GCC Press Review 23 May 2021

Front Page Headlines

Sunday Mail

Lack of issues dogs elections

With parties using ‘change’ in their slogans, none say how they will bring it about

  • More than half a million Covid vaccines been given in Cyprus

Simerini

He’s threatening to get the fleet out and is blackmailing the EU with a crisis

Turkish despotism: He’s drafting religious fanaticism

  • “Interest by foreign companies to set up shop in Cyprus”: Natasa Pilides interviewed by ‘Simerini’
  • Savvas Iacovides (opinion): The Cyprus problem should be repositioned on the basis of international and European legality
  • Christodoulos K. Yiallourides (opinion): Athens’ and Ankaras’ conflicting roles
  • Lazaros Mavros (opinion): Heads in a constant impasse, produce impasses
  • Yiannakis Omirou (opinion): The mockery of the EU by Turkey

Politis

The battle of the cross and the candidates in the lead

The confrontation between candidates hit red

  • Cyprus problem: And now salami tactics with the Guterres framework

Phileleftheros

The entire occupied territories a base

Construction of a naval base in Trikomo, an air base in Lefkoniko, with the aim of controlling the region. Work continuing in Varosha.

  • Nikos Kotzias: Nicosia-Athens lost in Geneva
  • Parliamentary elections 2021: Parliamentary Babel with many traps

Kathimerini

The stakes of the elections and the new political situation

How internal party politics are changing, the choosing of the House President, and 2023

  • Andros Kyprianou: The risk of partition visible
  • EU-Turkey relations: The Customs Union in the first act
  • The USA are staying in Greece
  • Christos Christofides (opinion): And yet the Cyprus problem is the most important

Haravgi

The rich are becoming richer and the poor are getting poorer

A. Kyprianou: Join forces with AKEL for progressive change with man at the centre

  • Opening of crossings and the restarting of joint actions by GCs and TCs
  • AKEL GS: He’s calling on the President of the Republic to take initiatives, warning that if he doesn’t we will be lead to partition
  • Naturalisations: Anastasiades’ son-in-law was advertising passports in six months

Alithia

Averof Neophytou: Stability at stake in the parliamentary elections

The DISY President just before ballot boxes open. “I think these elections will be more elections for seats rather than percentages.” “Can you imagine if we lose another two years for Nicholas’ pre-election campaign with a new crescendo of populism and rejection?” “The vote is a big weapon. It can blow up years-long sacrifices”

  • Erdogan: The new negotiations will be between two states
  • Analysis: The outlet of the decentralised federation
  • Koushos to Andros: You’re guided by the idea of ‘the party and your eyes’: New hard confrontation between AKEL-government

Main News

Cyprob mobility continues as EUCO looms


Alithia, Haravgi, Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Politis reports that following the completion of the informal Geneva summit in late April, backstage mobility is continuing and even picking up speed as the June European Council, during which the modernisation of the EU’s customs union with Turkey will be discussed, gets closer.

Kathimerini reports that the EUCO is already shaping up to be a ‘bras de fer’, with Turkey warning that if it does not secure the modernisation of the customs union, then the entire packet of the potential deal between Brussels and Ankara, which includes the migration issue, will be cast into doubt, while it has also warned of a new crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean. On its part, Nicosia is stressing that it won’t be consenting to any decision if it doesn’t safeguard Cyprus’ interests, particularly as regards the Cyprus problem. Kathimerini reports that President Nicos Anastasiades has hinted that he will exercise his veto power if the EU tries to give Ankara a blank check and doesn’t substantively link the modernisation of the customs union with the Cyprus problem.

Politis reports that along with Cyprus, several other EU member states appear to be unwilling to okay the move without ensuring that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is willing to give something in return. Politis reports that though on the one hand Erdogan is under pressure domestically and internationally, on the other hand Anastasiades shouldn’t be so quick to announce that he will veto a positive agenda with Turkey at the EUCO, especially at a time when parliamentary elections are days away and DISY could lose seats or even the lead due to domestic scandals. The paper reports that though the launching of discussions on the modernisation of the EU-Turkey customs union requires a consensus, discussions on subchapters such as economic, trade and agricultural matters only require a majority, meaning Nicosia’s threats will fall through.

Politis reports that the UN Secretary General’s (UNSG) Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute is expected to fly into Cyprus in early June, after her visits to the three guarantor powers to listen to their views on the Cyprus problem, the June EUCO and the second informal summit the UNSG is expected to organise. The paper reports that Lute’s visit is expected to be longer than usual, so that she can mull over the possibility of holding a joint meeting between the two leaders, potentially in the presence of the UNSG before the EUCO in June. Politis writes that diplomats believe that overall, June will be a month of important developments for the Cyprus problem.

Politis reports citing a diplomatic source that the UNSG has understood that Turkey will not be accepting that negotiations resume from where they left off in Crans-Montana, and is therefore examining various scenarios that could help get talks going again. The paper reports that the most likely scenario is that the UNSG will divide the six parameters of his Framework into three clusters of two issues, with each side having to both give and take in discussions on each cluster. The source said that the UNSG has already begun preparations in this direction but has yet to inform parties.

Phileleftheros reports citing information that during her separate contacts with Ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), Lute appears to have adopted the language of the ‘British formula’, which sees two sovereign communities in Cyprus.

Politis reports that Germany is also fuelling mobility on the Cyprus problem to justify developments that favour Turkey at the EUCO. The paper reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has clarified to Erdogan that besides certain funds for the migration issue, which will also require great difficulty to be pushed forward, Turkey won’t be able to get anything else from the EU without positive developments in the Cyprus problem. Politis adds that Merkel suggested to Ankara that it considers proposing certain constructive alternatives in the form of confidence-building measures (CBMs).

Even so, Alithia reports that Erdogan on Saturday stuck to his known positions, stating that any new negotiations on the Cyprus problem must be held between two states and not between two communities, and called for the recognition of the TC side. Erdogan said TCs were the biggest victims of the impasse and that negotiations so far have failed due to the intransigence and spoiled behaviour of the GC side. He said those who murdered the TC community between 1963-74 quickly fled from the negotiating table whenever a solution was near. Erdogan also pointed to the GC side’s rejection of the Annan Plan, noting that despite this, the EU rewarded the GC side and punished TCs, who accepted the peace plan.

Meanwhile, Phileleftheros reports that Turkey is planning on constructing a naval base in Trikomo in the north and is planning to upgrade the Lefkoniko airport, with the aim of controlling the broader region.

In an article in Phileleftheros, former Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias asks why the UNSG called for the informal Geneva meeting while knowing that a two-state solution or even a confederal solution can be implemented under the auspices of the UN. Kotzias says that his opinion is that some wanted to legitimise Turkey’s unacceptable proposal in the presence of Greece and Cyprus, as well as to erase what was achieved in Crans-Montana. Kotzias writes that the entire process will allow Turkey in a few months to step in with its true intentions which will be presented as a compromise, which Kotzias believes will be a confederal solution.

London is also creating mobility on the Cyprus problem, Politis reports, by pushing for their proposal that stands between a decentralised federation and a confederation. Politis reports that Britain is in contact with the US, which is remaining firm in its call for a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) with political equality, and which believes that with some pressure Ankara can be persuaded to return to this framework. Politis and Phileleftheros report that the Deputy Political Director of the UK Foreign Office Ajay Sharma, who is the main player behind Britain’s involvement in the Cyprus problem, will be paying another visit to Cyprus next week.

Meanwhile, regarding the reopening of checkpoints, Politis reports citing a government source that developments on the matter are expected as soon as Monday. The two leaders are expected to issue their final positions on the reopening of checkpoints with uniform measures, which involve permitting crossings for those who have conducted a PCR test which will be valid for seven days or those who have recovered after contracting Covid or those who have been vaccinated. Politis reports that a positive note on the matter is the Cabinet’s decision to recognise as vaccinated those who got the Chinese Sinopharm jab, which is what many TCs got. However, the paper writes that the GC side is also considering unilaterally opening checkpoints if the TC side continues to stall.

Haravgi reports that it was told by a spokesperson of the European Commission that the Commission is closely following the issue of crossings to ensure that any measures imposed for the protection of public health are proportional to the risks and are in compliance with the EU acquis.


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