Front Page Headlines
A… ‘homeless’ president with many pensions
Nicos Anastasiades is almost poor but with a rich wife and daughters. President Anastasiades appears in his Declaration of Wealth statements without a home, with the fields left to him by his grandfather and mother in his birthplace Pera Pedi, and complementing his monthly salary with three pensions. The First Lady appears to have a huge fortune. He carved plots and divided them among his two daughters. Questions are raised about the two apartments that the president stated he rents in Limassol, with a total annual income of just € 6,000! Zeta (Emilianidou) has Sigma shares and three pensions, Christodoulides has cash deposits in Belgium, Constantinos Petrides sold an apartment in Brussels to pay off loans while the deputy ministers appear to be from well-to-do to millionaires.
- Lute is going, Melissa is not coming – She (Lute) left us for Shell.
- EDEK Paphos: Complaints to the police for Sizopoulos’ guards
A trilateral of low expectations
Nicos Anastasiades is pessimistic on developments on the Cyprus problem due to Erdogan and Tatar. He will raise the negative situation and the GC side’s readiness to the UNSG.
- An aircraft suspected of carrying weapons has been sitting at a warehouse (at the Paphos airport) since 2019 – UN experts are coming to inspect it.
- Picture of abandonment at the Larnaca Turkish neighbourhood – The municipality states inability to do more.
- The president receives three pensions totalling €80,000 per year
- Inhumane treatment of a pregnant woman from Syria
Declaration of Wealth with a lot of real estate and shares for the president and ministers
Cabinet members are shareholders in companies, banks, media outlets.
- Cyprus problem: Dangerous experimentations by Anastasiades who keeps the political leadership in the dark
- They are hiding the truth for the Israeli spy van
Concerns over card payments
Low-profit margins on cigarettes and other items hit small shops mostly.
- President declares net worth of €266,000, deposits of €115,000
I am going to the trilateral without as much optimism as I’d like
The president is meeting Guterres today. Anastasiades: The statements of Erdogan-Cavusoglu-Tatar do not make us optimistic. I will convey to Guterres alternative proposals to break the deadlock, from the decentralisation of powers and the CBMs to the proposal on the 1960 Constitution. Antonio Guterres’ informal meeting with the two leaders is on September 27. Jane Holl Lute’s services are terminated.
- As of September 27: Crossings from the crossing points without checking the vaccinated?
- Mystery aircraft at the Paphos airport
- EDEK: A candidate has reported three of Sizopoulos’ guards
- Anastasiades’, Annita’s, ministers’ Declarations of Wealth
- Discussion in parliament for the separation of a foreign mother from her child
Main News
Anastasiades: Not optimistic about NY trilateral
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that President Nicos Anastasiades said he was not optimistic about any positive developments in New York on the Cyprus problem due to the repeated statements by the Turkish side for a two-state solution.
Jane Holl Lute will leave her post as special envoy on the Cyprus problem since she will be assuming duties as a board member of Shell.
Anastasiades is to meet UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres on Tuesday. According to Haravgi, this is part of the customary meetings the UNSG holds with all leaders on the margins of the UN General Assembly. The scheduled half-hour meeting will take place at 5.55 pm New York time, Haravgi reports.
Anastasiades said during a press conference on Monday evening he was “not as optimistic” as he would like to be regarding the upcoming informal meeting with Guterres and TC leader Ersin Tatar, expected to take place on September 27, due to the repeated statements by either Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu repeated by Tatar.
He said, however, that what matters is that the meeting takes place and that “we are determined to give what is needed in the sense of interpreting proposals that have been tabled, and if the other side shows goodwill and redefines goals, to create conditions that allow us to be led to a new dialogue.” He expressed the hope of the Turkish side, after strong condemnation from both the EU and the UN, as well as a number of countries playing a role in the international arena, would change the positions it has submitted in writing to the Secretary-General at the informal meeting in Geneva.
Anastasiades said he would resubmit to Guterres alternative proposals that he had tabled from time to time to lift the impasse. These include the decentralisation of powers, proposals for confidence-building measures (CBMs) and his recent reference to return to the 1960 Constitution under certain conditions to ensure the continuation of the state and its evolution to what has been agreed on the High-Level Agreements and based on the UN resolutions.
Therefore, he said, by referring to the Establishment Treaties, we also refer to the prohibition of union of part or all or secession of part or all with any state or secession from the central state and therefore the basis of negotiation is restored as originally agreed beyond the Turkish claims for recognition. He also mentioned that the return to the provisions of the 1960 Constitution responds to the allegations of the TC side that it is excluded from participating in the administration of the country and that it is a GC administration. Secondly, he said, it refers to High-Level Agreements, to UN resolutions and EU principles in the pursuit of a solution. The High-Level Agreements are clear and determine what the solution will be, as do the resolutions and the UNSG’s mandate, that do not deviate from the agreed solution basis, he added. On the contrary, he argued, with the reference to the 1960 Constitution, we restore the right basis based on the Establishment Treaties and the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus based on the High-Level Agreements. “That was my statement and this is what should be kept and not the isolated part which some chose to consider that we are returning to the unitary state,” he said.
The dailies also report that Anastasiades confirmed reports that the services of Guterres’ special envoy for Cyprus Jane Holl Lute would be terminated. He said Lute has joined the board of directors of an oil company raising concerns on potential conflicts of interest with Cyprus and Turkey. The dailies, citing sources, report that Lute joined the board of Shell and she will be replaced.
Politis reports that the rejection by the Turkish side of Melissa Parke, who was to replace outgoing UNSG Special Representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar, was part of the new tactic by Turkey and the TC side to give separate consent on all issues. Due to the impasse, Lute will remain in her position until the new special representative is appointed, the daily reports adding that this new game by the Turkish side on separate consent is not able to hold the UNSG back as he has the right to appoint whomever he wishes since consultation with the parties does not mean co-decision.
Haravgi also reports that AKEL spokesman Giorgos Koukoumas called on Anastasiades not to table his proposal for a return to the 1960 Constitution, arguing that at the most crucial moment for the Cyprus problem, the president is making dangerous experimentations. The only thing this would succeed is for the GC side to be blamed for heading towards the 1960 unitary state, he said.
Koukoumas said that instead of Turkey and TC side finding themselves at fault over their unacceptable demand for two states, the GC side too would find itself accused. He also said Anastasiades did not discuss with the party leaders his idea on a decentralised federation.
DIKO, without entering into the issue of the 1960 proposal, emphasises that the president must strongly insist on the resumption of negotiations on the agreed basis as defined by the resolutions of the UN Security Council, the daily reports.
Haravgi also reports that Anastasiades will submit in his meeting with Guterres the whole bouquet of ideas he has had over time. It remains to be seen if this will break the deadlock, the daily reports, adding that the ghost of a prolonged and devastating impasse hovers with the risk of the Cyprus problem branded as a frozen conflict and put on the back burner.
The dailies also report that Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides is discussing the Cyprus problem and bilateral relations during contacts in New York.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Not so optimistic about trilateral due to Turkish side’s stand on two-state solution but hopes it will shift its positions now that it was condemned by UN, EU & international community to allow new dialogue on Cyprob.
>> Will resubmit to Guterres proposals on decentralised powers, CBMs & 1960 Constitution.
>> Proposal on return to 1960 Constitution aims at ensuring continuation of RoC & its evolution based on High-Level Agreements & UN resolutions but also refute TC claims they have been excluded by GCs from running the country. Not an attempt to return to the unitary state.
Koukoumas (AKEL)
>> Calls on Anastasiades not to table his proposal on 1960 Constitution which is dangerous experimentation that would find GCs accused of attempting a return to unitary state at a most crucial moment for the Cyprob, instead of Turkish side taking the blame for two-state solution demand.
DIKO
>> Calls on Anastasiades strongly insist on resumption of talks on the agreed basis as defined by the UNSC resolutions.
Anastasiades honours AJC head for helping in regional-US ties
Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The paper reports that President Nicos Anastasiades on Sunday, while in New York, decorated the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, David Harris, with the Medal of the Grand Commander of the Order of Makarios III.
Harris received this honour for his “extraordinary work in defence of human rights and dignity around the world, as well as his immense contribution to the enhancement of relations between Cyprus, Israel, Greece and the United States.”
Anastasiades said this was a symbolic reciprocation of the feelings of gratitude and appreciation of the Cypriot people. He said Harris’ commitment to defend human dignity and promote peace in the wider Middle Eastern region is unparalleled and that is why Turkey’s human rights abuses in Cyprus could not have gone unnoticed by him. Ever since the military invasion of Turkey in 1974, Harris never shied away from condemning not only Turkey’s actions but also all those who, based on their own interests, turn a blind eye to the unacceptable status quo in Cyprus, Anastasiades said.
Anastasiades also referred to Harris’ tireless work in seeing the trilateral partnership between Cyprus – Greece – Israel being materialised but also in constantly and persistently strengthening it. An act with profound geopolitical meaning, as it establishes the institutional framework for energy and security cooperation between the US, Cyprus, Israel and Greece, Anastasiades said.
Harris referred to the will of the Jewish American community, the Greek and GC American community to enhance the ties among Cyprus, Greece and Israel.
Referring to the Cyprus problem, Harris said they wanted to send a message to the regional predators, including those who continue to occupy more than a third of Cyprus that theirs is not the path of the future. “Ours is the path of the future. And Cyprus, Israel and Greece are engines of this train. And others have joined this train, and there are still more countries that can be added to the train and more topics that can be added to the agenda of this train,” he said.
Harris also said there is no limit to what can be achieved with cooperation.
Vaccinated people may not have to show test result to cross
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
CBMs, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
The dailies, citing TC media, reports that according to Dr Deren Oygar, ‘deputy health minister’ and head of the ‘Supreme Council on infectious diseases’, the Technical Committee on Health is to discuss on Thursday the possibility of vaccinated people not having to present a test result in order to cross between the two sides as of September 27.
This will depend on the epidemiological outlook in the two communities, the daily reports.
Oygar also said that the Technical Committee discussed last Friday issues on the European vaccination certificate and the return of AstraZeneca doses that have not been used and which expire at the end of October.
She said the TC side was told that no other arrangement is ready as regards the European vaccination certificate for TCs other than the link already announced which will be valid until the end of September.
As regards the AZ vaccines, she said 40,000 doses, delivered to the TC side on August 3 and 10, would be returned as they expire on October 30 and would not be possible to be used before that date. She said around 13,000 to 14,000 vaccinations were carried out with the AZ jab, and though it provides good coverage against the Delta variant, it was not very popular among people, they report.
Larnaca TC quarter remains neglected
Phileleftheros
Property
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that some areas of the TC quarter in Larnaca are much neglected and present an image of abandonment.
In some parts there are hardly any roads, the daily reports, adding the few remaining GC residents of the area spanning south of the dilapidated so-called green apartment building up to the area of the former TC cinema, talk about an unbearable situation.
Some of these buildings due to their bad condition, are rented at low rates to foreign nationals, while the rest of the residents of the area, seeing the rising number of former TC residents returning and claiming their homes, avoid spending money on the maintenance of their premises, the daily reports.
Residents welcome the redevelopment of other parts of the TC quarter by the Larnaca municipality arguing however that it is not enough as much of the area continues to be downgraded.
Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras admitted there are many other things that need to be done but that the municipality needs the cooperation and support of the interior ministry as the Guardian of TC properties.
On the subject of the many abandoned or dilapidated premises, Vyras stated that there is a continuous effort to locate their legal users where possible, a process that is not that easy. He also said that from time to time the municipality has been informing the interior ministry about the serious problems at the TC quarter, and is waiting for its proposals and suggestions on how to solve them.
UN experts to inspect aircraft suspected of smuggling arms to Libya
Alithia, Phileleftheros
External Security
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that UN experts are set to arrive in Cyprus in November to inspect a private two-seater plane that has been parked at the Paphos airport since 2019, after it emerged it may have been carrying arms to Libya.
The aircraft, owned by a Serbian company, was en route to Jordan and then Libya when it had asked for an emergency landing in Larnaca citing the war situation at its final destination. The owner later arranged for the aircraft to be parked at a shed at the Paphos airport and remains there since 2019.
A month ago, police were alerted to guard the aircraft after a report by the UN Sanctions Committee found that it had a dangerous flight plan. Police were asked to guard the plane until the arrival of UN experts who will inspect it.
Alithia, citing sources, reports that what the experts will investigate is whether it was converted to be able to incorporate arms or cameras for observation or spy activities. The ‘Thrush 510 G Lasa’ two-seater aircraft which can be used mainly for aerial spraying or firefighting can easily be converted with the integration of a machine-gun, rockets and spy cameras, the daily reports.
Phileleftheros raises the question of whether the plane’s cargo will still be intact given the aircraft was not guarded for such a long time.