Front Page Headlines
Crisis with a robe in New York
Under the pressure of expat circles the President cancelled his meeting with the Archbishop of America.
- Presidential pension: He didn’t state it but he’s giving it to students
- Suspicious aircraft: In the shed of a company association and the Serb is nowhere to be found
Way out via a representative
Anastasiades-Guterres agree and are waiting for Tatar’s positive opinion. Confrontation on ‘two states’ from the podium of the UN General Assembly.
- Elpidophoros brings a crisis from the Turkish opening ceremony: Efforts for a meeting at an expat dinner
- Lobby and Authority for Corruption are being voted on together from Parliament
Half of Cypriot workers do not have money for heating
Cyprus is recording a 10% additional increase in energy poverty from 2019
- Cyprus problem: The UNSG will propose to the two leaders an envoy or representative
- The President gave answers but questions remain regarding his pension and the plot of land in Pera Pedi…
Urgent call for blood donations
Resumption of operations leads to low supplies.
Anastasiades closed the door on Elpidophoros
Who is the Archbishop that infuriated Cyprus. Elpidophoros’ hopes for the throne of the Ecumenical Patriarchate seem to be the reason for his connection with Erdogan. He participated in Erdogan’s fiesta next to the occupying leader Tatar.
- UN process: Guterres ready for the appointment of a special representative
- Pension-Pera Pedi: Reports on president Anastasiades’ wealth declaration being refuted
- Stefi Drakou: Bills for lobbying and corruption should go together as a packet
Main News
Anastasiades says met with Guterres in creative atmosphere
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades said Wednesday that his meeting with UN Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres had taken place in a creative atmosphere, the dailies report.
Anastasiades, in New York for the UN’s annual General Assembly, said new positions and ideas related to the Cyprus issue were raised during the 20-minute meeting that took place early Wednesday morning Cyprus time. The meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides, Government Spokesman Marios Pelekanos, UN Ambassador Andreas Hadjichrysanthou and member of the diplomatic office of the President Pantelis Pantelides.
“We have listed the views, positions over how a creative dialogue without prerequisites can be restarted. I have developed some positions and ideas and we have agreed that everything related to the Cyprus issue will also be discussed during the lunch we will have on the 27th, with Mr Tatar,” he said. He expressed hope that everything will go smoothly, so that there is a new outlook for Cyprus.
Alithia reports that government sources said Anastasiades presented in detail his proposal for a return to the 1960 constitution. Haravgi reports however that time constraints meant Anastasiades could not go into the details of his proposal which will be further discussed at the trilateral.
Politis reports that the appointment of a special envoy and/or a special representative was at the focus of the meeting’s discussion. The paper reports that a change in Turkey’s stance on the matter has been noticed. Citing information, Politis reports that Guterres told Anastasiades that Turkey will be accepting the appointment of a special advisor, laying the foundations for a new mobility in Cyprob efforts. Important developments are therefore expected during the trilateral meeting, the paper reports.
The papers report that Guterres is set to meet for with Tatar on Saturday.
Erdogan backs ‘new TC vision’ in UN General Assembly address
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, spoke of “a realistic approach” on the Cyprus problem and said sovereign equality and the equal international status of TCs was an essential element for a solution.
The dailies report that he said Turkey supported the TC’s new vision for the solution of the Cyprus problem and called on the international community to assess these ideas “with an open mind and without prejudice”.
Erdogan added that it was unfair that only one of the two leaders of “the two peoples” on the island was accepted as equal by the UN and was allowed to address the assembly while the other one could not make his voice heard on the same platform.
Erdogan also called for dialogue and cooperation and said Ankara’s proposal for an Eastern Mediterranean summit, that would also see the participation of the TC side, was still on the table. Nicosia, on the other hand, has invited Turkey to a dialogue over the delimitation of the maritime zones between their relevant coasts, including by submitting the issue to the International Court of Justice, Cyprus Mail reports.
President Nicos Anastasiades is due to address the assembly on Friday, with Phileleftheros reporting that he is expected to make extensive references to Nicosia’s positions and intentions. Citing a diplomatic source, the paper reports that Anastasiades will also indirectly respond to Erdogan’s statements, especially regarding his complaint over TC leader Ersin Tatar’s exclusion from the UN General Assembly podium.
KEY ACTORS
Erdogan (Turkey)
>> A realistic approach to the Cyprus problem is needed
>> Sovereign equality and the equal international status of TCs was an essential element for a solution
>> Turkey supports the TC’s new vision for the solution of the Cyprus problem & the international community must assess these ideas with an open mind and without prejudice
>> It is unfair that only one of the two leaders of the two peoples on the island is accepted as equal by the UN and is allowed to address the assembly while the other one could not make his voice heard on the same platform
>> Dialogue and Cooperation is needed & Ankara’s proposal for an Eastern Mediterranean summit is still on the table
Anastasiades cancels meeting with Archbishop Elpidophoros
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades’ meeting with the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Elpidophoros was called off because the cleric attended the opening of the ‘Turkish House’ in New York, the dailies report.
Anastasiades had been scheduled to meet with Elpidophoros as part of his contacts while in the US. The dailies report that though official reason given for the cancellation of the meeting was Anastasiades’ heavy schedule, it was actually because the Archbishop attended the opening on Monday of the Turkish House hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the presence of TC leader Ersin Tatar.
The Archbishop was heavily criticised for attending though some have defended the move, arguing that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is based in Istanbul and that such diplomatic moves were necessary, Cyprus Mail and Politis reports.
Alithia reports citing information that Anastasiades told his associates that he could not meet with Elpidophoros when a day earlier he was at the fiesta with the leader of the occupation forces.
Politis, describing the move as a blunder, reports that the decision was taken in a panic situation due to pressure from expat groups in the US. Politis reports that the move has sparked a diplomatic crisis in the relations between Cyprus and the Archdiocese of North and South America.
In a tweet on Monday, Elpidophoros said he had congratulated Erdogan on the opening of the Turkish House, together with UN Secretary General (UNSG) Guterres. “As always I insist on the importance of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the reopening of the Halki Theological School, and supporting the rights of religious minorities of Turkey,” he added.
Politis reports that angry expat groups apparently do not understand the balance that Elpidophoros must keep as a Turkish citizen and as a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The paper adds that circles within the Archdiocese say that Elpidophoros received an official invitation from a Turkish diplomatic representative and was not aware who else received an invitation. Phileleftheros however reports that Elpidophoros was made aware that Tatar would be present by Greek diplomats and representatives of expat groups.
Alithia reports that Elpidophoros is attempting to enhance his relationship with Erdogan in every way possible because he has his eyes set on the throne of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Politis reports citing information that efforts are being made to reschedule the meeting between Anastasiades and Elpidophoros, so that the situation does not have repercussions that would burden both parties. The paper reports that interventions are also being made to avoid any announcements by expat groups that would criticise the Archbishop.
Archbishop Elpidophoros is expected to attend an event with a mostly Cypriot guest list on Friday, that with some fearing problems will arise that could worsen the already fraught climate, Politis writes. Phileleftheros reports that given the fiasco it is uncertain whether Elpidophoros will actually attend. The paper writes that Elpidophoros might meet privately with Anastasiades before the event to smooth out the crisis.
Politis and Alithia reports that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis did not follow in Anastasiades’ footsteps, and has retained his meeting with Elpidophoros on Friday night.
Spehar: Citizens must get engaged with Cyprob solution efforts
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
We expect great things from Cyprus leaders but they need help, and citizens must get engaged and contribute to efforts for a sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem, the UN Secretary General’s (UNSG) Special Representative in Cyprus, Elizabeth Spehar said according to the dailies.
Addressing a reception on Wednesday to mark the completion of the UN Youth Champions Programme for Environment and Peace 2021, organised together with the British Council and the COOPower project, and to also celebrate the International Day of Peace, Spehar said that in order to solve the Cyprus problem in a sustainable way “we need all citizens to pitch in and certainly we believe that young people in particular have a crucial role to play.”
Addressing the young people who attended the event and participated in the Programme, Spehar told them that “every grain of sand that you put towards environment and peace, towards reconciliation, towards understanding the views and the aspirations of young people from the other side, this is all an extra stepping stone towards a sustainable peace and that’s what we need to get to.”
She also thanked all those that contributed to the implementation of the UN Youth Champions Programme for Environment and Peace 2021, in which 25 young Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots participated, Cyprus Mail reports.
The paper adds that the event was also attended by the UK Deputy High Commissioner to Cyprus and the Director of the British Council in Cyprus, who also addressed participants, underlining the role of young people in establishing peace. Co-chairs of the bicommunal Technical Committee on the Environment were also present at the reception.
KEY ACTORS
Spehar (UN)
>> We expect great things from Cyprus leaders but they need help, and citizens must get engaged and contribute to efforts for a sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem
>> All citizens must pitch in & young people especially have a crucial role to play
>> Every effort towards the environment, peace, reconciliation & understanding the views and aspirations of young people from the other side is an extra stepping stone towards sustainable peace