Front Page Headlines
PASYDY trips up the reform of the public service
The union of public servants appears to be retreating from an agreement with the Finance Ministry.
- Cyprus-Greece-Egypt: They’re condemning Turkey… strongly
- Azeri case: Police identified a third involved person
Extra millions for Health
They’re asking the state to boost GESY and hospitals. Petrides is speaking of holes, weights, and distortions. HIO: The System lost €240 million due to the pandemic. OKYPY: Public hospitals need support to be expanded.
- The President burst out against Turkey: Strong messages from the alliance between Cyprus, Greece, Egypt
- Revelations in the Turkish press: Naval base on behalf of the ‘Blue Homeland’
- Out-of-court fines from cameras are coming in the New Year in the end
- A spark threatened a recycling plant
Cry of despair from industries and consumers for increases-fire
Prices of construction materials, such as iron and copper, have quadrupled.
- Special reference at the Trilateral for the electric interconnection of Egypt-Cyprus-Greece
- Sparks possibly behind the fire at the scrap metal facility
Covid healthcare costs hit €100m
Okypy chief says hospital staff are the true heroes of this story
- (photo caption) President Nicos Anastasiades Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi shake hands in Athens on Tuesday where they signed an MoU to connect their electricity grids
- Massive fire at scrap metal facility in Yeri
Cameras are coming and… fines will be falling down like rain!
Drivers, get your head right. Within two hours of operation yesterday on a trial basis, they recorded 500 missteps. Premiere on October 25. The first 30 days of operation of the system out-of-court fines will not be issued but warning letters will be sent.
- Commission a catapult on Turkey: Immediately retract the unilateral actions in Varosha
- Anastasiades: Turkey is a troublemaker, it is preparing new bases in Cyprus
- Occupied areas: Tatar did not give an order for the formation of a ‘government’
Main News
Commission: Turkey must normalise relations with RoC
Alithia, Phileleftheros
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Turkey must avoid threats and actions that damage good neighbourly relations, normalise its relations with the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) and respect the sovereignty of all EU Member States over their territorial sea and airspace as well as all their sovereign rights, the European Commission said in its latest report on EU enlargement.
The dailies report that the Commission’s report, published on Tuesday said the European Council has repeatedly stated that the EU has a strategic interest in a stable and secure Eastern Mediterranean and in the development of a mutually beneficial relationship of cooperation with Turkey. The report welcomed the de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean and reiterated that the EU is ready to cooperate with Turkey in a faced, proportionate and reversible way.
The Commission said that in the event that unilateral actions or provocations that violate international law are renewed, the EU will use all means and options at its disposal to defend its interests and those of its Member States.
The report also said that the Turkey is expected to actively support negotiations for a fair, comprehensive and viable solution to the Cyprus problem in the framework of UN resolutions and according to EU principles. The report added that there must not be any unilateral actions that could increase tension on the island and undermine the return to negotiations.
Regarding Varosha, the report said Turkey must immediately take back the unilateral actions announced on July 20 and all steps taken in the area in October 2020, which violate UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
The report also focused on Turkey’s democratic shortfalls, calling on the country to reverse this negative trend as a matter of priority.
The report also underlined that Turkey must respect the rights of EU members to explore and exploit natural resources, in accordance with EU and international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Accordingly, it added Turkey is expected to refrain from any drilling activities of hydrocarbons in the maritime zones of other states.
Cyprus, Greece, Egypt sign electricity MoU
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Cyprus, Greece and Egypt signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to connect their respective electricity grids in Athens on Tuesday, with all three countries stressing their strong determination to continue cooperating in matters of mutual interest, the dailies report.
The declaration of the 9th Trilateral Summit of Greece-Cyprus-Egypt also sent a message to Ankara to refrain from provocations and unilateral actions that violate international law, such as the harassment of research vessels licensed by Greece or Cyprus, in this way contributing to the creation of conditions susceptible to dialogue, the papers write.
Politis and Phileleftheros report that the three leaders also expressed their strong support for a fair, comprehensive and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, in accordance with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions that call for a bi-zonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) with a single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship, as well as in line with the EU acquis. The leaders also condemned developments in Varosha and reaffirmed the status of the fenced-off area as outlined by relevant UN resolutions.
Phileleftheros reports that in the joint declaration the three leaders noted that the resolution of the Cyprus problem will not only benefit Cyprus but will also contribute importantly to the peace and stability of the broader region. The three leaders also underlined the need to see negotiations resume from where they left off, and expressed support for the appointment of a Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General (UNSG) who will be tasked with deliberating with all involved parties in order to resume the negotiations process.
Cyprus Mail and Phileleftheros report that the three leaders also rejected illegal drilling and seismic surveys by Turkish vessels within the Cyprus EEZ/continental shelf in regions of the sea that have already been demarcated in accordance with international law. They also condemned the continuing violations of Greek airspace and all other illegal activities in areas within the Greek continental shelf, in violation of international law.
Anastasiades: Two-state solution unacceptable
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Speaking at a joint news conference after the 9th Trilateral Summit between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt on Tuesday, President Nicos Anastasiades referred to a two-state solution as unacceptable and reiterated Nicosia’s willingness and determination to get involved in a creative Cyprus problem dialogue based on UN resolutions and the EU acquis, the dailies write.
Phileleftheros reports that Anastasiades issued his remarks in a particularly emotionally charged manner. He said dialogue is the only solution, and Turkey must realise that it is to its benefit to see the Cyprus problem resolved on the basis of principles and not on the basis of a revisionist expansionist policy which characterises the methods of ‘troublemakers’ in the region such as Turkey. Politis notes that he was pointing to violations in the Cypriot EEZ and in Varosha.
Referring to the recent trilateral meeting in New York with the UN Secretary General (UNSG) and the TC leader Ersin Tatar, Anastasiades said that during the UNSG’s efforts to create conditions that would allow agreement on the form of the solution, which Anastasiades said are defined in UN resolutions and decisions, the TC response was to reiterate the position that dialogue cannot start if the equality of the illegal TC regime is not recognised, Phileleftheros reports.
Anastasiades said that the UNSG’s proposal was to appoint a special representative who would create prospects for the resumption of dialogue, but this did not succeed, and this resulted in leading us today to an impasse. He said according to Phileleftheros that the GC side’s wish is to get involved in a dialogue and not in a diversion of international law. He said we must implement UN resolutions and all elements that will create the prospects for a European state such as the Republic of Cyprus, protecting the human rights of both GCs and TCs.
Anastasiades added that all efforts being exerted alongside the Greek and Egyptian leaders aim towards diplomatic activation with the primary goal being the creation of dialogue. He said that trilateral associations in the region exclude no one, not even Turkey, provided that countries respect international law and the sovereignty of nations.
Phileleftheros reports that Anastasiades also condemned Turkey for its intransigence and its violations of the Cypriot EEZ and the status of Varosha, as well as its creation of a drone base and military port.
“Energy is becoming the bridge connecting Egypt to Europe,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his own remarks. “In an era where we seek energy diversification, Egypt can become a supplier of electricity generated mainly from the sun,” Mitsotakis added. He also said the emerging alliance among the three nations was a “beacon of stability” in the eastern Mediterranean.
The papersreport that Mitsotakis also said that the three countries’ positions are fully aligned in condemnation of Turkey’s provocative actions and aggressive rhetoric. He said the disturbance of the Nautical Geo vessel and threats of new illegal drillings in the Cypriot EEZ do not leave room for misinterpreting Turkey’s intentions. He said that unfortunately, Turkey is appearing to not understand the messages of the times.
The dailies report that Mitsotakis added that Turkey’s stance is also not contributing to the resolution of the Cyprus problem. He said the only road that can bring progress is that of UN Security Council (UNSC) decisions, with the resumption of negotiations constituting highly necessary first move.
Politis reports that in his own remarks, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi stated that during the Summit, Egypt reiterated its support to the Republic’s efforts towards a fair resolution of the Cyprus problem in the framework of international law and UN resolutions. He also underlined the importance of trilateral cooperation and broader regional cooperation between states.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Two-state solution is unacceptable
>> Nicosia is willing and determined to get involved in a creative Cyprus problem dialogue based on UN resolutions and the EU acquis
>> Dialogue is the only solution
>> Turkey must realise that it is to its benefit to see the Cyprus problem resolved on the basis of principles and not on the basis of a revisionist expansionist policy
>> Turkey a troublemaker in the region
>> Cyprus problem now at an impasse after UNSG failed to appoint special representative
>> We must implement UN resolutions and all elements that will create the prospects for a European state such as the Republic of Cyprus, protecting the human rights of both GCs and TCs
>> Trilateral associations in the region exclude no one, not even Turkey, provided that countries respect international law and the sovereignty of nations
Mitsotakis (Greece)
>> Cyprus, Greece & Egypt positions are fully aligned in condemnation of Turkey’s provocative actions and aggressive rhetoric
>> The disturbance of the Nautical Geo vessel and threats of new illegal drillings in the Cypriot EEZ do not leave room for misinterpreting Turkey’s intentions
>> Turkey’s stance is not contributing to the resolution of the Cyprus problem
>> The only road that can bring progress is that of UNSC decisions, with the resumption of negotiations constituting highly necessary first move
Al-Sisi (Egypt)
>> Egypt supports Republic’s efforts towards a fair resolution of the Cyprus problem in the framework of international law and UN resolutions
FM: Turkish violations of Cypriot EEZ also impact EU
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Turkey’s violations in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone also affect the EU’s interests and goals, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday, the dailies report.
Christodoulides said the violations, among other things, impact the interests and goals of the EU and its member states, as they also aim to block any prospects for the Eastern Mediterranean to develop as an alternative energy option for the EU.
After meeting his Hungarian counterpart, Péter Szijjártó in Budapest, Christodoulides referred to the agreement on Monday among the EU’s Foreign Ministers for an options paper on measures the bloc can take against Turkey over its actions in the fenced area of Varosha. Christodoulides said this was a reaction to Turkey’s revisionist behaviour.
“Unfortunately, Turkey is stepping up its illegal, aggressive and provocative violations of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, aiming to create new faits accomplis in complete contradiction with the relevant decisions of the UN and the EU,” he added.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Turkey’s violations in Cyprus’ EEZ also affect the EU’s interests and goals
>> Turkey is stepping up its illegal, aggressive and provocative violations of the sovereign rights of the RoC, aiming to create new faits accomplis in complete contradiction with the relevant decisions of the UN and the EU