GCC Press Review 30 July 2021

Front Page Headlines

Politis

The road is paved for the vaccination also of 12-year-olds

They are investing on the SafePass to save hospitals from congestion with Covid patients. Extension of the measure for obligatory presentation of the SafePass is a one-way road for the government since it is being proved as an important tool for keeping Cyprus’ epidemiological outlook under control at the time when the situation in state hospitals remains critical. Yes to the vaccination of people 12 and over say the health ministry and the paediatricians. Objections were raised by some of the members of the epidemiology team who suggest vaccination for those 15 and over due to lack of data for the ages 12 to 14.

  • UNFICYP resolution: Satisfaction by Nicosia, it is of no meaning says Ankara

Phileleftheros

Yes to the vaccination of children

The scientific committee and paediatricians have decided to give the green light for the ages 12 to 15. Suggestion to the Cabinet for obligatory SafePass in places where more than 10 people gather.

  • (UNFICYP mandate) It was approved pure, without British side-effects – Discontent in Ankara and the occupied areas with the Turkish side accusing the UN of its positions.
  • Erdogan is giving work to his friends – Spoils of millions for Turkish businessmen in the occupied areas (review of TC press on the matter).
  • Heatwave in the Mediterranean and the Balcans – It could last until the end of August.

Haravgi

The status quo is not sustainable… solution based on a BBF

Security Council: The situation on the ground is not static… It unanimously adopted resolution 2587, which renews UNFICYP’s mandate of for another six months. The lack of agreement widens political tensions and deepens the alienation of both communities. Need to further strengthen inter-community contacts and talks in a spirit of flexibility and compromise.

  • Pandemic: Expansion of the SafePass and vaccination of teenagers
  • After AKEL, the ombudswoman is now also against the abolition of the free rapid tests

Cyprus Mail

Cabinet to mull tightening noose

SafePass could be made universal, Lottides warns against the move.

Alithia

They are tightening the noose more!

Coronavirus: The noose is closing in on the unvaccinated. The Cabinet decides today further tightening of measures against the pandemic from August 1. SafePass also in less crowded places such as minimarkets, kiosks etc. On the table is also the vaccination of children over 12, reactions by scientists.

  • US-Britain disagreement over Cyprus – The UNFICYP resolution was approved without the British additions. Christodoulides: The British additions were creating a constructive ambiquity.
  • Turkish Foreign Ministry: Ankara scorns the new resolution

Main News

Nicosia welcomes UNFICYP mandate renewal, rid of UK’s ambiguous wording

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

OVERVIEW

The UN Security Council adopted the renewal of the UNFICYP’s mandate for another six months after Nicosia succeeded in having references put in by penholder Britain that were creating “constructive ambiguity”, removed, the dailies report.

Ankara dismissed the resolution as of no meaning criticising the UN of not seeking the consent also of the TC side.

Alithia, Cyprus Mail and Politis report that the foreign ministry, in a statement, welcomed the unanimous renewal of the UNFICYP mandate which reaffirms its Presidential Statement of July 23 concerning illegal Turkish actions in Varosha. The ministry said that it was important that in relation to Varosha, the resolution reiterates the Security Council’s position that no action should be taken that is incompatible with previous resolutions and calls for actions to be avoided that undermine the prospects for a peaceful solution.

It also recalled the body’s earlier Presidential Statement which condemns the July 20 announcement by Turkish and TC leaders on the issue of Varosha and calls for the immediate reversal of this course of action and the reversal of all steps taken on Varosha since October 2020 reaffirming the status of Varosha as set out in its previous resolutions.

The ministry highlighted that the Security Council made explicit reference to resolution 1251 by which it clarifies its position that a Cyprus solution must be based on one Cypriot state with a single sovereignty nationality and international personality, its independence and territorial integrity guaranteed, and comprising two politically equal communities. This reference said the ministry serves to send a clear message as to the reasons why it has not been possible to resume talks so far but also regarding future efforts, the dailies report.

It is precisely in this context, the ministry said, that the Security Council regrets that no agreement has been reached on the resumption of negotiations at the informal meeting in Geneva on 27-29 April 2021, and reaffirms its full support for the Secretary-General’s ongoing efforts for the resumption of the negotiation process, on the basis of a bi-zonal bi-communal federation.

“It notes the reduction of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and underlines the need for the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, a message that could only have Turkey as its exclusive recipient” the ministry added.

Cyprus Mail also reports that the resolution “regrets the lack of progress on an effective mechanism for direct military contacts between the sides and the relevant involved parties and urges engagement by the sides and the relevant involved parties facilitated by UNFICYP to develop a suitably acceptable proposal on the establishment of such a mechanism and its timely implementation.”

Haravgi points out that the resolution stresses that “the status quo is unsustainable, that the situation on the ground is not static, and that the lack of an agreement furthers political tensions and deepens the estrangement of both communities, risking irreversible changes on the ground, and reducing the prospects of a settlement.”

The dailies also report on Turkey’s reaction citing the Turkish foreign ministry saying the resolution was full of inconsistencies, disconnected from realities, while it ignores once again the will of the TCs.

It also said it was against the UN’s own rules and principles that the ‘TRNC’s’ consent was not taken for the extension of the mandate of UNFICYP. The Turkish foreign ministry said there will never be a just, lasting and sustainable settlement on the island, if the Security Council will not secure the sovereign equality and equal international status of the TCs. It also said such resolutions have no meaning and value for Ankara.

According to Alithia, it took intense an diplomatic battle to pass the resolution without the additions by Britain that created ambiguities and were covering up the Turkish side.

The daily reports that Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides told state broadcaster CyBC the rejection of the British additions was made with the strong support of the US and the assistance of other countries including Russia and France. The minister stressed that the British additions were creating “constructive ambiguity” and were encouraging the Turkish side to continue with its well-known approaches. The target, he said, is to send a clear message that there cannot be a change of the form of the solution. He also said the circle cannot be squared in relation to the form of the Cyprus problem and this is the clear message sent by the Security Council. Christodoulides said the effort continues for averting faits accomplis and for the resumption of the talks.

Politis reports that Nicosia’s efforts for pressure on Turkey in relation with Varosha were successful and that what remains is the UN and EU condemning statements to be utilised at practical level to reverse the Erdogan-Tatar announcements that have been condemned by the international community.

The daily said that the texts of the EU and the Security Council Presidential statements and of the resolutions reflect Nicosia’s positions but they are not enough to change the situation in Varosha and the talks process. Nicosia now is waiting for the EU to make use of the tools in its disposal by applying the European Council’s decisions of last March which were confirmed in June. If the bloc only imposes sanctions on some individuals or legal entities then the whole attempt will end up in a fiasco since the only thing that will remain will be the condemnation statements without any substance, the daily reported. At the same time, the Turkish side rejects the condemnations and shows no intention of complying with the demand for the revocation of the decisions on Varosha, Politis adds.

Phileleftheros reports that within two weeks, the Cypriot diplomacy succeeded in tackling the British plans within the Security Council and the result was a resolution clear from the British side-effects.

KEY ACTORS
Security Council (UN)
>>
Reaffirms its Presidential Statement that condemns Turkish side’s announcements on Varosha, calls for reversal of actions in fenced area & calls against any action incompatible with previous resolutions or that undermine prospects for a peaceful solution.
>> Cyprob solution must be based on one Cypriot state with a single sovereignty, nationality & international personality, its independence and territorial integrity guaranteed, and comprising two politically equal communities.
>> Regrets that no agreement has been reached on the resumption of negotiations at the informal 5+1 summit & reaffirms full support for the UNSG’s ongoing efforts for the resumption of the negotiation process, based on a BBF.
>> Notes reduction of tensions in the East Med & underlines need for peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.
>> Regrets lack of progress on an effective mechanism for direct military contacts between the sides & involved parties & calls for engagement facilitated by UNFICYP for a suitably acceptable proposal on the establishment of such a mechanism and its timely implementation.
>> Warns that status quo is unsustainable & situation on the ground is not static while lack of an agreement furthers political tensions, deepens the estrangement of both communities, risking irreversible changes on the ground, and reducing the prospects of settlement.

Christodoulides – RoC MFA
>>
British additions to UNFICYP resolution were creating constructive ambiguity & encouraging the Turkish side to continue with its well-known approaches.
>> Circle cannot be squared on change of Cyprob solution form & Nicosia aimed UNSC sending out clear message there cannot be change to this.
>> Nicosia’s effort continues for averting faits accomplis & for resumption of talks.
>> Nicosia welcomes UNSC resolution on UNFICYP renewal that sends out important messages against Turkish moves in Varosha, who’s to blame for failure to resume talks and that solution must be based on BBF.

Turkish MFA
>>
UNSC resolution full of inconsistencies, disconnected from realities, & ignores once again the will of the TCs as the ‘TRNC’s’ consent was not taken for the extension of the UNFICYP mandate.
>> There never be a just, lasting & sustainable settlement in Cyprus if SC will not secure the TCs’ sovereign equality and equal international status, so such resolutions have no meaning and value for Ankara.


 CoE calls for reversal of Turkish decisions on Varosha

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/International Relations, Territory, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that Council of Europe (CoE) called for the reversal of the decision by the Turkish side to further reopen the fenced area of Varosha.

In a declaration issued on Wednesday, the CoE’s Secretary-General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, expresses concern by the announcements of the President of Turkey and the leader of the TC community on 20 July regarding the further re-opening of the fenced-off area of Varosha.
 
“Such unilateral action is regrettable as it would be in contradiction with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions which are fully recognised by the Council of Europe. We call for the reversal of this decision. Dialogue between the two communities should be resumed” says Burić.
 
We hope that the statement made by the Presidency of the UN Security Council regarding Varosha – the fenced-off part of Famagusta – will contribute towards the renewal of the settlement talks, the CoE Secretary General adds.
 
“The Council of Europe stands ready to support the UN-sponsored efforts in this respect. The human rights of all Cypriots should be fully respected on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions and in line with guarantees provided by the European Convention on Human Rights” she said.


Petrol station owners lambast people buying fuel in north

Cyprus Mail
CBMs, Economy

OVERVIEW

The daily reports that the Petrol Station Owners Association criticised people who cross to the north to fill up their tanks.

Head of the association, Stefanos Stefanou, told Sigma TV it was wrong for people to do so on principle but also because the north does not comply with EU regulations on fuel meaning that it is less environmentally friendly to run a car on fuel purchased there.

Stefanou blamed the higher prices in the south on EU regulations, such as steeper taxes and requiring the use of more expensive fuels.  Stefanou said this happens because Cyprus is in the EU and is obliged to have consumer taxes, the lowest being 16 cents per litre without a cap. “In Cyprus we’re at 45 cents per litre and there’s VAT on top of that leading to a total of 60 cents per litre,” Stefanou said. The daily reports that fuel prices in the north are typically about half compared to those in the government-controlled areas in the south.


Cyprus-Slovakia sign MoU on defence & military cooperation

Alithia, Cyprus Mail
External Security, Regional/International Relations, EU Matters

OVERVIEW

Cyprus and Slovakia signed on Thursday a Memorandum of Understanding which aims to establish general principles and procedures for the promotion of defence and military cooperation.

The memorandum was signed by the two countries’ defence ministers Charalambos Petrides and Jaroslav Nad in Nicosia.

The two ministers also discussed bilateral relations, ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean region as well as the recent developments in Cyprus and the EU.

Petrides expressed Nicosia’s appreciation for Slovakia’s invaluable contribution to the UNFICYP with a Slovak contingent stationed on the island for the past 20 years. He also noted that the bilateral ties between the two countries were at a very high level. Petrides said that they also discussed Turkey’s provocations in the fenced area of Varosha as well as in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone. He stressed that more effective measures must be taken by the international community especially by the EU which can use the necessary tools to give Turkey a very clear message to cease its aggressive behaviour against Cyprus and respect international law.

The Slovak minister said that although his country has been contributing to the security of Cyprus for the past 20 years which has fundamentally shaped the bilateral ties with the Republic of Cyprus, “we have so far missed out on a contractual basis an agreement for fostering our excellent and smooth cooperation.” He expressed the belief that with the signing of the MoU the two countries would work towards a further desired intensification of their political-military engagement.

He said the goal of the MoU “was to set the main principles and procedures for the delivery of our all-inclusive cooperation in the field of defence with the Republic of Cyprus.” This has already been underway today in the form of political talks and our joint participation in PESCO projects, he added. The minister also said this cooperation can be furthered in many other areas such as military exercises and armaments.


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