume its seismic and drilling program in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Politis also reports on statements issued by the Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay earlier this week during his visit to the north to participate in festivities marking the premiere of the controversial television series ‘Once Upon a Time in Cyprus’. Oktay said Turkey wants to see a ‘TRNC’ that produces, invests, creates jobs and attracts foreign investors, and in general a situation in which it stands on its own two feet. The paper writes that Oktay’s statements indicate Turkey’s intentions in view of upcoming Cyprob developments.
In statements ahead of the premiere, TC leader Ersin Tatar said TCs existed on this land with the support of Turkey and will continue to do so, Politis reports. Tatar added that the ‘TRNC’ will live forever, noting that TCs will maintain their sovereignty, their independence, and the ‘TRNC’.
Politis also reports on disagreements emerging the north regarding the registration of halloumi/hellim as a product of protected designation of origin (PDO). The paper cites statements issued by Ertugruloglu who said that the development shows that the EU views TCs as a community within the Greek state of the Republic of Cyprus. Ertugruloglu opposed the fact that GCs will establish one mechanism that will supervise TC cheesemakers, referring to halloumi-related developments as a conspiracy. Ertugruloglu also said that at the Geneva meeting there are no chances of common ground being found, since TCs are not a minority of the GC state, stressing that the negotiating table must host both sides as states of equal sovereignty.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Tells Michel in videoconference he is determined to engage constructively at 5+1
>> Urgent need for the Turkish side to show the same political will as the GC side for substantive talks to resume
>> EU presence at 5+1 and formal negotiations critical for functional, lasting solution to be found
>> Apparent de-escalation of tensions on the part of Turkey in the Republics’ EEZ should have duration and consistency
>> Threats involving Varosha in violation of relevant UNSC resolutions continue, just a few weeks before 5+1
Oktay (Turkey)
>> Turkey wants to see a ‘TRNC’ that produces, invests, creates jobs and attracts foreign investors, and in general stands on its own two feet
Tatar
>> TCs existed in Cyprus with the support of Turkey and will continue to do so
>> ‘TRNC’ will live forever, TCs will maintain their sovereignty and their independence
Ertugruloglu
>> EU views TCs as a community within the Greek state of the Republic of Cyprus
>> At 5+1 there are no chances of common ground being found, since TCs must be welcomed at the negotiating table as a state of equal sovereignty and not as minority of GC state
Greek flag lowered and burnt in Pyla
Phileleftheros
Internal Security
Phileleftheros reports that a Greek flag hoisted at the GC elementary school in the bicommunal village of Pyla was stolen and set on fire.
The paper reports that the incident became known to authorities on April 1. Citing sources from the village, Phileleftheros reports that the incident followed three similar cases that occurred over the past year involving the theft of a Turkish flag from the TC elementary schools. The paper reports that the sources said that the past cases were hushed by all sides to avert any nationalistic backlash.
The paper reports that the sources said the recent incident could have been in retribution to these past cases, or even to drive a wedge between members of the two communities in the village.