Front Page Headlines
‘Friendly’… participation in the Pandora Papers too
The President’s friends and his former law firm expose Cyprus once again.
- Israel: The Azeri was a person of Iran
The Azeri close-mouthed
The Isrealis are insisting that it was a terrorist attack – He was living in the occupied areas and came for surveillance. He appointed a lawyer, he is being led before Court again today.
- They are stuck on the appointment of an envoy of the UNSG
- Turkish sovereignty games in the Eastern Mediterranean
- They’re acting like they don’t know anything about the Pandora Papers
During the DISY government Cyprus is at the highest level of disreputation
The law office ‘Nicos Anastasiades’ helped a Russian oligarch – beloved friend of the President.
- Cyprus problem: Anastasiades’ policy gives an alibi to the Turkish side
- Struggle until justification by the English School staff
- Safepass only to the fully vaccinated from October 18. The third vaccine dose continues.
‘Time to debate euthanasia law’
Bar Association and MPs agree it is time to open up a discussion.
- Nouris repeats call for EU policy on migration that is fair to Med5
Double provocation by Turks
Christodoulides. The aim is the creation of tension in the area. First provocation: Turkish ships forced the ship ‘Nautical Geo’ to leave the Cypriot EEZ, which was conducting exploratory work for an Italian company, relating to the course of the EastMed pipeline. Second provocation: Ersin Tatar returns and states that Varosha will open slowly slowly for habitation.
- Antonio Guterres: Nothing yet for the appointment of a special envoy or representative
- Statements by Averof-Harris: Warm up in DISY too for the presidential elections
- Nicos Nouris: The three measures that pull the brakes on irregular migrants
- Health Ministry: Safepass only for the fully vaccinated because 11,000 stayed only at the first dose
Main News
Anastasiades reproaches UNSG over envoy stagnation
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades voiced displeasure over the UN Secretary General’s (UNSG) handling of the aftermath of the trilateral meeting with TC leader Ersin Tatar in New York last week, and particularly over the UN’s failure to announce a new special envoy for Cyprus, Alithia and Cyprus Mail report.
Cyprus Mail writes that the GC side believes the non-appointment of a new special envoy to be the result of Tatar having backtracked on his initial agreement during the September 27 trilateral, after which a routine announcement by the UN regarding the new envoy was expected to follow, but did not.
In an interview with CyBC aired on Monday evening, the papers report that Anastasiades asked “shouldn’t the Secretary General convey the truth?” Asked why he thought Guterres has not commented, Anastasiades said: “Because he feels that in this way he would be in conflict with one of the two sides, would presumably lose their trust and there is a possibility that he would not be able to play his role.”
Anastasiades added that “I don’t believe that dealing with matters with such an adroit neutrality is correct.” He said that what causes displeasure, is that not issuing a statement as a result of Tatar’s backtracking should not have prevented the UNSG from saying what his position and decision is. He said “it is not a matter of compromise, it is a matter of the UNSG acting within the scope of his mandate.”
Asked whether the Cyprus issue was now deadlocked, Anastasiades spoke of “dangerous stagnation.” This state of affairs, he added, might consolidate the facts on the ground, which he said would undoubtably be the worst outcome.
On Tuesday, and asked by reporters about this, government spokesman Marios Pelekanos replied that Nicosia is “in contact” with the UN on the matter. He said the GC side expects the UNSG to go ahead with what was agreed during the informal lunch, meaning the appointment of a special envoy.
Cyprus Mail and Alithia report that the UNSG’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric, called to comment on Anastasiades’ statement on Tuesday, said the UN continues to work with the leaders of the two communities on the island to move the Cyprus issue forward in a positive direction.
“It has been a long-standing issue that the UN has been involved in, and he will continue to work in that direction, in very good faith,” said Dujarric. Replying to a journalist’s question, why the UNSG changed his mind for the special envoy, Dujarric that he is not aware of Guterres changing his decision since he never announced a decision in the first place.
Haravgi reports that the UNSG’s deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said during a press conference in New York on Tuesday that the UNSG is in constant contact with UN Security Council (UNSC) members on Cyprus. Asked whether the UNSG is planning on briefing the UNSC on latest Cyprus problem developments, Haq said that at this point, there is nothing to report. Regarding news of the appointment of Colin Stewart as the UNSG’s special envoy in Cyprus, Haq said there is no announcement for the time being.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> UNSG should convey truth regarding the non-appointment of special envoy
>> Guterres has not commented on trilateral because he feels that in this way he would be in conflict with one of the two sides, would presumably lose their trust and there is a possibility that he would not be able to play his role
>> Does not believe that dealing with matters with such an adroit neutrality is correct
>> What causes displeasure is that not issuing a statement as a result of Tatar’s backtracking should not have prevented the UNSG from saying what his position and decision is
>> Cyprob is in a situation of dangerous stagnation, which might consolidate the facts on the ground, which would undoubtably be the worst outcome
Dujarric (UN)
>> UN continues to work with the leaders of the two communities on the island to move the Cyprus issue forward in a positive direction
AKEL slams Anatasiades’ Cyprob policies
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
In a scathing statement on Tuesday, AKEL accused President Nicos Anastasiades of bringing the Cyprus problem to a tragic low as a result of his “erratic” positions such as his recent proposal for a return to the 1960 constitution, the papers report.
AKEL said Anastasiades’ new proposal negated the convergences reached in 2017 on both the domestic and external/security aspects of the Cyprus problem. It also did not persuade anyone regarding the GC side’s readiness to resume negotiations from the point they left off, the party said.
The party called on Anastasiades to desist from “experimenting.” It also noted that Anastasiades’ public critique of the UN Secretary General (UNSG), and at such a critical juncture, “causes serious concern.”
Hitting back at AKEL, deputy government spokesperson Niovi Parisinou said the party “must stop giving an alibi to the Turkish and TC sides, whose proposals lie entirely outside the UN framework and the mandate of the UNSG.”
She went on to ask what AKEL had done while they held power, and why they did not implement their proposals then. “Why did they not do it? What prevented them, if not Turkish intransigence?”
KEY ACTORS
AKEL
>> Anastasiades’ policies have brought Cyprob to a tragic low as a result of his erratic positions such as his recent proposal for a return to the 1960 constitution
>> Anastasiades’ new proposal negated the convergences reached in 2017 on both the domestic and external/security aspects of the Cyprus problem
>> Proposal did not persuade anyone regarding the GC side’s readiness to resume negotiations from the point they left off
>> Anastasiades should stop experimenting
>> Anastasiades’ public critique of the UNSG and at such a critical juncture causes serious concern
Parisinou
>> AKEL must stop giving an alibi to the Turkish and TC sides, whose proposals lie entirely outside the UN framework and the mandate of the UNSG
Tatar’s Varosha claims contradictory, Nicosia says
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
Territory
OVERVIEW
Government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said on Tuesday statements by TC leader Ersin Tatar on Varosha refute the north’s claims that the attempted change of status of the fenced area is for its legal owners to return to their properties.
Tatar said on Monday that Varosha completely belonged to Turkish religious foundations. He said that the TC side has called on anyone who has property in Varosha to apply to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) so that their properties can be returned. Tatar said that so far more than 230,000 people visited the part of Varosha that opened to visitors around a year ago and that had it not been for the pandemic, this number would have been over a million.
Tatar also said that soon Varosha’s parks and beaches will be full of life, and the area will soon be open for habitation in the framework of international law, Alithia reports.
Pelekanos said Tatar’s statements refute the allegations that the attempted change of the status quo of Varosha is aimed at implementing UN decisions and that the GC legal owners of the properties will allegedly return to their properties.
He also said Tatar’s statement was “a resounding response to those who call on the people of Famagusta to appeal to the ‘compensation committee’ (IPC) for justice.”
Taking a swipe at President Nicos Anastasiades’ detractors, Pelekanos also said that Tatar’s position was a response to those who call on Anastasiades to make concessions that will allegedly highlight the responsibility born by Turkey and the TC side. He said the goal is not to have the blame put on someone, but to prevent faits accomplis.
He said that the proposals submitted by Anastasiades from time to time are focused on lifting the impasse caused by the Turkish intransigence, Cyprus Mail and Alithia report.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Varosha completely belongs to Turkish religious foundations
>> Soon Varosha’s parks and beaches will be full of life, and the area will soon be open for habitation in the framework of international law
Pelekanos
>> Tatar’s statements on Varosha refute his claims that the attempted change of status of Varosha is for its legal owners to return to their properties
>> Tatar’s statement was a resounding response to those who call on the people of Famagusta to appeal to IPC for justice
>> Tatar’s position was a response to those who call on Anastasiades to make concessions that will allegedly highlight the responsibility born by Turkey and the TC side
>> The goal is not to have the blame put on someone, but to prevent faits accomplis
>> Proposals submitted by Anastasiades from time to time are focused on lifting the impasse caused by the Turkish intransigence
FM discusses Turkish harassment of ship in Cyprus EEZ with Borrell
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides discussed the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean following the latest Turkish provocations in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with EU High Representative Josep Borrell on Tuesday.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Christodoulides discussed these matters in a telephone conversation with Borrell.
On Monday, Turkey announced it sent away the Nautical Geo, a research vessel flying the Maltese flag that was carrying out surveys in Cyprus’ EEZ, under the excuse it was violating the Turkish continental shelf. Turkey’s Defence Ministry said the Nautical Geo was sent away by a ship of the Turkish Navy.
Christodoulides told state broadcaster CyBC that the Nautical Geo was carrying out a survey on behalf of an Italian company and was harassed by two Turkish Navy frigates at 21 nautical miles off Cyprus. He also said that these surveys were funded by the EU. Christodoulides said this was the same research vessel that was harassed by Turkish ships a few weeks ago off Crete.
Alithia reports that the vessel’s survey was related to the course of the EastMed pipeline.
Ankara, Christodoulides said, has now illegally reserved the area the Nautical Geo was carrying out surveys for military exercises, right next to the area where Cyprus, Greece, France and Italy are holding a joint exercise.
Phileleftheros reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, asked during a press conference with his Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau regarding the provocative actions of Greece and the GC side in the Eastern Mediterranean, said that Turkey always prioritises diplomacy, but when these efforts are exhausted, efforts shift to the battlefield in order to achieve a return to diplomacy.
Responding to statements by Cavusoglu on provocative actions by Greece and Cyprus, Christodoulides said that if Cavusoglu trusts his positions that much, he should respond to Nicosia’s call to Ankara for delimiting the marine zones with the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) or agree to solving the matter at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Phileleftheros reports that Turkey’s actions constitute another move in Ankara’s sovereignty game in the Eastern Mediterranean, with Turkey obviously taking advantage of Cyprus’ weakness at sea. The paper writes that Turkey is trying to create a tense climate in the area in order to delimit its claims before Cyprus and Greece.
Alithia and Phileleftheros report that Turkey’s move was welcomed by TC leader Ersin Tatar, who said that Turkey showed how serious it is on these matters, adding that the GC side’s stance on the matter of hydrocarbons is wrong and that such works are dangerous without an agreement in Cyprus.
Tatar also said the GC side is acting as if the RoC belongs only to it, ignoring the TC people. He added that the UN is trying to find common ground between the two sides, but the GC side has increased the intensity of its unilateral actions, noting that those regarding hydrocarbons are unacceptable. If natural gas is found in the Eastern Mediterranean, he said, Turkey is the safest route for its transfer to Europe.
Haravgi reports that the US State Department said on Tuesday that the US support efforts for a de-escalation of tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, including the continuation of talks between Greece and Turkey.
KEY ACTORS
Cavusoglu (Turkey)
>> Turkey always prioritises diplomacy, but when these efforts are exhausted, efforts shift to the battlefield in order to achieve a return to diplomacy
Christodoulides
>> If Cavusoglu trusts his positions that much, he should respond to Nicosia’s call to Ankara for delimiting the marine zones with the RoC or agree to solving the matter at the ICJ
Tatar
>> Turkey showed how serious it is on these matters
>> GC side’s stance on the matter of hydrocarbons is wrong & such works are dangerous without an agreement in Cyprus
>> GC side is acting as if the RoC belongs only to it, ignoring the TC people
>> The UN is trying to find common ground between the two sides, but the GC side has increased the intensity of its unilateral actions
>> Unilateral actions regarding hydrocarbons are unacceptable
>> If natural gas is found in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey is the safest route for its transfer to Europe