Front Page Headlines
What common ground? Not even a common announcement
Insistence by Tatar on the limited responsibilities of the special envoy.
- Putin-Erdogan: They discussed common defensive steps
- Isrealis on the Azeri: “Hireling of Iran”
- Chloraka: They’re spreading xenophobia and racism
They’re raising their hands to the UN
The Turkish withdrawal blew up the three’s agreement for the appointment of a special envoy. Nicosia expects an implementation of the agreement.
- 75-year-old mercilessly beaten by his landlord: Police investigating an unprecedented attempted murder
- They’re looking for accomplices of the Azeri hitman – He rented a second car but was not located
The delay by banks is stalling financial crimes investigations
European Commission report: Cyprus ‘sinking deeper’ into corruption.
- Cyprus problem: Large march by AKEL on Sunday for a ‘Solution and Reunification’
- Politics: Common GC and TC action. The Cyprus problem situation as critical as ever
‘Offensive’ ELAM MP under fire
Deputy accused of insulting his colleagues and Pyrgos residents.
- EU: we must find a way to stop people smuggling
The time has come to stand on your own two feet
Zeta to businesses: The support schemes completed their cycle and are being abolished in October. The problem at the moment is not unemployment, but the lack of staff. Now, focus is shifting towards the subsidisation of employment.
- We’re not even agreeing on the envoy: Tatar had agreed at the informal meal, but after the food he returned to the long drawn out love song
- Occupied areas: Divided on the handling of the case of little Asya
- Putin-Erdogan discussed yesterday: Commercial relations and investments are being developed rapidly between Russia and Turkey
- In Limassol: 39-year-old arrested for attempting to murder a 75-year-old
Main News
Govt expects UN to follow through with special envoy
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The government said on Wednesday it expected the UN to appoint a special envoy on the Cyprus problem, as was agreed during the informal tripartite meeting in New York on Monday, but by nightfall no new announcement had been made.
Three days after the informal meeting, UN itself has yet to announce the details of Monday’s meeting between UN Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres with President Nicos Anastasiades and TC leader Ersin Tatar. In that announcement it is widely expected that a new special envoy will be unveiled.
But on Wednesday evening the UNSG’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric was asked about the delayed announcement and the details therein and replied that he himself was not privy to the developments. Politis reports that it is likely that the UN will not issue any announcement.
Earlier on Wednesday, government spokesman Marios Pelekanos told the Cyprus News Agency that during the lunch between Guterres with Anastasiades and Tatar, the UNSG said he will appoint a special envoy because the UN Security Council (UNSC) must have a say in what was being discussed.
“Despite initially opposing the appointment of a special envoy, Mr Tatar accepted in the course of the discussion; there was a conclusion, and it was decided to appoint a special envoy,” Pelekanos said, adding that the government expects the agreement reached during the lunch to be implemented, despite the fact that it appears the Turkish side had changed its mind afterwards.
Pelekanos also said that Nicosia has been informed that the UNSG is mulling over what was discussed at the meeting and will issue an announcement, Alithia reports. He added that at the meeting, Anastasiades reiterated his positive response to the UNSG’s intention to appoint a special envoy, as had already been stated from the first instance during the informal summit in Geneva.
He said the important thing is that the UN appoints someone who could take on the role of discussing with all involved parties with the aim of resuming dialogue and working on confidence-building measures (CBMs).
Phileleftheros reports that it appears that at the meeting Tatar did not move exactly as Turkey had prescribed and got lost somewhere in translation.
Alithia reports citing an official source that at the lunch, Tatar had agreed on the appointment of a special envoy, but afterwards reverted to his insistence on the appointment of a personal envoy of the UNSG and not a special envoy who would report back to the UNSC. The paper reports that Nicosia has been informed that this shift in position is due to Ankara’s intervention, since it is seeking to scrap the UNSG’S good offices mission set up by the UNSC and based on UN resolutions and convergences. A preservation of the good offices and the appointment of a special envoy would mean a preservation of negotiations in the Crans-Montana framework and a return to the Guterres Framework.
Alithia reports that given the fact that the two sides cannot even agree on the appointment of an envoy who would be tasked with helping to resume the negotiations process, Cyprob is not just in an impasse such as those it has been in before, but has now become a dead process, with no prospects of resurrection.
Phileleftheros reports that Ankara’s move has made the lives of all three parties who participated in the trilateral meeting difficult, since the UNSG has been left exposed, wanting to satisfy Turkish demands. The paper reports that it appears that without Turkey’s consent, the UNSG will not be moving forward with his idea to appoint a special envoy.
Phileleftheros also reports that together with Tatar, Ankara is mounting pressure on the UNSG to appeal before the UNSC for a ‘new decision’ on the Cyprus problem and its solution basis. The paper writes that this pressure is also directed on to Nicosia, which may have to accept whatever the UNSG decides even if this is the appointment of a personal envoy.
Politis reports citing diplomatic sources that the TC side is asking that the mandate of the new special envoy is determined. Specifically, the TC side is asking that the envoy operates on the basis of specific terms relating to good neighbourly relations, which the paper writes means that more emphasis is being put on CBMs. The GC side, however, does not believe that CBMs can have any positive effects if a timeline is not set for the resumption of negotiations, Politis reports.
Politis also reports that diplomatic sources are placing blame for the impasse on the UN, which they believe should have issued an announcement immediately after the trilateral meeting so as to avoid any complications.
Overall, Politis reports that the New York trip resulted in the TC side realising that its goal for a recognition of the north cannot be achieved, leading to a greater emphasis on sovereign equality. The paper writes that the TC side’s goal is now the creation of a structured dialogue on equal terms with the GC side in order to support the argument of two separate people and states. This is why it is now trying to buy time through CBMs and a relationship of cooperation. This is also why the TC side is now also demanding that its consent is required for any decision taken by the UNSG.
Meanwhile, Politis reports that in view of the continuous impasses, an attempt is being made by the British on various levels to discuss certain informal ideas in order to find common ground. Despite the reactions stirred by these ideas, the paper writes that they appear to be the only proposal on the table at the moment.
KEY ACTORS
Pelekanos
>> Though an agreement was reached between the two leaders for the appointment of a special envoy the Turkish side appears to have changed its mind
>> At the meeting, Anastasiades reiterated his positive response to the UNSG’s intention to appoint a special envoy, as had already been stated from the first instance during the informal summit in Geneva
>> The important thing is that the UN appoints someone who could take on the role of discussing with all involved parties with the aim of resuming dialogue and working on CBMs
GC, TC parties express disappointment over informal trilateral outcome
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Leaders and representatives of GC and TC political parties participating in the bi-communal meetings at the Ledra Palace Hotel expressed disappointment over the outcome of the informal trilateral meeting in New York, the dailies report.
In a joint communique issued by the Embassy of Slovakia, at the meeting held on Wednesday via teleconference, the GC and TC parties expressed disappointment over the fact that the meeting did not provide any result for the resumption of negotiations on agreed basis.
Participants also welcomed the decision to appoint a new special envoy dealing with the possibility of finding a common ground to resume the political dialogue towards the reunification of Cyprus as well as to discuss confidence-building measures (CBMs) aiming at strengthening the trust between the two communities.
AKEL, TDP leaders meet to discuss Cyprob
Harvgi, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
AKEL leader Stefanos Stefanou met on Wednesday with the leader of the Communal Democracy Party (TDP), Cemal Ozyigit, with the two agreeing that the Cyprus problem situation is as critical as ever.
The dailies report that Stefanou said that the two parties agreed that it is highly necessary for negotiations to resume, which can and must happen from where they left off at Crans-Montana, preserving past convergences and the Guterres Framework.
Stefanou also said that the two parties will continue pursuing a solution based on UN frameworks and high-level agreements which provide for a bizonal, bicommunal federal (BBF) solution.
Meanwhile, Phileleftheros reports that Stefanou on Saturday will be touring the fenced city of Varosha along with the co-President of the the Left in the European Parliament, Martin Schirdewan.
Haravgi reports that AKEL has announced that it will be organising a march on October 3 in support of a Cyprus problem solution and reunification. The march will take place in Deryneia and will head towards the checkpoint there.
KEY ACTORS
Stefanou (AKEL)
>> AKEL and TDP agree that it is highly necessary for negotiations to resume from where they left off at Crans-Montana, preserving past convergences and the Guterres Framework
>> The two parties will continue pursuing a solution based on UN frameworks and high-level agreements which provide for a BBF solution