Front Page Headlines
Risk of economic asphyxiation due to foreclosures
The government withdrew the bill and warns of new adventures in the economy.
- Cyprus problem: Turkey leaves the EU on the sidelines of the ‘5+1’
- Varosha: Emblematic King George collapsing
- Lesson in fogetting: The Greek Cypriot ‘grandmother’ of Turkish Cypriot Olivia
- OKYPY running to catch up: Treatment of coronavirus on… chairs
- Tourism: Are we going for a shipwreck this year too?
They’re putting the EU on the sidelines
Its representative did not even receive an invitation for Guterres’ reception in Geneva. The UNSG considers the summit of critical importance for the future of Cyprus.
- In Geneva with UN decisions as common approach
- They’re hastily increasing beds for coronavirus at hospitals: Doctors raising the alarm
- Explosion of rage from thousands of exasperated people from the ‘red villages’ (Famagusta)
- Racist attack with a gun at a home
DISY government once again choosing agencies-banks over borrowers
They withdrew the government bill for amendments to foreclosures.
- Cyprus problem: AKEL calls on Anastasiades to establish priorities
- ‘Golden’ passports: Parliament voting today on the immediate publication of report
- Health Minister does not rule out new lockdown. Yesterday, 291 patients and 843 new cases
- Without income from 2019… Rents piling up!
New lockdown is on the table
Health minister focuses on the young: you are failing to follow the measures.
- Admissions stretch hospitals to their limits
Last quarrels in Parliament
Today: Tough agenda and then self-dissolution. Confrontational session on hot issues: foreclosures, state guarantees, publication of report on naturalisations, and more. Agenda: railway of 80 bills for approval and marathon session…
- The five-party without the participation of the EU: The Turkish veto was in the end accepted by the UNSG
- Suggestions by scientists: How we will celebrate Easter with… COVID-19
- Setback: Russia cancelling tourist flights to Cyprus
Main News
Cyprus, Greece agree on common approach for Geneva summit
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Cyprus and Greece agreed on Wednesday on a common approach to next week’s informal five-party summit to be held in Geneva, the dailies report.
President Nicos Anastasiades was in Athens on Wednesday for contacts with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with the duo agreeing that any negotiations on a Cyprus problem solution must be in line with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and EU principles and values, and must be based on the framework for a bi-zonal, bicommunal federation (BBF). Both leaders also agreed that a solution must see a scrapping of guarantees. Politis adds to this list that both leaders agreed that given that talks in Geneva are expected to be particularly intensive, a constant coordination of moves and approaches will be needed.
The dailies report that Mitsotakis said that given that the new initiative is taking place under the auspices of the UN, the basis for discussions is automatically becomes that laid out by the UN itself. Mitsotakis stressed that a solution can only be found on the basis of a BBF, which involves one sovereignty, a single citizenship, one international personality, and the abolition of the anachronistic framework of guarantees.
Mitsotakis added that Greece and Cyprus always arrive at talks with a positive approach toward securing a solution that will be fair, functional and viable, and which will benefit all Cypriots, both GC and TC.
On his part, Anastasiades described the upcoming summit as important and as a new attempt to create the conditions that will allow the UN Secretary General (UNSG) to assess whether common ground can be found so that solution negotiations can resume. Anastasiades said the Cyprus problem was created 47 years ago through the Turkish invasion and the occupation of 37% of Cyprus’ territory, Phileleftheros reports.
Anastasiades said negotiations are determined by UNSC resolutions as well as EU principles and values. He noted that solution parameters were laid down at the Berlin meeting in 2019. He said that the GC side is not seeking to usurp the rights of anyone, but to find a way to make both communities feel safe. He added that a a solution would have to secure the rights of both communities and the entirety of the people of Cyprus, the dailies report.
Anastasiades stressed a solution would have to see a transformation of the Republic of Cyprus into a functional and viable state without guarantees, occupational and any other foreign troops, and must ensure that Cyprus is not dependent on any other third party. Toward this end, Anastasiades said the positions of Greece and Cyprus are in full alignment. He said Greece’s role in the negotiations will be different from the GC side that will discuss details regarding the internal structure of the state, but added that Athens will have an important role to play on the issue of security, guarantees, as well as in respecting UN resolutions.
Phileleftheros and Alithia report on statements issued by Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides to Greek broadcaster ERT. Christodoulides stressed that a change of the solution framework is not up for discussion. He said on the one hand we have Turkey and the TC side which is attempting to change the basis for a solution and on the other we have the GC side and the entire international community that have a clear goal. He added that the GC side is hoping for a positive outcome in Geneva, which would take the form of an agreement on the resumption of talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana, with the aim of resolving the Cyprus problem on the basis of a BBF.
Christodoulides also said the Republic will continue to be an EU member state post-solution, noting that this is something that nobody can deny. This therefore forms one of the GC side’s ‘red lines’ on the negotiating table. He added that in 2021 we can’t still be talking about third country guarantees in an EU member state, and welcomed the EU’s public declaration that it would not accept a two-state solution in Cyprus. Christodoulides said the potential modernisation of the customs union between Turkey and the EU will depend on Cyprus problem developments, but said that Cyprus is not using alliances to turn against anyone else, but contrastingly seeks Turkey’s participation in synergies that would benefit the region.
Politis reports that the domestic landscape as regards the relations between the government and opposition parties is in a state of chaos as seen through public statements revolving around the Cyprus problem. The paper reports that government spokesman Kyriakos Koushos is accusing AKEL and DIKO of a coordinated pre-election smear campaign against the government, noting that the opposition parties are accusing the government in advance of bearing the burden of the blame for a potential collapse of talks in Geneva and for the subsequent partition of the island. Politis and Haravgi write that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said that if Anastasides continues to deal with the Cyprus problem in the way he is now, partition is only a matter of time. On his part, according to Phileleftheros, DIKO leader Nicholas Papadopoulos called on Anastasiades to make public the recording of a discussion he held with Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu during which a two-state solution was raised, stressing that as long as he fails to do so his credibility will be lacking.
The dailies also report that DISY leader Averof Neophytou held contacts in Brussels on Wednesday with the leader of the European People’s Party (EPP) Manfred Weber, which Neophytou sending the message that a solution must respect the EU acquis and EU principles. The paper writes that on his part, Weber said that Turkey’s proposal for a two-state solution is unacceptable for the EPP and the EU.
KEY ACTORS
Mitsotakis (Greece)
>> Solution can only take form of a BBF with one sovereignty, citizenship, international personality, and the abolition of the anachronistic framework of guarantees
>> Greece and Cyprus seeking solution that will be fair, functional and viable, and which will benefit all Cypriots, both GC and TC
Anastasiades
>> Cyprus problem was created 47 years ago through the Turkish invasion and the occupation of 37% of Cyprus’ territory
>> Negotiations must be based on UNSC resolutions as well as EU principles and values
>> Solution parameters were laid down at the Berlin meeting in 2019
>> GC side is not seeking to usurp the rights of anyone, but to find a way to make both communities feel safe
>> A solution would have to secure the rights of both communities and the entirety of the people of Cyprus
>> A solution would have to see a transformation of the Republic of Cyprus into a functional and viable state without guarantees, occupational or any other foreign troops, and must ensure that Cyprus is not dependent on any other third party
Christodoulides
>> Change of the solution framework is not up for discussion
>> Entire international community stands behind GC side’s positions
>> Geneva outcome being sought by GC side is agreement on the resumption of talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana, with the aim of securing BBF solution
>> Nobody can deny the fact that the Republic will continue to be an EU member state post-solution
>> In 2021 we can’t still be talking about third country guarantees in an EU member state
>> Potential modernisation of EU-Turkey customs union will depend on Cyprus problem developments, but Cyprus not using alliances to turn against anyone else, since it seeks Turkey’s participation in synergies that would benefit the region
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> If Anastasides continues to deal with the Cyprus problem in the way he is now, partition is only a matter of time
Papadopoulos (DIKO)
>> Anastasiades can only restore his credibility by publishing recording of discussion with Cavusoglu
Neophytou (DISY)
>> Solution must respect the EU acquis and EU principles
Weber (EU)
>> Turkey’s proposal for a two-state solution is unacceptable for the EPP and the EU
EU to be kept at sidelines of Geneva summit
Alithia, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Turkey’s objections to EU participation in the informal Geneva summit held sway, with the EU to observe the new Cyprus problem initiative at a distance.
Phileleftheros and Alithia report that the UN have not sent the EU an invitation to participate in next week’s meetings in Geneva, including the reception planned for the first day of the summit on April 27. Phileleftheros writes that as a result, the EU will be represented by a low-ranking official given the restricted role it will be permitted to play. Specifically, the paper writes that the EU will not be able to be present in any of the meetings of the summit, with the EU representative to observe meetings from a distance and be briefed on developments through bilateral contacts.
Politis reports that the EU representative in Geneva will be Angelina Eichhorst, the Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia at the European External Action Service. The paper writes that this development satisfies both Turkey and the TC side, which were both from the outset unwilling to see the EU take on a substantive role in Geneva.
Politis reports that UN Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres is expecting all sides to exhibit a constructive stance, flexibility and creativity in the approaches they will take, in order to identify any common points that could allow formal talks to resume. The paper writes that given that the informal summit will not see any formal negotiations taking place, Guterres will listen to all sides and attempt to clarify some positions that may still be vague or leave room for misinterpretation. As such, Politis reports that Guterres is not expected to attempt to bridge any divergent positions, but will likely table certain constructive ideas that could assist efforts.
Alithia reports that Turkey has no objection to EU participation once formal talks resume.
Over 100 groups from both sides call for federation
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
More than 100 parties, groups and associations from both sides of the divide and abroad called on Wednesday for Cyprus’ reunification as a bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF) with political equality.
Cyprus Mail reports that a total 113 groups, parties, and trade unions said they back a bicommunal mobilisation scheduled to take place on Saturday on both sides of the divide in Nicosia, as a means of responding to the negative political climate ahead of next week’s informal summit in Geneva.
“Greek and Turkish Cypriots are marching together along the common route to reunification, rejecting all proposals leading all forms of partition. Walking together is the essence of success!” the groups said in a joint declaration.
Cyprus, they said, is yet again at critical crossroads. They said that before the danger of permanent division and tension, they are demanding that the political leaderships on both sides abandon their covert opposition to a federal solution and respond positively and clearly to the UN Secretary General’s proposals.
The groups also demanded the immediate opening of all crossing points as provided by the recent UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution with the same health controls implemented in other parts of the island. They also said that the bicommunal committee on health must be empowered to enhance cooperation between the two communities to combat the pandemic.