Front Page Headlines
Political dribble with Annita’s candidacy
Averof announced his choice first for the Presidency of Parliament… AKEL-DIKO searching.
- Checkpoints: Moved by meeting again
- Tourism: Disappointment over ‘orange’ Cyprus
- Epidemiologically: Even lower, even better
They’re looking for the anti-Annita
Averof threw the glove with a woman for the presidency and is waiting on the moves of the rest. Christiana entering the frame, Theopemptou gaining ground.
- Welcome with loukoumades in the occupied areas: Celebratory return to checkpoints
- Contacts by Lute, but the Cyprus problem landscape remains foggy
- They asked for evidence on Yiannaki from America
- Massive hospital being planned on land of the Kykkos monastery: Huge investment near Metochi
- The cost of Eleftheria square skyrocketed to €46 million: It was initially estimated at €22 million
Domineering behaviours to silence nurses and unionisation
AKEL: The Health Minister should respect union institutions.
- The opening of checkpoints brought smiles and hope
- ‘Golden’ passports: The size of the passports scandal bigger. 53% with illegal procedures.
- Averof proposed the vice-president of DISY, Annita Demetriou, for the presidency of Parliament
Free to cross the line again
Friends meet after more than a year apart, shop owners hopes up.
- Street artist in north Nicosia uses medium to bring people together
- Disy puts forward Annita Demetriou as House Speaker
- Cyta book to mark milestone reflects history of the island
Day of celebration after 15 months
A Greek Cypriot crossed with a wreath to take it to the grave of the child of a Turkish Cypriot friend of his. Human stories at the checkpoints. G/C and T/C celebrated with music. The occupied areas laid down a red carpet and handed out loukoumades.
- Averof makes check mate move with Annita
- Andros: I took the decision to step back a few months ago
Main News
Thousands use crossings on first day of reopening
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that thousands of people made their way across the divide through crossings on the first day of their reopening on Friday after a 15-month closure.
Haravgi and Alithia report that over 3,500 people crossed by noon. Cyprus Mail reports that according to police data, by 2.30pm, 1,271 people crossed to the south and 835 to the north through the Ayios Dhometios crossing, while 189 people crossed to the south and 264 to the north through the Ledra Street crossing. Some 130 people passed through the Ledra Palace crossing to visit the government-controlled areas, and 99 people crossed to the north. Mayor Andros Karayiannis said traffic was relatively low at the Dherynia crossing, with police data showing that by 11:30am 28 cars crossed to the north and 18 vehicles, 33 people, to the south. Cyprus Mail reports the crossing points of Strovilia and Pergamos also failed to see many visitors on Friday, with more people expected at the weekend.
All dailies report on the celebratory atmosphere that surrounded the reopening of crossings on Friday, with reports prominently featuring a move by a female employee of a TC shop in Ledra street who welcomed those crossing into the north with a sign and offered loukoumades. Cyprus Mail and Phileleftheros report that some Nicosia shopkeepers had rolled out red carpets but were later removed as the ‘mayor’ thought the move was excessive.
Politis reports no GC official visited the crossings on Friday, nor did the government issue any statement that would call for a resolution of the problems brought about by the pandemic with the aim of boosting contact between the two sides. The paper reports that the government was more interested in the matter of the House Speaker position and other affairs. Politis also reports that at least until late on Friday, the response from political parties was also limited, signalling that contact between the two communities as a factor that could help resolve the Cyprus problem remains low on their policy agendas.
Even so, Cyprus Mail reports that Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides described the reopening of crossings as “a positive development” but added that “it is not a solution to the Cyprus problem.” The paper also reported an announcement by reunification activist group Unite Cyprus Now, which said that “the closure split families, friends and loved ones and risked cementing the division of our country.”
The dailies also report on comments made by TC leader Ersin Tatar during a visit to the Ayios Dhometios crossing. Tatar said those who come to the north should not worry, noting that the TC side has recorded one tenth of the cases traced in the south, which counts 72,000 positives since the Covid outbreak. Despite the lower number of Covid cases in the north, Tatar reiterated the need to abide by coronavirus protocols such as the face mask mandate and social distancing. Tatar added that the reopening of checkpoints will benefit trade and the economy, and expressed hope that contacts between the two communities will continue. The dailies also report that Tatar said referred the issue of people originating from Turkey who live in the north and are unable to cross to the south to the UN.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Reopening of crossings a positive development but it is not a solution to the Cyprus problem
Tatar
>> Reopening of crossings will benefit trade and the economy
>> Hopes that contacts between the two communities will continue
Nicosia in contact with Lute to arrange her Cyprus visit
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The government is in contact with the UN Secretary General’s (UNSG) Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute in order to set a date for her visit to Cyprus, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said according to the dailies.
Christodoulides, in statements to CyBC, also said preparations are also underway for a meeting between President Nicos Anastasiades and US President Joe Biden, the dailieswrite.
Phileleftheros reports that the Cyprob landscape remains foggy, with officials only able to place Lute’s visit sometime within June. The paper reports that expectations for a successful resumption of talks remains low due to the stance being held by the Turkish side, though Lute’s visit could facilitate in clearing up the fog.
Regarding Lute’s new round of contacts to prepare the groundwork for a second informal five party summit and which have so far covered the three guarantor powers and the EU, Christodoulides said that in her discussions, Lute is touching on substantive issues involving the six fundamental chapters of the Cyprus problem.
The papers report that Christodoulides also said that despite the GC side’s wish to see the second informal summit take place as soon as possible, it is important that the groundwork is adequately prepared, since nothing would be worse than seeing the second summit be led to an impasse. Christodoulides also said the UNSG would not want to call a new summit if he isn’t almost certain that positive results could emerge.
Phileleftheros reports that Christodoulides added that the Turkish side’s rhetoric is creating difficulties for efforts to resume Cyprob talks. The paper adds that Christodoulides also highlighted the importance of getting the two leaders to sit down for a meeting, pointing to the meetings held in 2017 and 2019 in the presence of the UNSG, which he said were crucial for fostering mobility in the Cyprus problem. Christodoulides also said that changing the basis of the solution is not up for discussion, highlighting that positions expressed by the international community and powerful countries serve to boost Nicosia’s positions.
Phileleftheros reports that Nicosia is also focusing on upcoming meetings between the leaders of the US, Turkey and Greece, which will also affect Cyprob developments.
Cyprus Mail reports that Christodoulides also said that on Friday, the EU Director General for Structural Reform Support, Mario Nava, was in Cyprus for contacts. Nava held separate meetings with Christodoulides and Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis. Christodoulides said this was a very important visit at this stage since it also concerns issues of the EU financial regulation on the TC community. “It is a tool given by the EU to the TC community with the aim of reaching a settlement to the Cyprus problem based on the agreed framework,” Christodoulides said.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Nicosia in contact with Lute to arrange her visit to Cyprus
>> In her new round of contacts Lute is touching on substantive issues involving the six fundamental chapters of the Cyprus problem
>> Despite the GC side’s wish to see the second 5+1 take place as soon as possible, it is important that the groundwork is adequately prepared, since nothing would be worse than seeing the second summit be led to an impasse
>> The UNSG would not want to call a new summit if he isn’t almost certain that positive results could emerge
>> The Turkish side’s rhetoric is creating difficulties for efforts to resume Cyprob talks
>> Changing the basis of the solution is not up for discussion; Nicosia’s position strengthened by support from international community and powerful countries
>> Importance of getting the two leaders to sit down for a meeting