GCC Press Review 4 May 2021

Front Page Headlines

Politis

They were declaring whatever they wanted, we pretended we did not know

Cases of naturalisations of ‘investors’ with false and misleading data. Politis reveals the names of 14 naturalisation cases for which Nikolatos is calling for revocation of citizenship due to the filing of false information.

  • Additional allowances to National Guard conscripts between €2,400 and €4,800, to be given retrospectively
  • Seven dead and 66 in serious condition – Everything is possible as regard restrictions.

Phileleftheros

Plan of moves to the EU-Security Council

Nicosia is taking action, is preparing a briefing campaign on all that took place in Geneva while waiting for the new schedule of contacts by (UNSG special envoy Jane Holl) Lute

  • Tatar: Our proposal is the most realistic solution

Haravgi

Initiative by AKEL and TC parties for a BBF solution

It is also preparing a proposal based on the situation shaped after Geneva.

  • ‘Unholy’ trinity behind the EastMed – The international organisation Global Witness brings to the fore, new, serious accusations for the proposed EastMed pipeline. It speaks of an unholy trinity: a huge hydrocarbon bomb, a major source of regional tensions, and dependence on a company whose founders have a controversial history. It calls on the EU to end its support for the project. 
  • Pressure with Cosa Nostra-type methods in the ‘golden’ passports scandal – Unbelievable! The government suggested to a crook to give him 5,000 ‘golden’ passports to sell to third parties. In fact, this tragicomic story is the reason for the relaxation of the criteria that led to the great party. Government and middlemen were exerting pressure reminding of Cosa Nostra tactics.

Cyprus Mail

Police condemn Easter attacks

Officers slam youth behaviour say have become the scapegoats.

  • Tatar calls Anastasiades ‘anachronistic

Alithia

We will mobilise everyone

Anastasiades: We start an international campaign on the Cyprus problem. President: I’m sure in these difficult times our country is going through, I will have the unanimous support of the political forces with which I will be in constant consultation. Tatar: Our proposal is to Cyprus’ benefit and is the most realistic solution.

Main News

Nicosia to brief EU & international community on Cyprob

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, EU Matters, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

The government is planning an info campaign to brief the EU and international community on the Geneva talks and the Turkish side’s intransigent stance while TC leader Ersin Tatar declared that his position on a two-state solution was the only realistic goal, the dailies report.

Alithia and Phileleftheros report that President Nicos Anastasiades, in his televised Easter message, aired on Sunday, announced that the Greek Cypriot side would start within the coming weeks a campaign on the need to respect and implement the Security Council resolutions and the terms of UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) mandate. The decisive interventions achieved during the five-party summit prevented the intended diversion and shipwreck, he said.

Phileleftheros, citing information, reports that Nicosia is preparing a plan for moves to brief both its EU partners and the five permanent members of the Security Council (P5). Within the coming days a meeting will take place at the Presidential Palace to assess the Geneva summit and the contacts that took place there, and in relation to what’s to follow.

Nicosia will also brief its EU partners and the P5 on what took place in Geneva while President Nicos Anastasiades will write a letter to the UNSG. Anastasiades will also brief the other EU leaders at the informal European Council in Portugal at the end of next week.

The daily also reports that, so far, there is no information on when Jane Holl Lute will return to the island but everyone realises that the UN need to first assess the situation before any new contact with the sides. It adds that a new summit, either in Geneva or New York, is not expected before the end of summer, probably in September though it is too early to tell.

Alithia reports on Anastasiades’ Easter address in which he referred to the Geneva summit and said that “a few days ago we have, once more, experienced Turkish intransigence, and have witnessed the arrogance of those who envision a new Ottoman empire.”

He added that Turkey, and the TC leadership showed contempt toward the UN Charter, the UN resolutions, and decisions on Cyprus, as well as the EU, by asking the UNSG to become complicit in their unlawful actions demanding recognition of sovereignty for the illegal regime established by and subordinate to Ankara. Anastasiades said this demand is not only contrary to international law and the terms of the UNSG’s mandate, but also to the will of the vast majority of the people of Cyprus, GCs and TCs.

He also said that the GC side has turned to the P5 as well as to the EU, and managed to have decisive interventions made thereby preventing the change in course sought by the Turkish side and the failure of the new exploratory initiative by the UNSG.

Anastasiades said that the unacceptable positions submitted in writing by the TC leader demonstrate, once more, the real objectives of Turkey over time, which aim either at the partition of Cyprus or its transformation into Turkey’s protectorate.

He added that in order to activate the peaceful choice before us, the Republic of Cyprus will utilise all European and international fora and will mobilise all friendly countries.

Addressing the TCs, Anastasiades, said that “the status quo on Cyprus is not only unacceptable for both communities, but worst of all it does not lead to a solution where all of us together, as European citizens, can enjoy the benefits of peace, security, and prosperity.” For that reason, he stressed, “I respectfully invite you to give the battle united together for our own homeland, Cyprus, which we have loved and we continue to love.”

The dailies also report on Tatar’s response, who, said, Anastasiades, by calling the TCs “our citizens”, which, he said, once again revealed his anachronistic and domineering mentality and insulted them.

“The world and Anastasiades should know that the TC people are not the minority and citizens of the Greek side, but the citizens of the free and sovereign TRNC,” Tatar said. He also said that the proposal he put on the negotiating table is in the interest of Cyprus and the region and is the most realistic solution.

Cyprus Mail reports that the TC leader also referred to Anastasiades’ statement that the solution must provide for the withdrawal of guarantees and Turkish troops from Cyprus, as “a dream that will not come true.” Tatar also said that Anastasiades, who insulted the TC “people”, called on the GCs, their allies and those with the same ideas in the north to “fight together” and pointed at the ‘TRNC’ and Turkey as a target, once again showing how far he was from dialogue and reconciliation. In response to Anastasiades’ reference to the “arrogance of those who envision a new Ottoman empire” Tatar called on him to look in the mirror and see who is arrogant.

The dailies also report that Tatar had a telephone conversation with Anastasiades on Sunday during which is expressed his wishes on the occasion of Easter. He also expressed his wishes to the GC “neighbours’ and Christians in general.

KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>>
The Turkish side that envisions a new Ottoman empire exhibited its intransigence & arrogance, this time at the Geneva talks, in contempt of UN Charter, UN resolutions & decisions on Cyprus & EU by asking the UNSG aid them to unlawfully have the north recognised.
>> Demand for two-state solution is contrary to international law, the UNSG’s mandate, but also to the will of most of GCs & TCs.
>> During the Geneva summit, the GC side has turned to the P5 & EU, and managed to have decisive interventions preventing the change in course sought by the Turkish side and the failure of the new exploratory initiative by the UNSG.
>> Tatar’s unacceptable positions demonstrate, once more, Ankara’s real objectives which aim either at the partition of Cyprus or its transformation into Turkey’s protectorate.
>> Calls on TCs to join the battle for the common homeland & end the status quo which is not only unacceptable for both communities, but does not lead to a solution where everyone can enjoy as EU citizens, the benefits of peace, security, and prosperity.

Tatar
>>
Anastasiades, has insulated TCs by calling him his citizens & once again revealed his anachronistic and domineering mentality.
>> TCs are not the minority and citizens of the Greek side, but the citizens of the free and sovereign ‘TRNC’.
>> The proposal he submitted at Geneva summit is in the interest of Cyprus and the region & is the most realistic solution while the withdrawal of guarantees & Turkish troops from Cyprus envisioned by Anastasiades is a dream that will not come true.
>> Anastasiades called on the GCs, their allies and those with the same ideas in the north to fight together against ‘TRNC’ and Turkey which shows once again showing how far he was from dialogue and reconciliation.
>> Calls on Anastasiades to look in the mirror to see who is arrogant instead of accusing him and Turkey of being arrogant.


AKEL launches Cyprob initiative

Haravgi
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The paper reports that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said that after the parliamentary elections his party will hold meetings with TC parties seeking a bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF), to discuss a joint initiative as regards the Cyprus problem.

He also said AKEL was preparing a proposal based on the situation shaped after Geneva which will submit to President Nicos Anastasiades.

Asked whether the three or four months the UN secretary-general has announced for convening another five-party summit was enough to overcome the problems, Kyprianou said what it takes was political will. If there is political will, even a week is enough, he said, according to the daily. But if there is no political will to reach an agreement within the agreed solution framework, no matter how many years pass, we will not be able to reach an agreement, he added. Kyprianou stressed that the outcome of the talks in Geneva is disappointing since the Turkish side has officially submitted its unacceptable position on a two-state solution. He also pointed out that this pushes us further away from the solution and reunification while at the same time it leaves open the possibility of new provocations and fait accompli by Turkey. He added that the only encouraging element from the Geneva talks was the clear position of the UNSG that the international community will not accept a two-state solution. He also expressed the view that it would be very difficult for the UNSG to convene a new conference if Turkey does not abandon its unacceptable positions and uncompromising claims and returns to the agreed solution framework.

KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>>
AKEL will start a new initiative on Cyprob in cooperation with TC parties in favour of a BBF solution & prepare a proposal based on the situation shaped after Geneva to submit to Anastasiades.
>> If there is political will, a week is enough time for sides to agree on way forward on Cyprob but unless Turkey abandons its unacceptable positions, it will be very difficult for UNSG to convene another summit.
>> The outcome of the talks is disappointing because the Turkish side has officially submitted its unacceptable position on a two-state solution which pushes things further away from solution & reunification & leaves possibility of new provocations and fait accompli by Turkey. Only encouraging is UNSG’s clear position the international community will not accept a two-state solution.


Nuland assumes new duties including US Cyprob portfolio

Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Phileleftheros reports on the appointment of senior diplomat Victoria Nuland as the new Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.

The daily reported that Nuland had been involved in the Cyprus issue in the past, under Barack Obama, leaving a bitter taste.

Her reappearance, however, as an Under Secretary of State responsible for political affairs, including of the Cyprus issue, takes place in a completely different environment, mainly in terms of the relations between the US and Turkey, which have always been a barometer, also in terms of the Cyprus issue, the daily reports.

The Obama administration kept relations with Turkey high on its agenda and offered relative ease of movement in the surrounding area and the Eastern Mediterranean while the new situation in Washington is completely different as Joe Biden has already shown that he is tough with Recep Tayyip Erdogan. US foreign policy is expected to take a similar approach.

The daily reports that Nuland, 59, is considered a difficult character and the parties that will be called to work with her will have a hard time. It added, however, that she had a decisive role in the agreement on the joint declaration which was agreed in February 2014 between Nicos Anastasiades and then TC leader Dervish Eroglu, but also later, especially in 2016, she had pushed things a lot in the Cyprus issue. It is also considered that she played a decisive role in the convening of the five-party meeting in Crans-Montana in the summer of 2017, Phileleftheros reported.


DISY marks Cyprus’ EU membership anniversary

Alithia, Politis
EU Matters

OVERVIEW

Alithia reports that ruling DISY said in an announcement to mark the anniversary of Cyprus’ EU membership on May 1, 2004, that this was “the greatest success of our foreign policy.”

DISY said it was the culmination of a course that was set on the basis of careful planning and coordination at the political level and mainly on the basis of national coordination.

The party said that the prudent policy of Glafcos Clerides, his expert moves and excellent cooperation with the Greek government have brought results and the inclusion of Cyprus as a whole without footnotes and asterisks and without the solution of the Cyprus problem as a prerequisite.

The credibility and strength of the EU today is being judged and tested on many levels simultaneously, such as in the field of health in dealing with the pandemic but also in the economic consequences but also in matters of foreign policy and its bilateral relations with Turkey, DISY said.

Politis, in a comment said that DIKO celebrated the anniversary and the fact that the accession officially took place under Tassos Papadopoulos.

They probably forgot that all the work was done by Glafcos Clerides and George Vassiliou, while with Tassos’ stunts, the Europeans were pulling their hair considering that they made a huge mistake with Cyprus’ accession. Europeans are also pulling their hair out now, as they realised they let into the EU a small retailer selling European citizenships, the paper said.


International organisation warns against EastMed pipeline

Haravgi
Energy, Regional/International Relations, EU Matters

OVERVIEW

The daily reports that international organisation Global Witness issued a new warning against the proposed EastMed pipeline project that aims to connect the gas reserves of Cyprus and Israel to Greece via Crete.

It adds that the organisation, which deals with natural resources issues, conflicts, poverty, corruption and human rights violations, launched new accusations for the EastMed pipeline arguing that the founders and directors of Energean, the company involved with the project’s implementation, took loans from the now defunct Laiki Bank and used them to back the choking businesses of the then chairman of the bank Andreas Vgenopoulos. It is even reported that this case, in which other persons participated, contributed to the collapse of Laiki in 2013 and consequently to the collapse of the Cypriot economy.

Jonathan Gant, senior campaigner with Global Witness, said that the EastMed pipeline represents an unholy trinity: a huge carbon bomb, a major source of regional tensions and dependence on a company whose founders have a controversial history. He also said it was incomprehensible that the EU supported the EastMed pipeline, which depends on and is for the benefit of a company run by individuals involved in questionable investment programs. He recalled that due to the economic crisis, thousands of people in Cyprus lost more than €4 billion in savings and faced many years of austerity in order to fill a gap caused by the financial recklessness of some people.

He also said that if the EU continued to support the EastMed pipeline, it would not only seriously question its environmental credentials but would also make it clear that it was willing to spend taxpayers’ money on a project dependent on a company with controversial founders, the daily reports. It also cites Global Witness, reporting that when the EastMed pipeline is fully operational, the gas it will transport during the period 2025-2050, could produce more greenhouse gasses than France, Spain and Italy emit per year. At full capacity, in one year the EastMed pipeline would emit more greenhouse gases than Europe’s worst polluter – the Bełchatów coal-fired power plant in Poland, it added.

The daily also reports the response by Energean’s directors Efstathios Topouzoglou and Mathios Rigas to the Global Witness report. They said, according to the paper, that they carry on their shoulders years of experience as reliable businessmen and that there was nothing wrong with taking loans for investments in the business of the former chairman of Laiki Bank, Andreas Vgenopoulos. They also stated that they could not be held responsible for the collapse of Laiki or the financial crisis in Cyprus and that the EastMed pipeline was not dependent on the company.


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