Front Page Headlines
Criminal investigation into the entanglement party at the Symphony Orchestra
Barrage of revelations yesterday at the House watchdog committee for illegalities and squandering of public funds. Yesterday, the Ministry of Finance sent an urgent letter to Attorney-General Giorgos Savvides to investigate possible criminal and civil offenses by the board and executives of the Symphony Orchestra Foundation. Loud cases of conflict of interest.
- EMA did not convince Cypriots, they are still hesitant as regards AstraZeneca
- Naturalisations: 221 passports were issued based on the old criteria
- Green light by Cabinet to 1,143 new job positions – Smells like vote hunting.
- EU-Turkey: Carousel of responsibilities for Ursula’s chair
Institutions up against each other again
New crisis in the relations of the attorney-general and auditor-general after revelations over 221 illegal passports. The government was left exposed for repeated bending of the rules that had made the citizenship by investment programme stricter.
- The British are concerned about possible impasse at Geneva
- Uproar among EU institutions over ‘sofagate’: Erdogan stirred reactions
- Cypriots turn their backs to AstraZeneca – Thousands of appointments remain open.
- The government is asking for 1,143 new job positions 51 days before the parliamentary elections – The House finance committee will decide on Monday.
Lack of coordination between ministries has led to more confusion in schools
Disagreements and confusion due to the revised contact tracing protocol whereby all children in the same classroom and contacts outside classroom will be considered close contacts of a pupil or teacher. The proposal would mean that within 15 to 20 days all schools would be led to start distance learning.
- Cyprus problem: Morton calls for flexibility from both sides
- General strike: TCs take to the streets, resisting impoverishment
- Shame to the Cypriot state for the abandonment of a five-year-old child
- Events to remember and honour Mishaoulis & Kavazoglu. Buses from all cities
New school rules, recipe for chaos
Education and health ministries in open spat over ‘unenforceable’ new guidelines.
- Songs acorss the divide (Photo caption) Members of the bicommunal Cypriot Songs Association found an ingenious way to perform together again after a long hiatus due to the pandemic restrictions. The group arranged to gather on either side of the Venetian walls in Nicosia near Paphos Gate and perform. TCs stood on top of the wall and the GCs underneath. Physical contact between the two communities has been almost impossible due to restrictions.
- Two cases of blood clots (in Cyprus) neither fatal, after jabs
- Passport scheme in the spotlight again after audit boss claims new irregularity
Turmoil in schools!
Political reactions. The increased number of cases have caused a turmoil.
- Turkey blames the EU for the sofa incident, what explanations were given by Michel and Cavusoglu
- Parliament honoured yesterday the memory of Socratis Hasikos
- AstraZeneca: Confusion over the vaccine’s safety – Other countries use it, others don’t. Cyprus continues with the AstraZeneca vaccinations.
Main News
Morton calls on GCs & TCs to show flexibility at Geneva summit
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on statements by the UK’s Minister for European Neighbourhood Wendy Morton who, after a meeting with TC leader Ersin Tatar called for flexibility by both sides at the upcoming Geneva informal summit on the Cyprus problem.
After her meeting with Tatar, Morton said in a tweet: “UK is fully supportive of the upcoming UN talks and we are encouraging both sides to approach with flexibility.” She added that at her meeting with Tatar, she highlighted that a settlement will benefit both communities in Cyprus and end TC isolation.
Phileleftheros reports that Tatar presented his arguments for a two-state solution to the British official but also reminded Morton what EOKA did to the British.
Alithia, Haravgi and Phileleftheros also report that after a one-hour meeting, Tatar said in his statements that he told Morton that the TCs have been showing flexibility for years but never saw a positive response or good intentions from the other side.
He also referred to President Nicos Anastasiades’ statements to mark the anniversary of the start of the EOKA struggle in April 1. Tatar quoted Anastasiades saying that Cyprus is and can become a Greek island and that he referred to EOKA heroes and to a successful group that defended Cyprus’ independence. “I reminded to the British minister what EOKA did,” Tatar said, according to the dailies.
The papers also report on Tatar’s statements at a meeting with the Kokkina figters association where he said that no one can force TCs to enter “another marriage,” and that if there is no agreement, the pseudo-state would continue its own path.
Phileleftheros reports that the British are concerned about a possible impasse, and hope, like the UN, that a minimum agreement will be reached in Geneva, a positive outcome that will allow efforts to continue. London, as recorded by Wendy Morton’s visit to Cyprus, sees its own role as an auxiliary one while it makes reassurances that it moves within the framework of the bi-zonal bi-communal federation. This is the context the British intend to move within during the informal five-party summit in Geneva. The British know very well the positions of each side and this was evident from Morton’s conversation with Anastasiades and then with Ersin Tatar. They have already done their pre-preparation and have recorded both positions of the two parties in Cyprus. After all, it is on these positions that the British have prepared some suggestions that they may want to share with all parties during the summit, the daily reports.
Alithia, referring to the British minister’s tweet, reports that it seems Morton was convinced about the TCs’ isolation. The daily also reported that the Turkish side reiterates its unacceptable positions on two states, while Tatar did not fail to attack again the EOKA struggle and refer to the injustices experienced by the TCs.
Politis also reports that the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy Jane Holl Lute will arrive on the island tomorrow for meetings on Sunday with the two leaders. According to the daily, the information earlier in the week that leaked from the UN headquarters that the UN do not have high expectations from the Geneva summit because neither of the sides has shifted from its positions, has upset the Presidential Palace. This has to do with the fact that it seems that with this position, Lute is trying to equate the TC side’s stance with that of the GCs, which the Presidential Palace finds as unfair. Lute’s visit is expected to be of a procedural nature and aimed at confirming what the two sides already know, Politis reported.
Alithia reports that nothing is certain as regards the five-party summit with the Turkish side insisting on a two-state solution and refusing EU participation. Lute is expected to clarify things on the important issues to be discussed and the crucial issue of the EU’s participation, the daily reports.
KEY ACTORS
Morton (UK)
>> UK supports Geneva talks & encourages both sides to show flexibility in their positions.
>> A Cyprob solution will benefit both communities & end TC isolation.
Tatar
>> TCs have been showing flexibility for years but GCs did not respond to that nor showed any goodwill.
>> Anastasiades continues to see Cyprus as a Greek island.
>> No one can force TCs into doing anything they do not want. If the sides do not see eye to eye on Cyprob, north will continue its own path.
MP candidates express opinion on Cyprob
Politis
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The daily published the responses of candidate MPs on a variety of issues, including the Cyprus problem. On Friday, the paper hosted six candidate MPs (two from DISY, one each from DIKO, EDEK, Greens, DIPA) and their opinion, based on a questionnaire.
To the question whether they were in favour or against a solution based on bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF) with political equality, the two DISY MPs, Elena Mouzala and Maria Kokkinou-Boege, said they were for. DIPA candidate Marcos Trangolas also said he was positive but as long as the BBF is according to UN Security Council resolutions and its functionality is ensured. DIKO candidate Giorgos Makariou and EDEK’s Nicos Astras said they were against. The Greens’ candidate, Stavros Alambritis, said he could not take a stand before seeing the content of the proposed solution.
They were also asked if they were for or against the archbishopric- Holy Synod expressing positions/opinion on political issues. Trangolas said he was against while the rest said they were for. Boege, Mouzala and Alambritis cited the right to free expression, while DIKO’s candidate Giorgos Makariou said the Church could express its opinion only on issues concerning the Cyprus problem and education. Astras said the Church could express its opinion but that the final say ought to exclusively belong to the political leadership.
Ankara irked by Greek minister’s analysis of Turkish affairs
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/International Relations, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that Turkey reacted to statements by Greece’s Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis on the situation in the country and EU relations.
The Turkish foreign ministry said they strongly condemn Varvitisotis’ “immoral statements about our country and our President.” These statements are not compatible with political and diplomatic customs, the Turkish ministry said. It said Greek authorities are intentionally and persistently continuing their provocative and escalating statements and actions against Turkey, in a time when the two countries are taking new steps in order to sustain the dialogue between them. It invited the Greek political leadership to act responsibly, with prudence and sincerity in their statements regarding Turkey so that the dialogue channels between the two countries function again.
According to Phileleftheros, Varvitsiotis, in an interview with Parapolitika radio, commenting on the internal situation in Turkey, pointed out that its nervousness and erratic moves can also turn into mobility as regards the Greek-Turkish relations. “We want a Turkey in a state of calm,” Varvitsiotis said. He added that Turkey is involved in all regional disputes, and that this has caused more friction than it has brought benefits to Turkish politics. Asked about the meeting between the European and Turkish sides, he said that the embarrassment of the President of the Commission in the conference room, where she really had nowhere to sit, sent a dramatic picture to Europe after Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention that creates many “antibodies” to European viewers. He also said that the messages were conveyed as decided by the European Council and it seems that an institutional dialogue with Turkey is opening up on an issue that Greece is very interested in, immigration. Referring to the issue of the Customs Union, he noted that Turkey systematically violates it, as a result of which it is on the verge of a receiving a warning by the European Commission and that to date it has not ratified the protocol regarding Cyprus.
All dailies continue to report on the incident, now dubbed as ‘sofagate’, at the EU presidents’ meeting with Erdogan where Ursula von der Leyen was not offered a chair to sit. They report that Turkey’s foreign minister said on Thursday the seating was arranged in line with the bloc’s demands. He also said the seating arrangement was in line with international protocol and that Turkey was being subject to unjust accusations. He added that Turkey is a deep-rooted state and that it was not the first time it hosts a guest.
European Council President Charles Michel, who was criticised of not offering his own seat to von der Leyen at that meeting, said that the strict interpretation by the Turkish services of the rules of protocol produced a distressing situation: the differentiated – even inferior – treatment accorded to the President of the European Commission. He also said that the few photographs of that meeting which have been circulated have given the impression that he was indifferent to the situation. “Nothing could be further from the truth, or from my deeply held feelings – or indeed from the principles of respect which I hold so dear.”
At the time, he added, while realising the regrettable nature of the situation, they decided not to make matters worse by creating a scene.
He also said he was sad for two reasons. “Firstly, by any suggestion that I may have been indifferent to the protocol misstep with respect to Ursula, especially considering how honoured I am to be a part of the European project, two of whose four main institutions are headed by women, Ursula von der Leyen and Christine Lagarde.” Secondly, he said, he was saddened that this situation has overshadowed “the substantial and beneficial geopolitical work which we accomplished together in Ankara, and which I hope will prove fruitful for Europe.”
Kato Pyrgos residents call for president’s intervention about crossings issue
Haravgi
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Haravgi reports that the Kato Pyrgos community council are calling for the immediate intervention of President Nicos Anastasiades on the issue of the prevention by the TCs of Tylliria residents from using the Limnitis crossing, necessary for them to get to Nicosia.
Kato Pyrgos community leader Nicos Cleanthous said in a written statement that the prevention of an ambulance returning to the village after transferring a patient to Nicosia, from using the Limnitis crossing was the last straw for them. He said Tylliria was suffering from Turkish expansionism since 1964.
He called on the president to intervene so that the issue of their daily crossing through Limnitis crossing point is resolved. He added that area residents need to daily travel to Nicosia for work, study, or medical reasons.
Cleanthous warned that if there is no response to their pleas, they would take drastic action.