GCC Press Review 24 Sept 2021

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Shadows cast over favours to businessmen-politicians

The Ports Authority is being investigated for direct leasing of land in Vasiliko to two companies.

  • They are bashing Elpidoforos, Tatar is laughing

Phileleftheros

49 hours in the First Aid department

A patients died after 18 hours of waiting at the accident and emergency department (A&E). A work schedule for nurses. Revealing cases from the Nicosia general hospital.

  • Tatar is setting terms for the new representative: He wants them to be outside the ‘resolutions umbrella’
  • They asked him not to attend the dinner in Anastasiades’ honour – The expats are furious with Elpidoforos.
  • The Republic will assume the treatment of TC Asya

Haravgi

He went to the A&E on Tuesday and got served on Thursday

SOS from the A&Es, lives are in danger.

  • Tatar does not agree to a special representative
  • The country does not need bad copies of Trump in crucial ministries (AKEL on Interior Minister Nicos Nouris)

Cyprus Mail

‘Landmark’ law on power supply

Consumers will have the chance to choose cheaper energy suppliers.

  • Help for TC baby – The health ministry said on Thursday it would pay for the expensive treatment for 11-month Asya Polatli who suffers from a rare spinal muscular atrophy.

Alithia

A move by the Republic with humanitarian and political importance

On Anastasiades’ instructions, we have decided to offer treatment to the 10-month-old TC Asya, which Turkey refuses to offer by putting forth various obstacles. The baby is in a hospital in Turkey while efforts are underway for her transfer to Makarios hospital for treatment which will cost around €2m. We are sending out the message to the TCs that it is not Turkey that stands by them but the Republic of Cyprus, which is something the TC press is already stressing.

  • The Anastasiades-Mitsotakis hour – Their speeches at the UN are today. They are anticipated with interest. The closer the trilateral, the harder the Turkish stance. Tatar says no to a federation, return to 1960, to CBMs and to the appointment of a new representative by Antonio Guterres.
  • Elpidoforos is trying to open communication bridges with Cyprus-Greece – New reactions.
  • The vaccinated will be able to cross with a negative test

Main News

Anastasiades to address UNGA today, Tatar rejects representative appointment

Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

As the informal meeting of the two leaders with UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres gets closer, TC leader Ersin Tatar continues the intransigent stand in favour of a two-state solution, the dailies report.

Alithia reports that the speeches of President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis are taking place today and will both refer to the Cyprus problem, while preparations for the informal trilateral between Guterres and the two leaders are in full swing. 

The daily reports that Anastasiades’ speech is expected to start at 4pm Cyprus time and there will be references to the GC side’s readiness to enter talks on the agreed solution framework based on Security Council resolutions. At the same time, it is expected to draw attention once again to the Turkish provocations and Ankara’s insistence on changing the agreed solution base and promoting two states.

Anastasiades will later have a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and will after that host a working lunch for the permanent representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council.

The dailies report that TC leader Ersin Tatar is setting his own terms for the appointment of a new envoy by the UN on the Cyprus problem.

Phileleftheros and Alithia report that Tatar said that the UNSG can appoint a new envoy of his, but the TC side was against the appointment of a new representative for talks for a bicommunal federation as there is no longer common ground for this. He said there is a new policy on Cyprus now.

Haravgi reports that Tatar, in a recital of intransigence just two days before his meeting Guterres, said he would not agree to the appointment of a special representative who needs to be approved by the Security Council and who will discuss based on what has been agreed on a BBF solution, but that the UNSG could appoint a special envoy.

According to Phileleftheros, the aim of the UNSG is to appoint a new representative on the Cyprus either through the Security Council as was the case of Espen Barth Eide, or directly as was the case of Jane Holl Lute. Nicosia was certain the first option would not be easy due to objections by the Turkish side for an appointment by the Security Council because such a thing would mean the envoy would be obliged to move within the framework set by the SC’s resolutions while an appointment directly by the UNSG could allow for a greater margin of moves and a more open dialogue, the daily reported.

In another article, the daily reports that diplomatic sources estimate that the Turkish side leaves almost no room for optimism. As it is pointed out, if the occupying leader, in his meeting with the UNSG on Saturday, reiterates his well-known uncompromising positions on ‘sovereign equality’ and ‘equal international status’ rejecting the proposal to appoint a special envoy, the outcome of Monday’s informal meeting is doomed to fail, it reports.

According to Alithia, the closer the trilateral the harder the Turkish stance.

KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>>
Will agree to appointment of UNSG special envoy but not of representative whose mandate will be to talk on a BBF solution for which there is no longer common ground.


Reactions against Archbishop Elpidoforos continue

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

OVERVIEW

Reactions to the decision by the Archbishop Elpidoforos of America to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Turkish House (Turkevi) in New York in the presence of TC leader Ersin Tatar continue as the primate is trying to mend fences, the dailies report.

Both Alithia and Cyprus Mail cite a report by state broadcaster CyBC, the US archbishopric would try to mend fences by trying to arrange an appointment with President Nicos Anastasiades within the coming days.

Phileleftheros reports that there is crisis in Elpidoforos’ relations with Greece, Cyprus and the expats in the US. Both Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis called off their meetings with the archbishop, the daily reported, adding that Greek government spokesman Yiannis Economou, said Athens was disturbed by Elpidoforos’ moves.

According to the paper the Federation of Cypriot American Organisations told Elpidoforos it would be best not to attend the dinner to be held on Friday evening with Anastasiades as the guest of honour. Politis reports that Elpidoforos’ request to attend a dinner yesterday by Greek expats and another one tonight by Cypriot organisations was turned down.

Phileleftheros also reports that Greek American groups and organisations are infuriated with the archbishop and have issued statements condemning his decision to attend the opening ceremony of the Turkish House. 

The Federation of Cypriot American Organisations said in a statement it was disappointing and provoking while it was “not in line with the interests, principles and values of the Greek Cypriot community and Cyprus”.

“The church has always been on the side of the struggling inhabitants of the martyred island and it is not wise to provoke with such moves,” the statement said.

The International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) and the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) said they were “particularly dismayed” by the fact that the inauguration of the center, was attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Archbishop Elpidoforos of America.

“We understand the need and special ability of both to hold dialogue with Turkish authorities,” they said, adding that dialogue was one thing, participating in disingenuous charm offensives and publicity stunts was an entirely different matter, they said.

Cyprus Mail reports that though initial reports said Mitsotakis would too call off his meeting with Elpidoforos, it was later announced that the archbishop would give the premier a tour of the Greek Orthodox church of Ayios Nicolaos located at Ground Zero. The fact that Mitsotakis will not have a private meeting with Elpidoforos at the offices of the archbishopric as was the initial arrangement, is a sign for some that in this way Athens is also its dissatisfaction over the archbishop’s actions, the daily reported.

Alithia, however, reported that last night it was announced that the tour at the Ground Zero church was also called off.

Cyprus Mail also reports that Tatar condemned the reactions against Elpidoforos saying that these politically motivated actions “show the level of fanaticism and intolerance of the Greek Cypriot and Greek sides”.

Tatar said that such attitudes will further deepen the lack of trust between the two communities while they will also affect efforts for an agreement on the Cyprus issue.

According to Politis, the efforts by the US archbishopric to change the climate and avert a rift in its relations with expat organisations are futile while the TC leader is taking advantage of Anastasiades’ and Mitsotakis’ stand to accuse the GC and Greek sides of intolerance and fanaticism. Instead of bashing Tatar, they are bashing Elpidoforos, the daily reported.

The daily also reports that the Ecumenical Federation of Constantinopolitans backed the archbishop and spoke about attacks against Elpidoforos by people who were never interested in the suffering that the Hellenism of Istanbul has endured or that of other historic Greek communities. 


Spehar calls on youth contribute to viable Cyprob solution

Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, CBMS

OVERVIEW

Outgoing UNSG Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar said great things are expected from the leaders of Cyprus, but they also need help, the daily reports.

During an event on Wednesday evening at the Home for Cooperation in Nicosia for the completion of the 2021 UN Youth Champions Programme for Environment and Peace, Spehar said that in order to resolve the Cyprus issue in a viable way we need all citizens to be involved and we certainly believe that especially young people have a critical role to play.

Addressing the young GCs and TCs who participated in the programme, Spehar said that every stone they build for the environment and peace for reconciliation, and for understanding the views and aspirations of the young people on the other side was an extra step towards the viable peace we need to achieve.

She also thanked those who contributed to the implementation of the programme in which 25 GC and TC young people participated. The event was held in the presence of the Deputy UK High Commissioner and the Director of the British Council in Cyprus, who gave short greetings emphasizing the role of youth in achieving peace. Also present were the co-chairs of the bi-communal Technical Committee on the Environment, the daily reported.


RoC to assume treatment cost for baby Asya

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that the government announced that it would pay for the treatment of Asya, an 11-month-old TC baby with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas said the baby’s file was on his desk and that approval would be given for her to receive the necessary treatment.

Asya, who is now in Turkey, after her parents agree, she will receive treatment at Makarios hospital in the government-controlled areas, the dailies report.

According to Alithia, President Nicos Anastasiades gave instructions for the baby’s treatment and efforts are underway for Asya’s return from Turkey so that she can be admitted to Makarios children’s hospital in Nicosia. The whole treatment is expected to cost around €2m, and the government seeks to purchase the medicine in Greece, Alithia reports.Citing information it reports that the baby’s transfer comes with a level of difficulty and efforts are underway to find the best way so that she can safely arrive from the occupied areas to Makarios hospital.

 The daily reports that this move by the government sends out the message to the TCs that it is the Republic and not Turkey that is by them and helps them with the problems they face.

Cyprus Mail reports that Asya’s family says the baby needs to receive the Zolgensma, a gene therapy used to treat children with SMA less than two years old that costs around €2m and which is administered in a one-time only dose.

Phileleftheros reports that the baby has been in Turkey for a month awaiting treatment which did not start yet because she is not a Turkish citizen. After she acquired the citizenship, however, the situation is still yet not clear, it reports.

The dailies cite TC daily Avrupa that reported that Asya’s case was brought to the attention of the government by head of the TC teachers union KTOS Sener Elcil and the This Homeland is Ours platform. According to the daily Elcil had tried to contact officials in the south including President Nicos Anastasiades and received a letter from Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides that the government was ready to do everything possible to help Asya.


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