Front Page Headlines
Four in court about the van case
After two years of investigations, no surveillance case was substantiated. The case was filed in court and the suspects will be charged with cases involving mainly infringement of personal data and not surveillance. Questions remain unanswered though about the involvement of police officers of the drug squad and the central intelligence service (KYP) but also for the reasons the van was introduced as meteorological equipment.
- Gavriel case: Rebellion at DIKO by MPs
- National Guard officers: They are voting on a law on slackers
- Military officers: Freedom of speech without the right to exert criticism
- No to elections, time for local government reform – When they want (MPs) they wrap things up with fast procedures.
Tests also for the vaccinated
Review of the measures ahead of winter. They are looking into the necessity of tests for everyone. “We want to keep safety levels high”.
- Trilateral but of low expectations in New York
- Cabinet authorised the fisheries department to protect the sea areas of the Bases
- The sanctum doors of Ayios Anastasios church were handed over – They were located in Japan in the 1990s.
- Supermarkets react to the customers’ SafePass – They warn with measures if things don’t change.
The local government reform is a priority & a necessity
Extension of current terms of office for 2.5 years and launch of discussion on the voting of the bills.
- ‘Trilateral’ meeting in New York without any commitments
- AKEL leader’s visit to Pavlos Fyssas’ monument (in Greece) sends out messages
‘Unjust conviction always a reminder’
Appeal against conviction of British teen in Napa rape case heard by top court.
- Municipal elections postponed to facilitate reforms
- Royal Doors return home – Church and state on Thursday welcomed back to Cyprus the central, or royal doors, of the iconostasis of the church of Ayios Anastasios in the village of Peristeronopigi which had been stolen after the 1974 Turkish invasion and ended up in Japan.
Informal trilateral, pending the special representative of the Secretary-General
New York: Breakfast for September 27 was booked. The Turkish stance will, once again, set the tone on whether there will be developments as per the UNSG’s wishes. Hope that pressure will be exerted. Jane Holl Lute as Special Representative of the UNSG.
- Karoline Edtstadler: Clear support from Austria on Cyprus problem-migration issue
- The road has been paved for one of the biggest reforms Cyprus needs – Parliament: On May 2024 there will be (local government) elections. Comment by Anastasiades on local government.
Main News
Low expectations from informal trilateral meeting in NY
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that President Nicos Anastasiades has confirmed there would be an informal trilateral meeting with TC leader Ersin Tatar and UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York later this month.
Not much is expected from the meeting, however.
Anastasiades said that he will have a working breakfast with Tatar and Guterres in New York, without specifying the exact date.
Alithia, citing diplomatic sources reports that though no announcements are expected for the restart of the talks, there is hope that the Turkish side, after pressure, will agree on the appointment of a special representative by the UNSG. It all points out that this person will be Jane Holl Lute, the daily reports, adding that everything will once again depend on the Turkish stance and willingness for cooperation which is not visible for now.
The daily also reports that an announcement by the ‘presidency’ in the occupied areas said Tatar told outgoing UNSG Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar that he would be taking part in an informal meeting on September 27. The ‘presidency’ also claims that the GC side leaked to the press the consultations with UN officials without waiting for the official invitation, violating diplomatic norms.
Haravgi, citing valid information, reports that the TC side agreed as long as the meeting is informal, with no agenda and no commitment for any joint statement. The daily said the meeting is placed around the 26th or 27th of September. Diplomatic sources who know the background told Haravgi that if the tripartite meeting in New York fails to trigger a resumption of talks then the Cyprus issue will enter a protracted impasse. If the TC side insists on not issuing an announcement like the one made in 2017 in order to have a glimmer of hope for the resumption of talks, then things will be difficult to disastrous, such as the possibility of the Cyprus issue registered as ‘a frozen conflict’ and put in the back burner due to other developments and priorities of the international community, the paper reports.
Cyprus Mail reports that diplomatic sources told the Cyprus News Agency Guterres will also hold separate meetings with the two leaders. The same sources noted that on the substance of the issues, nothing seems to have changed, since the TC side continues to insist on its demand for sovereign equality and a two-state solution.
Politis reports the trilateral meeting was set for September 25. The daily also reports that Nicosia has requested a meeting of Anastasiades with US President Joe Biden in New York and, if not possible, perhaps with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Phileleftheros reports the trilateral meeting will be an opportunity for Anastasiades to reiterate that he will not agree to dialogue and positions that deviate from the framework of the Security Council resolutions. The daily also reports that the meeting is of low expectations as while Guterres wants to make use of the momentum, Tatar insists on recognition of the north’s sovereignty as a precondition.
Citing statements by Tatar, the paper also reports that the TC leader has insinuated he would seek to upgrade the pseudo-state, as he mentioned that, expect Guterres he could also meet heads of state and explain his positions on the Cyprus problem. He is to also meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
The dailies report that Anastasiades will depart for New York after the EUMED Summit which will take place on Friday in Athens. In addition to the MED7 countries (Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Malta), the Summit will be enlarged with the participation, for the first time, of Croatia and Slovenia.
‘EU needs to collectively tackle Ankara’s manipulation of migration crisis’
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations, EU Matters, Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides welcomed on Thursday Austria’s Federal Minister for the European Union Karoline Edtstadler who was on a working visit to Cyprus, the dailies report.
According to Phileleftheros messages of support and solidarity to Cyprus were sent by Edtstadler on the Cyprus issue and the provocative attitude of Turkey in Varosha, as well as on immigration.
The two ministers discussed apart from migration and the Cyprus talks, the forthcoming General Affairs Council to be held in September, the pandemic, EU’s relations with third countries, including with Turkey, and current issues of special interest such as enlargement and the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Christodoulides signed the Alpbach Declaration on the Future of Europe, already signed by Austria, Ireland, Greece, Hungary and Spain.
The dailies report that replying to a question about Turkey’s provocations and whether the EU’s approach is the appropriate one, the Austrian minister said that it is more than needed to show solidarity. She said that if some provocations and problems are occurring in a country like in Cyprus, “then it is needed to stand up in solidarity and to show that we are standing next to our partners and that is what it is important for me not only on migration but also if things occur like in the city of Varosha and the fact that migrants are used as a tool to blackmail not only Cyprus but also the whole of the EU.”
Edtstadler also said migration was an issue that needed to be tackled in the next months and years because it won’t stop. She noted that there is big pressure from migration. “We as the EU are clear that we can’t solve the problem nation-wise, we need to stick together.” She said that the proposed package on the table on the asylum system has a strong dimension on the external borders “because we need to help at the spot, in the neighbouring countries where the problems occur.”
“Third countries, transit countries, there needs to be mandatory solidarity and every member should be aware of the fact that it has to participate in the system, in one or the other way”, she said adding that issues can be overcome if countries stick together.
Christodoulides said that the flows to Cyprus have created a considerable burden for the government, for the society and for the people of Cyprus. He said there has been a sharp increase in applications for international protection in the last few years, while for the fourth consecutive year, Cyprus has recorded the highest per capita rate of registered first-time applications for asylum within the EU. The continuation of migration flows from Turkey, continues to be the main challenge faced by Cyprus, he added, as close to 80% of applicants for international protection in Cyprus come directly from Turkey or through the occupied areas.
He also said that “we also know very well that these numbers from Turkey and the push of migrants from the occupied areas to the Republic form part of a continuing concerted policy by Turkey which is consistent with the overall deplorable policy of Ankara to instrumentalise human lives, to score political gains from the EU.”
He said Cyprus has presented the situation to Brussels pressing for a collective EU reaction to Turkey’s methods and to the immense pressures faced by Cyprus, a member state. He also expressed gratitude about Austria’s solidarity in action and not only in words.
KEY ACTORS
Edtstadler (Austria)
>> Important for EU states to show solidarity for one another when one of them faces problems, like the migration issue Turkey is using to blackmail not only Cyprus but the whole bloc & the Varosha issue.
>> Important for EU tackle migration issue collectively in cooperation with third countries where the problem occurs.
Christodoulides
>> Migratory flows have created a considerable burden in Cyprus & are the main challenge faced.
>> Majority of migrants to Cyprus arrive through Turkey or north as part of Ankara’s concerted policy of instrumentalising human lives to score political gains from EU.
>> Nicosia expects collective EU reaction to Turkey’s methods & the immense pressures faced by Cyprus.
Complaints over morning delays at Ayios Dhometios crossing
Politis
CBMs, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that members of the Maronite community living in their occupied villages and who travel back and forth the two sides complain over the long delays observed at the Ayios Dhometios crossing point lately.
A person who relocated to Kormakitis two years ago told the paper that around 12 young families living at the village have been facing serious delays in crossing in the mornings through Ayios Dhometios in recent days since police take a long time to register in their systems the details of everyone crossing to the government-controlled areas. He said they were left waiting for 40 minutes yesterday and 25’ two days ago, while TCs cross immediately. He also said this means that children are late for school and are getting absence penalties.
He said the state is encouraging them to relocate to their villages but they are now having second thoughts because of the situation at the crossing.
Police spokesman Christos Andreou told Politis there is indeed increased traffic between 5am and 8am at the Ayios Dhometios crossing point because of students and workers crossing and that three checkpoints operate, two for GCs and one for TCs. He said, according to instructions, the data of everyone crossing must be registered with the system, and that police are using as much staff as possible during rush hours. He also said the registration procedure takes around a minute for each person, and that if four or five people are in a vehicle it takes some time to check everyone.
Repatriated religious artefact handed over to Church
Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that the Church and the state welcomed back to Cyprus on Thursday the central or ‘royal doors’ of the iconostasis of the church of Ayios Anastasios in the village of Peristeronopigi which had been stolen after the 1974 Turkish invasion and ended up in Japan.
The artefact was handed over to Archbishop Chrysostomos during a special ceremony at the Archbishopric. The 18th-century doors, located in Japan in the 1990s at the Kanazawa College of Art, returned to Cyprus after long efforts. Their repatriation was made possible following the coordinated efforts of the department of antiquities, the Cyprus embassy in Tokyo and the Church of Cyprus together with the authorities of the Kanazawa College of Art that was in possession of the doors.
Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said during the ceremony, that the repatriation of the royal doors of the Ayios Anastasios and in general the repatriation of works “belonging to our cultural heritage which have been stolen by the Turkish invaders and ruthless looters and then sold in the international black market of artworks conveys messages of optimism and hope to our country.”
Director of the Antiquities Department Marina Ieronimidou said the case was the first of its kind concerning the Asian continent and it looked almost impossible some years ago. However after the opening of the embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Tokyo efforts with all stakeholders including the Church of Cyprus intensified and yielded results, she said.
Phileleftheros reports that, at the ceremony, the message was sent that no matter how much time has passed, the Republic of Cyprus will continue to go after looters of antiquities who stole works of cultural and religious heritage from occupied Cyprus.
Turkey fails to close Loizidou case
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Property, Human Rights, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that another attempt by Turkey to close the supervision of a case concerning the property rights of Titina Loizidou, a GC with property in Kyrenia, failed on Thursday, as the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided to pursue its oversight role.
Citing the Cyprus News Agency, the papers report that the same body, sitting in Strasbourg on September 14-16, also decided to adopt an interim resolution concerning the damages Turkey has been called by the ECHR to pay to relatives of GC missing persons and to enclaved GC living in the Karpasia peninsula.
Diplomatic sources told CNA that member states were not persuaded during the session that Turkey did everything in its power to enforce a 1998 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for the restitution of the applicant’s rights.
“The decision is deemed to be important, given its great symbolic, as well as practical importance in relation to other issues pertaining to the property rights of displaced persons,” the same sources said. The dailies report this is not the first time Turkey attempts to close the supervision of the Loizidou case, with diplomatic sources underlining that the Committee of Ministers’ oversight will continue.
CNA reported that the Committee of Ministers also adopted an interim resolution, calling on Turkey in a stern manner to pay the damages awarded in the framework of the fourth interstate ‘Cyprus versus Turkey’ case. Following an interstate application in 1999, and a decision on merits in 2001, the ECHR ordered Turkey, in May 2014, to pay €90 m for non-pecuniary damages suffered by the relatives of missing persons (€30m) and the enclaved GCs living in the area of Karpasia (€60m), the dailies reported.