Front Page Headlines
DIKO knives are out for the election fiasco
Communication specialist Mr Panagopoulos the first victim for the ‘Makis’ blunder.
- Larnaca: G/C and T/C cooperating for drugs ‘let down softly’
- Presidency of Parliament: Party chess for alliances
They set up a chess board of exchanges
Backstage workings began for the Presidency of Parliament – Everything open and Garoyian in the middle. All camps are seeking alliances, ELAM moving forward on its own for now.
- Clear messages from Washington toward Nikos Christodoulides: Foreign Ministers spoke yesterday
- The death of the 39-year-old linked with the vaccine: Confirmation from the relevant committee
- Appointments at state hospitals now electronic
Cyprus in fourth place with the highest unemployment rate
Unemployment among young people under 25 years old reaches 18.8%.
- Cyprus problem: Lute’s contacts with London and the EU to be held in Athens
- Parliamentary elections: AKEL will examine the result with ‘self-reflection and boldness’
- Contacts and backstage movements for the Presidency of Parliament
Elam starts trade off for House role
Nationalist party leader says will stand to become House president.
Parties keeping their cards closed
On the Presidency of Parliament. They began backstage contacts, but publicly all parties are for obvious reasons are refuting this and are referring the issue to their collective bodies which will convene to decide. Statements and anti-statements and new characterisations and backstabbing. Will Garoyian resign from MP in favour of Aggelos Votsi?
- Occupied areas: Request to investigate the murder of Kutlu Adali intensifying
- Coronavirus: More relaxations coming soon
- GESY: On a road with no return
Main News
Nicosia expecting to hear details of Lute’s visit
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Cyprus is expecting to be told soon of when the UN Secretary General’s (UNSG) Special Representative Jane Holl Lute will return to the island, head of the President’s Press Office Victoras Papadopoulos said Tuesday.
Papadopoulos said Lute was in Athens since last Thursday and left on Sunday to arrive in Ankara in Monday. While in Athens, Papadopoulos said Lute also held contacts on the Cyprus problem with the UK Foreign Office official Ajay Sharma, as well as with EU representatives. Specifically, Lute met with Angelina Eichhorst, who represented the EU on the sidelines of the informal summit in Geneva on a technocratic level, Haravgi reports, adding that it is noteworthy that all of Lute’s contacts with the three guarantor powers took place at the technocratic level
Haravgi reports that Lute left Cyprus for last so that her visit comes after the parliamentary elections that were held in the Republic last Sunday.
Raab expresses disappointment over 5+1 outcome
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he was disappointed that the 5+1 informal talks in Geneva failed to find enough common ground, the dailies report.
Alithia reports that Raab was responding to a letter sent by the President of the Federation of Cypriot Refugees (EKEKA), Leonidas Leonidou. In his response, Raab said he welcomes future informal talks under the guidance of the UN, with the goal of finding a solution to the benefit of all Cypriots and which will enhance stability and security in the region.
Raab also said that in Geneva, he encouraged all sides to show flexibility and compromise in order to find a solution within UN Security Council (UNSC) parameters, Alithia reports. The paper writes that Raab concluded his letter by noting that the UK recognises the ongoing difficulties all Cypriots have been facing since 1974, and that the UK remains committed to support the UN process to secure a solution.
KEY ACTORS
Raab (UK)
>> Disappointed that Geneva 5+1 failed to find enough common ground
>> Welcomes future informal talks under UN guidance with the goal of finding a solution to the benefit of all Cypriots and which will enhance regional stability and security
>> In Geneva, encouraged all sides to show flexibility and compromise in order to find a solution within UNSC parameters
>> UK recognises the ongoing difficulties all Cypriots have been facing since 1974
Cyprus, US FMs discuss Cyprus problem, bilateral ties
Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the Cyprus problem and bilateral ties in a phone call on Tuesday, the papers report.
Phileleftheros reports that the phone call came after an initiative by Blinken. This was the first conversation between the two ministers since Blinken took office, the dailies report.
Phileleftheros reports that Nicosia describes the phone call as cordial and positive. Citing information, the paper reports that during the discussion between the two FMs, Washington said it appreciates the bilateral cooperation it shares with Nicosia and remains committed to strengthening it further. Blinken also said the US is closely observing actions and initiatives being taken by the Republic of Cyprus with neighbouring states and with countries in the broader region and recognises the positive role Cyprus is playing in fostering stability and security. Blinken said the US is particularly interested in the 3+1 cooperation with Greece and Israel.
The dailies report that Blinken also assured that there was no other solution other than the bi-zonal bi-communal federation (BBF) and stressed that violations and unilateral actions in the Cyprus EEZ and Varosha cannot be tolerated, something that they conveyed to Turkey at a high level.
Phileleftheros reports citing diplomatic sources that as regards the Cyprus problem, since the UN Secretary General’s (UNSG) efforts are continuing, the US have yet to get involved beyond the confirmation of support for a BBF solution, at a time when Turkey is pursuing a two-state solution.
This week, Christodoulides is also set to discuss with the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, Phileleftheros reports.
Saner: ELAM rise proves federal solution no longer an option
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
‘Prime minister’ Ersan Saner said all must evaluate the results of the parliamentary elections held last week in the Republic to understand what kind of mentality the TC side must face as regards the Cyprus problem, especially in view of the increase in the number of far-right ELAM MPs, which Saner said were enemies of Turkish people, Alithia reports.
The paper writes that Saner also said that all parties that participated in the elections agree that Turkish troops must be fully withdrawn, that Turkey’s unilateral right to intervene on the island should be abolished, that a number of ‘citizens of the TRNC’ should leave Cyprus, that all GC refugees should be given the right to return in the event of an agreement, and that GCs should be granted a big portion of ‘TRNC’ land.
Saner said the results of the elections proved that TC leader Ersin Tatar and his administration were right to observe that a federal solution is no longer an option due to the stance of GCs, and how a two-state policy is a modern alternative.
As such, Saner said, “we will continue to shout to the world that the time has come for the TC people to take their place in the international community with its right to sovereignty.” Saner said he hopes the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the EU realise this soon and “open the way for peace and agreement in Cyprus and the region.”
Meanwhile, the main news item of papers deals with the political tug-of-war for the election of House President of the new Parliament that will convene on June 10. So far, nationalist party ELAM has announced that their leader Christos Christou will run for the position, though a number of names are being floated for the position.
KEY ACTORS
Saner
>> All must evaluate the results of the parliamentary elections held in the Republic & especially rise of ELAM, to understand what kind of mentality the TC side must face as regards the Cyprus problem
>> All parties that participated in the elections agree that Turkish troops must be fully withdrawn; Turkey’s intervention rights should be abolished; that a number of ‘citizens of the TRNC’ should leave Cyprus; that all GC refugees should be given the right to return in the event of an agreement, and that GCs should be granted a big portion of ‘TRNC’ land
>> Results of the elections proved that Tatar and his administration were right to observe that a federal solution is no longer an option due to the stance of GCs, and that a two-state policy is a modern alternative
>> It is time for TCs to claim their place in the international community as a sovereign people
>> UNSC & EU should realise this soon and open the way for peace and agreement in Cyprus & the region
Health Minister says criteria for crossings set
Cyprus Mail
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Details on what checks and tests will be carried out for people crossing checkpoints across the island have been agreed and now it is a matter of political decisions, Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said on Tuesday according to Cyprus Mail.
With checkpoints set to open on Friday, an announcement is expected on Wednesday about how people can cross, the paper writes.
Ioannou told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that regarding the opening of crossings his Ministry’s contribution was an agreement on how to control the movement of people, adding that health protocols will be set.
“This has been discussed in recent weeks. We were waiting from the Turkish Cypriot side their own position, which was given to us yesterday. It has been agreed how the tests will be performed, whether tests will be necessary, vaccinations, etc. What remains now is official announcements,” Ioannou said.
Concerns were raised however whether the reopening of crossings would be affected by the announcement in the north on Monday that 105 new coronavirus cases were detected, the paper reports. This included 85 people working on the same construction site.
Cyprus Mail adds that member of the government epidemiological team Dr Maria Koliou told Alpha TV on Tuesday morning there are concerns over the arrival of tourists in Cyprus and Cypriots travelling abroad during summer importing coronavirus variants that are more contagious.
She also said that the terms for the crossing of people between the two sides must be strict. “We see now there is a surge in the occupied areas, we must be careful,” Koliou said. She also said that as many people arrive in the north from Asian countries either as visitors or students this could mean that the Indian or other variants could be imported to the island through there.
“It is very important to shield also that point of entry as we do not control checks on that side,” Koliou said. She also stressed the importance of vaccination coverage so people are protected against the virus and its variants.