Front Page Headlines
Averof-Andros will have the last say
The political leaders are taking actions in the background for the Presidency of Parliament.
- Tomorrow Friday: Checkpoints being mutually opened
- Cyprus: ‘Door’ from Commission for Schengen
- Changes in the leadership of AKEL: Dialogue at the base, conference and…
- Marinos Sizopoulos: Loan cancellation with… footnotes
- Coronavirus: Mutations and thrombosis a headache
They’re throwing names into the bazaar
Beginning with Papadopoulos, Christou, Theopemptou, Garoyian – C. Efsathiou in the background. The Political Office of DISY authorised Averof for a proposal.
- Return to checkpoints: Anastasiades-Tatar to speak today, they will open tomorrow
- 500% increase in blood coagulation tests: The anxiety over vaccines is being recorded in GESY
Nurses strike for anti-union action by Health ministry
PASYNO announced a12-hour strike next Monday 7 June.
- Preparations to open all checkpoints tomorrow
- Presidency of Parliament: AKEL holds contacts with all opposition parties barring ELAM
- The Green Line an obstacle for the inclusion of Cyprus in Schengen
All crossings will reopen on Friday
Negative PCR or rapid test needed to cross, review every two weeks.
- Growing list of candidates jostling for coveted House president post
ALL checkpoints are opening after 15 months
UN: On the basis of an agreement between Anastasiades-Tatar. The Technical Committee on Health will be evaluating the epidemiological situation every two weeks. For now citizens will present a negative rapid antigen test or PCR no more than seven days old. AKEL is now only welcoming, it doesn’t even dare to apologise.
- US intervention in the Cyprus problem: Cyprus and Greco-Turkish relations in the meeting between Biden-Erdogan
- He remembered Burgenstock: Erdogan: Only I know how the division of Cyprus happened
- Backstage intensifying: Names going and coming for the presidency of Parliament
- European Commission: Cyprus out of the Schengen Zone due to green line
Main News
Both sides to reopen all crossings on Friday
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs
OVERVIEW
All crossings across Cyprus will reopen Friday, some 15 months after they were closed by both sides in February 2020 in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the dailies report.
The news emerged on Wednesday via the UN, which announced that the two leaders agreed to synchronise Covid-related measures allowing all crossings to properly reopen. The final details regarding the reopening of crossings were agreed during a teleconference held Wednesday between the TC leader’s special representative Ergun Olgun, GC negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and the UN Secretary General’s (UNSG) Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar. Their discussions built “on the important work and expertise of the Technical Health Committee,” the UN said.
The dailies add that the two leaders are scheduled to hold a teleconference on Thursday morning with the participation of Spehar. The meeting, Politis reports, also signals a certain increased mobility on the Cyprus problem, as the discussion may expand into other topics such as the UNSG’s attempts to organise a second informal five-party summit.
People wishing to cross will need to show a negative PCR or rapid test valid for seven days. The bicommunal Technical Committee on Health will be re-evaluating the epidemiological situation on both sides of the divide on a biweekly basis and adjust crossing requirements appropriately.
Three levels with different requirements have been agreed, the dailies report. These are: Level 1 (green) no restrictions, level 2 (orange) seven day negative rapid or PCR test and, finally, level 3 (dark red) which will see crossings close to the general public. As of June 4, the level 2 (orange) status will apply to all crossings. In the case of level 3 (dark red) crossings will only be available for health reasons (72 hour negative PCR test) and crossings for work, education, residence-related purposes (seven day negative rapid or PCR test).
Cyprus Mail and Phileleftheros report that the UN said that there are mechanisms in place to reassess the data should there be a rise in positive coronavirus from either side which may lead to the implementation of higher levels if the experts deem it necessary.
The dailies note that as regards vaccinations, the UN said that the measures that will be applied to vaccinated persons are currently being worked on and will be announced in due course. At present, however, a vaccination certificate is not accepted.
Phileleftheros and Alithia report that in a written announcement, the TC leader Ersin Tatar’s spokesperson Berna Celik Dogruyol said Tatar noted that the development will help both sides overcome the financial difficulties created by the pandemic. He said that the TC side has always held such channels of cooperation open and will continue to do so. Tatar added that he believes that if there is good will, the two sides should cooperate diplomatically and with good faith in a range of areas to the benefit of both sides.
Haravgi reports that the agreement to reopen crossings was welcomed by AKEL, that also welcomed the UN’s mediation and the important work conducted by the Techinical Committee on Health. AKEL said the agreement undoubtedly constitutes a positive development, mainly as regards the relations of the two communities on various levels. The party said however that it believes that the decision could have been reached sooner, as it had repeatedly called for.
Phileleftheros reports that the development was also welcomed by the Ambassadors of the US and France. US Ambassador to Cyprus Judith Garber said in a tweet: “Great to see today’s announcement that the crossings will reopen on Friday! Allowing Cypriots to meet, trade, and move freely benefits all who call this island home.” The French Ambassador to Cyprus Salina Grenet-Catalano said “We welcome the agreement between the two communities to synchronize their health measures and reopen the crossingpoints. This positive step secures freedom of movement as a key acquis of Cyprus talks, builds trust and facilitates the resumption of formal negotiations.”
Commission says Cyprus not ready to join Schengen
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Cyprus is not yet ready to enter Schengen, the EU’s region of free movement, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said on Wednesday, with the dailies focusing on a comment made by Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas who pointed to the Green Line as one of the obstacles.
During a news conference in Brussels to present the Commission’s new strategy with the focus on Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Johansson said in response to a question on Cyprus’ application from the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that “we are preparing to move forward, but it [Cyprus] is not yet in a position to be assessed and is not considered ready to enter the Schengen area at the moment.”
Answering the same question, Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said in the new revised strategy, the Schengen enlargement was a priority for the three countries, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia. “As you know, the final decision is not up to us, but we constantly support this: the need for this enlargement, and we are of the opinion that the facts show that they [the three states] are ready to join,” he said.
“Now, in relation to Cyprus, it is a different situation, because you know that Cyprus also has this peculiarity with a Green Line, as well as other types of situations that have an impact,” Schinas added. But clearly, in the order of enlargement, Cyprus is clearly coming, Schinas said, adding that Cyprus remains a candidate for Schengen.
Alithia reports that it called on Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides to comment on the matter, with Christodoulides noting that Cyprus cannot join the Schengen area since the Green Line is 184 km long and “we cannot effectively control it since it is not a border.”
Cyprus applied to join Schengen in 2019 and is being evaluated to see if it fits the technological and other criteria, Cyprus Mail reports.
FM: Erdogan, Biden meeting to also touch on Cyprob
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The Cyprus problem and Greco-Turkish relations will be among topics to be discussed during the meeting to take place on June 14 between the US President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said Wednesday, Alithia and Haravgi report.
Christodoulides, in an interview with the Greek news site ethnos.gr one day after his phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, expressed the belief that the active role being taken by the US in the Eastern Mediterranean region constitutes a positive development, Haravgi reports.
Haravgi adds that Christodoulides said that the new US administration wants to get more involved in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, noting that Blinken told him that Turkey’s attempts to change the solution framework, as well as its unilateral actions, cannot be accepted.
Alithia reports that Christodoulides said that the US had intervened during the informal five-party summit held in Geneva in late April in light of Turkey’s pursuit of a two-state solution. Christodoulides said Blinken confirmed that the US stands clearly against every unilateral move in the Cyprus EEZ and in Varosha, with Blinken stressing that they cannot be accepted and that this has been communicated to Turkey at the highest level at every opportunity. Christoulides also confirmed that the US firmly believes that no other solution but a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) can be discussed.
Alithia and Haravgi report that Christodoulides added that a positive agenda between Turkey and the EU will depend on whether the differentiations in Turkey’s vocabulary translate into practical improvements, adding that if Turkey continues to support positions such as a changing of the solution basis and a two-state solution, then it can be considered a fact that Turkey has not shown any change in behaviour. Christodoulides said further that the message has also been sent to Turkey regarding the need for positive developments in the Cyprus problem by the European Council summit in June.
Politis reports that State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Blinken expressed his commitment for continuous US support to Cyprus’ efforts under the guidance of the UN to reunify the island as a BBF to the benefit of all Cypriots. Price said the US is encouraging both sides to show the necessary transparency, flexibility and compromise to find common ground so that negotiations for the resolution of the Cyprus problem can resume.
Phileleftheros reports that Price noted that the two Foreign Ministers agreed on the need to promote stability in the Eastern Mediterranean through peripheral cooperation and the peaceful resolution of differences. Price said Blinken also expressed support for the 3+1 diplomatic mechanism developed between the Republic, Greece, Israel and the US, and underlined the importance of efforts to counter the harmful influence of Russia and China in the region.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Active US role in EastMed region a positive development
>> New US administration wants to get more involved in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem
>> US had intervened at Geneva 5+1 due to Turkey’s pursuit of a two-state solution
>> Was told by Blinken that US stands clearly against every unilateral move in the Cyprus EEZ and in Varosha & two-state solution framework unacceptable
>> EU-Turkey positive agenda will depend on whether Turkey translates its softer vocabulary into practical improvements
>> If Turkey continues to support a two-state solution then it’s clear that it has not shown improvements in its behaviour
>> Turkey has been told that it needs to foster positive Cyprob developments by the June EUCO summit
Price (US)
>> Blinken expressed his commitment for continuous US support to Cyprus’ efforts under the guidance of the UN to reunify the island as a BBF to the benefit of all Cypriots
>> US is encouraging both sides to show the necessary transparency, flexibility and compromise to find common ground so that negotiations can resume
>> Christodoulides & Blinken agreed on the need to promote stability in EastMed through peripheral cooperation and the peaceful resolution of differences
>> Blinken expressed support for the 3+1 diplomatic mechanism between the Republic, Greece, Israel and the US
Turkish National Security Council expresses support for two states
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The Turkish National Security Council said in an announcement on Wednesday that it would continue to support a solution of two sovereign, equal, independent states in Cyprus, Phileleftheros reports.
After a five-hour meeting chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday, the Council, that had discussed a range of issues, said that in light of its pursuit of a two-state solution, Turkey will continue to take all kinds of measures to protect the rights and interests of the TC people. Phileleftheros reports that the Council also advised Greece to avoid aggressive rhetoric in the Aegean and Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, Alithia and Cyprus Mail report on comments issued by Erdogan in an interview with Turkish channel TRT on Tuesday night, during which Erdogan touched on several topics such as Turkey-US relations, the situation in the eastern Mediterranean, the Cyprus issue and Ankara’s ties with the EU.
Regarding the Cyprus problem, Erdogan said that only he knows how the division of Cyprus came about, pointing to the high-level negotiations held in Burgenstock, Switzerland in March 2004. Erdogan said when other politicians talk about Burgenstock, not even Greek premier Kyriacos Mitsotakis knows what really went on there at the highest level.
He referred to the fact that former UN Secretary-General, the late Kofi Annan, presided over the 2004 talks. There was one other person at the talks, he said, who participated on the part of the EU, and that was Gunther Verheugen who was the EU Commissioner for Enlargement at the time. “Wherever he went he was telling the truth,” said Erdogan. “But no one gets up to ask him now.” Cyprus Mail reports that indeed, after GCs rejected the Annan solution plan in late April and a week later joined the European Union on May 1, 2004, Verheugen publicly accused Cyprus of “cheating its way” into EU membership.
Erdogan said that in the middle of the Burgenstock talks Greece and the GCs were ready to leave the table and only Kofi Annan stopped them, saying: “You cannot leave,” according to the Turkish president.
“Annan told them ‘I gave my word to Erdogan. We will finish the work here and then we will leave’. They [the Greek side] came back and sat down. And after that meeting a referendum was held. They said ‘yes’ in the north and then they [the EU] allowed the south to join,” said Erdogan. “They are not honest and now they come and without shame they tell us we have no rights over the gas and oil around Cyprus?” he added. Erdogan said if it was up to Brussels, they would ask Turkey to disappear from the region altogether.
KEY ACTORS
Turkey
>> Will continue to support a solution of two sovereign, equal, independent states in Cyprus
>> Will continue to take measures to protect the rights and interests of the TC people
Erdogan (Turkey)
>> Only he knows how the division of Cyprus came about at the high-level negotiations held in Burgenstock
>> Greece & GCs were ready to leave the Burgenstock negotiations table and only stayed at the request of Kofi Annan
>> Former EU Commissioner for Enlargement Gunther Verheugen was telling the truth about how Cyprus cheated its way into the EU a week after it rejected the Annan Plan
>> GC side is not honest and cannot tell Turkey it has no rights over the gas and oil around Cyprus