GCC Press Review 28 Sept 2021

Front Page Headlines

Politis

A special envoy … and we’ll see

Yet another “creative” trilateral that recorded the existing disagreements. The UN Secretary-General’s intention to appoint a new special envoy (and not a representative) is the only thing that came out of yesterday’s trilateral in New York. Today the announcement by the UN of the name and his/her role. President Anastasiades and Ersin Tatar restated and developed their well-known positions and differences and they seem to expect that Antonio Guterres will magically solve the Gordian knot of the Cyprus problem with a magic wand. We explained various ways for the stalemate to be overcome and talks to restart, the president stated. The TC leader insisted on sovereign equality while admitting there was no issue of recognition of the ‘northern Cyprus’ by the UN.

  • Little Asya: From Ankara to Nicosia for treatment
  • A 38-year-old Azeri arrived from the occupied areas to execute (someone)
  • Well-known, but ‘nowhere to be found’ – VIPs cannot be ‘located’ for reservist duty.

Phileleftheros

In search of common ground

The special envoy is to be announced today with a mandate to take the Cyprus problem out of the impasse. Lunch in New York: watching the same old, same old.

  • Asya is in Makarios hospital since yesterday for her treatment
  • An Azeri who was arrested had a pistol with a silencer
  • Ministers and MPs dodge reservist duty
  • The cold-blood execution by the invaders of five GC soldiers in 1974 – A shocking testimony of an eyewitness who escaped.

Haravgi

The state coffers open for banks and investments funds

The government is making a comeback at the expense of borrowers…

  • The UNSG will appoint a special envoy
  • Cyprus problem: On Sunday we march for solution and reunification
  • Auditor-general: VIPs & children of politicians find ways not to go to reservist duty

Cyprus Mail

‘Creative meeting, differences clear’

Informal meeting hosted by UN chief for president and Turkish Cypriot leader.

  • 60 per cent have not paid Covid-19 fines 

Alithia

Tatar is proving to be a liar; Guterres will probably appoint a special envoy

Informal trilateral: They have been discussing for two hours and 15 minutes. Anastasiades: The meeting was creative.

  • Arrest of a foreign national who came to Cyprus with a pistol and silencer
  • Asya came to Cyprus from Turkey on a special aircraft and has started treatment at Makarios hospital
  • Crimes are planned within the prison and their execution is monitored live – Shocking revelations in a Supreme Court decision. A petition by 48 inmates for the cancellation of a search warrant for a prison wing last August failed. Prisoners: The cells are our residences where our private properties are.

Main News

Anastasiades: UNSG to most probably appoint a special envoy

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, CBMs

OVERVIEW

The informal trilateral summit in New York and the expected announcement today of a new UN envoy to discuss with the two leaders confidence-building measures (CBMs) and work on finding common ground to resume the dialogue, are among the main items in dailies on Tuesday.

The papers cite statements by President Nicos Anastasiades after the lunch meeting he had with UN Secretary-General and TC leader Ersin Tatar in New York on Monday afternoon.

He said it was “a creative meeting” where differences were recorded however.

He added that Tatar developed the positions on sovereign equality and two independent states, and himself the GC side’s position which is fully in line with the UN resolutions, the mandate of the Secretary-General based on the resolutions, but also various ways of moving forward to overcome the deadlock and create prospects for resuming a creative dialogue.

Though he would not provide more details, Anastasiades said he did not fail “to point out everything that needed to be pointed out, in order to create the correct perceptions of what is heard from the other side, but at the same time to be creative from now on.”

He also said Guterres seems to be oriented towards the appointment of a special envoy to replace Jane Holl Lute, to discuss CBMs but also the possibility of finding common ground to resume the dialogue between the two sides. An announcement on this would be issued on Tuesday by the office of the secretary-general after consultation with both sides, Anastasiades said.

He said Guterres did not refer to a specific person as special envoy. He also said the sides did not arrange for another trilateral meeting for now.

On whether Guterres and Tatar welcomed his own proposal to return to the 1960 Constitution, Anastasiades said the secretary-general was not there to comment positively or negatively.

“What he retains is anything that can be a motivation to bring the two communities together.”  But he added that Tatar was sticking to his own positions “and therefore they are falling on deaf ears.”

Tatar, according to the dailies, said after the meeting that it was a good lunch and expressed hope that the UNSG would explore new ideas. He said recognition of the TCs’ sovereign equality was a right. Asked on when the next step will be, Tatar said the Cyprus problem has been ongoing for years and that there was no rush.

The dailies also report that Tatar, on his way to the meeting, commenting on Anastasiades’ statement that he was not open to a two-state solution, said there were already two separate states in Cyprus.

“There have been two separate states in Cyprus for 60 years, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north of Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus in the south, which turned into a Greek state. After this point, no one can give up their 60-year-old state. We will not give up our state,” he said. Anastasiades had said he was hoping for a bi-zonal bi-communal federation based on all the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Haravgi also reports that Tatar told Turkish website Sputnik that he did not expect a recognition of the north just yet but that what he wanted was sovereign equality and if that was accepted he was ready to sit at the negotiations table for official talks. “I wish we were recognised because we are a full state,” he said, the daily reports.

Phileleftheros, citing diplomatic sources, reports that both Anastasiades and Tatar expressed willingness to cooperate with the person who would succeed Lute so that the search for common ground and CBMs continues. This development prevented making the impasse official, and therefore, the weight of the efforts will fall on the shoulders of the new special envoy.

Due to the refusal of the Turkish side, no special adviser will be appointed which would have meant involvement of the Security Council, but a personal envoy of the Secretary-General to move in the same context as Lute. Consequently, the Turkish side, will be able to insist on promoting issues that are outside the agreed solution framework with have more ‘comfort’, the paper reports.

Alithia, however,reports that if Guterres appoints a special envoy, Tatar will be proved be to lying since just last Saturday, after his meeting with the UNSG, he said Guterres told him he would appoint a ‘personal envoy’ as per the Turkish side’s demand.

Politis reports that no progress was recorded at the meeting, with the appointment of a special envoy being the only development. It is not yet clear whether the new special envoy will have responsibilities that go beyond the ones Jane Holl Lute had, it adds. Efforts to resume the dialogue on the Cyprus issue now stumble on the conditions set by the TC side, which, although it realises that the goal of international recognition is unattainable, it nevertheless insists on the acceptance of its proposal for sovereign equality as a precondition, the daily reported.

KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>>
Lunch with Tatar & UNSG was creative but differences were recorded as TC leader sticks to his own positions which are falling on deaf ears.
>> Not open to two-state solution, hopes for a BBF as per GC side’s position that is fully in line with the UN resolutions & UNSG’s mandate.
>> The UNSG’s role is not to agree to or reject proposals but to retain elements that could motivate two communities come together.

Tatar
>>
Hopes UNSG would be open to exploring new ideas.
>> No rush on next steps on Cyprob, first the TCs’ sovereign equality must be recognised.
>> There are already two separate states in Cyprus for 60 years now: ‘TRNC’ in the north & RoC in the south that has now become a Greek state. TCs will not give up their state.
>> Acknowledges time not right for north’s recognition yet, though it should since it is a full state.
>> As soon as TCs’ sovereign equality is accepted he is ready to sit at the negotiations table for official talks.


Bases mark cooperation with RoC

Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security, Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

Haravgi reports that administrator of the British Bases, Major General Rob Thomson said the cooperation of Cyprus and Great Britain was of the utmost importance.

According to the daily, during a reception in his residence on Episkopi last Friday evening, Thomson referred to common practices for dealing with the pandemic and cooperation on policing and military training.

Among other things, he noted the military relationship between the bases and the National Guard, noting that this year about twenty Royal Navy ships visited the island, culminating in the hosting of its flagship, the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

He also referred to the joint activities and exercises that took place between the two countries and the cooperation between the Cyprus Police and the bases police as well as their respective fire services during a difficult summer season.

Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas represented the government. Present was also Chief of the National Guard Lieutenant General Demokritos Zervakis, the daily reported.

Phileleftheros reports that the elite of the famous air show squadron of the British Air Force (RAF), the Red Arrows, is expected to fly over the Cypriot skies this afternoon. According to a statement issued by the British Bases, the Red Arrows, that are on their way to the United Arab Emirates have received approval for flying over ​​the communities of Episkopi and Paramali, between 4.05pm and 4.15pm today, before parking for a while at the Akrotiri air base. The aircraft are expected to arrive from the west and specifically from the area of ​​Episkopi. The last time they were in Cyprus was in 2017, the daily reports.


Baby Asya is in Makarios hospital

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Human Rights

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that 11-month-old TC baby Asya who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is now in Makarios hospital in Nicosia after being transferred in an air ambulance from Turkey through Athens and will start gene treatment.

All expenses will be covered by the Republic, the dailies report.

According to Politis, Asya will undergo specialised examinations in order to determine whether she can receive the appropriate medication for genetic treatment. The medicine is expected to reach Cyprus from the United States, the daily reports.

Alithia reports that family and friends were waiting for the baby’s and her parents’ arrival outside Makarios to show their support.

Cyprus Mail cites an announcement by Asya’s family on the Facebook page where updates are posted on her condition that the necessary arrangements would be made for the baby to be administered the Zolgensma, a gene therapy used to treat children with SMA less than two years old. The medicine is administered in a one-time-only dose.


Police arrest suspected hitman

Alithia, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that a 38-year-old man from Azerbaijan, believed to have arrived in Cyprus to execute someone, was arrested on Monday.

Alithia reports that following a tip off, police placed the suspect under surveillance. He crossed on Sunday to the occupied areas and returned to the south on Monday morning. After his arrest, a pistol with a silencer was found on him. Police believe his target was a foreign businessman who lives in Cyprus.

Phileleftheros reports the suspect arrived a few days ago in Larnaca, he had crossed to the occupied areas and yesterday returned to the free areas through Ledra street crossing. Police are investigating whether his crossing to the north was linked with the pistol found in his possession.

According to Politis, the suspect holds a Russian passport. Citing sources, the daily reports that police secured information that the 38-year-old has suspicious contacts in the occupied areas and that he was planning a criminal act in the free areas.


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