Front Page Headlines
They’re taking the uniform off 100 policemen
The hirings of 2020 were cancelled because they made a mess of things.
- Emmanuel Macron: He ignored Erdogan and invited Cyprus
- Macron-Merkel: Au revoir and many question marks
- Surveillance-Pegasus: NSO on a USA black list
- Minimum wage: They both want it and fear it
- Femicides: Caution and warnings from the Legal Service
- Carbon tax: It brining a new explosive cocktail of price rises
- Pandemic: Extension of third dose, no new measures
Economic shock from the gas
The delay in using natural gas for electricity production is loading costs such as heavy fuel oil. The millions in fines we are paying due to emissions will be transferred onto natural gas.
- Cyprus present in Paris despite Erdogan’s demand
- UNSG deliberating on his envoy
- Common action among eight countries and cooperation within the EEZ
- The first minimum wage under 900 euros
- Scientists want a redesigning of measures for the pandemic
- 129 chocking attacks against women in 2020: 2,147 cases of violence in the family in one year
Thorns and traps in the dialogue for the establishment of a minimum wage
Discussions in the presence of a representative of the International Labour Organisation.
- Stefanos Stefanou: Only with a solution will we be able to liberate our land
- Almost six cases of violence in the family every day
- We’re paying millions for emissions
- Hadjipantelas going to the Cabinet with a proposal for a third dose to those aged 50 and over
MPs seek action on civil servants
Thousands of government workers holding second jobs.
- Political leaders celebrate holy day in the north
- Cases since start of pandemic now top 125,000 after 188 new infections
Police-Fire Service upside down
And suddenly… a headache. The Administrative Court cancelled the appointment of 75 policemen and 25 firemen who were hired in 2020. The danger of all of them losing their job is visible. Police leadership is holding an open line of communication with the office of the attorney general, to deal with the situation.
- Macron: No to Erdogan, yes to Anastasiades and Mistotakis
- Natasa Pilides: Surveys in the Cypriot EEZ before the end of the year
- Minimun wage coming: The die is cast
- Extension of measures: Proposal for a booster dose for the 50+ as well
Main News
UNSG in consultations over UN envoy
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
In a short discussion with President Nicos Anastasiades, UN Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the Cyprus problem situation and said he is in consultations with all parties involved in order to achieve progress on the matter of the appointment of an envoy, Government Spokesperson Marios Pelekanos said, according to the dailies.
Pelekanos, who was speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, said Guterres’ discussion with Anastasiades took place on the sidelines of a reception held in Glasgow for participants of the COP26 conference earlier this week.
Referring to the short conversation with Guterres, Pelekanos said that Anastasiades told him of the need to act as soon as possible so that the matter of the appointment of an envoy can move along. To this, Pelekanos said, Guterres replied that the situation concerns him, and he is in consultations with all involved parties with the aim of reach an outcome.
Regarding Anastasiades’ conversation with US Joe Biden, Pelekanos said Anastasiades had asked Biden for his active assistance in the Cyprus problem. Pelekanos said Biden responded by telling Anastasidaes that the latter is aware of his continued interest in a Cyprus solution on the basis of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, and it is in light of this that he had visited Cyprus in 2014.
Pelekanos also said that he could not rule out a meeting between Biden and Anastasiades over the coming months.
France extends invitation to Cyprus for Libya summit
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Cyprus has received a formal invitation from France to attend an international conference on Libya to take place in Paris next week, despite Turkey’s warning that if Nicosia was invited Ankara would snub it, the dailies report.
The dailies report citing confirmations from both Government Spokesman Marios Pelekanos and Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides that President Nicos Anastasiades, accompanied by Christodoulides, will be attending the conference.
The dailies write that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had warned that if Cyprus, Greece and Israel were invited to the conference Ankara would not attend. Politis reports that during the previous summit on Libya organised in Berlin by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, neither Greece nor Cyprus were invited due to Ankara’s objections.
The summit on Libya has been scheduled for November 12, and will follow the Paris Peace Forum to begin on November 11, which will also see Cyprus’ participation.
Alithia reports that in statements to CyBC, Pelekanos said that the issue of Libya concerns the broader region in which Cyprus is situated, adding that it will be a good opportunity for Cyprus to participate for the first time in such a summit so that it can hear the opinions and positions of all other countries, but also so that it can submit its own.
Alithia reports that the invitation from the French President Emmanuel Macron confirms the steady and substantive upgrading of relations between Cyprus and France and constitutes a reward for Cyprus’ foreign policy.
Phileleftheros too reports that Nicosia has every reason to be pleased with the invitation it received from France since it is an undisputed reward for the foreign policy pursued in recent years. On the other hand, the daily writes, it seems that this development and the fact that France has chosen to invite Cyprus, Greece and Israel to the conference, are actions that have greatly annoyed Turkey.
As such, Phileleftheros expects that analogous reactions are expected from Ankara over the coming days, though it remains unclear whether Erdogan will eventually carry out his threat remain absent or whether he will make other choices. Politis too writes that given the fact that Turkey has troops in Libya and that it will be called to play a central role in de-escalating tension, it remains to be seen how Ankara will respond to France’s disregarding of its objections. Alithia expects Turkey’s response to be intense.
FM says will not quit efforts reunify Cyprus
Alithia
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said we will not quit efforts to end the occupation and reunify our country, Alithia reports.
Addressing an event in Larnaca for the presentation of a book and a street naming ceremony for Lieutenant General Nicolaos Katounta, a special forces company commander who died during the 1974 Turkish invasion, Christodoulides said Turkey continues to militarise its foreign policy and is following a neo-Ottoman agenda aiming to obtain a hegemonic role in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle Eastern region.
Despite the difficulties, the letdowns and discriminatory approaches, we will not quit efforts to end the occupation and reunify our country on the basis of the agreed framework for the solution of the Cyprus problem, he said.
Christodoulides added that we have a duty and an obligation to all those who sacrificed their lives to do everything possible with seriousness and consistency and within the context of an assertive realism to achieve this aim.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Will not quit efforts to end the occupation and reunify Cyprus
>> Turkey continues to militarise its foreign policy and is following a neo-Ottoman agenda aiming to obtain a hegemonic role in the EastMed and the wider Middle Eastern region
>> we have a duty and an obligation to all those who sacrificed their lives to do everything possible with seriousness and consistency and within the context of an assertive realism to achieve reunification
Maronite holy day celebrated in Kormakitis in presence of political leaders
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Human Rights, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The island’s Maronite community on Wednesday held a church service to celebrate their patron saint, Ayios Georgios tou Sporou, at Kormakitis village in the north in the presence of the First Lady Andri Anastasiades and several political party leaders.
The service was carried out by the Maronite Archbishop, Selim Sfeir, at the chapel of Ayios Georgios tou Sporou (of the Seeds) situated on Kormakitis beach. In addition to the first lady and party leaders, MPs, representative of the Maronite Religious Group in Parliament Yiannakis Mousa, the Maronite community’s vice president Valentinos Koumettou, Presidency Commissioner Photis Photiou, the British High Commissioner and a Vatican representative were also present.
November 3, when Ayios Georgios of the Seeds is celebrated, was traditionally the start of the season of the winter sowing season. In the past, farmers would bring their seeds to the seaside chapel to be blessed on that day before sowing them, Cyprus Mail reports.
Representing the government, Photiou said the message being sent is a call for the reunification of the island, and for logic to prevail so that the people can live freely, the dailies report.
Addressing the ceremony, party leaders also referred to the Cyprus problem, the dailies report. DISY leader Averof Neophytou said his heart “ached” over the fact that Kormakitis was occupied and pledged to do what we can to bend any intransigence because it is a shame and unfair for such a beautiful place, to remain divided.
AKEL leader Stefanos Stefanou said his party’s presence has a double significance. First, it is a show of support toward the Maronite community “that is experiencing its own Golgotha” because their villages were occupied and are waiting for liberation and reunification of the country.
Second, Stefanou said AKEL’s presence was also linked to the Cyprus problem. He said that at a time when there is great pessimism due to the stalemate and Turkey’s behaviour but also the lack of prospects for the resumption of negotiations, they are here to express their desire to continue the effort to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Haravgi reports that Stefanou said that it is only through a solution that we will be able to liberate the island and safeguard the future of our people, GCs, TCs, Maronites, Armenians, and Latins.
KEY ACTORS
Neophytou (DISY)
>> Will do everything possible to bend Turkish intransigence
Stefanou (AKEL)
>> It is only through a solution that we will be able to liberate the island and safeguard the future of our people, GCs, TCs, Maronites, Armenians, and Latins
Multinational S&R exercise ‘Nemesis 2021’ conducted
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security
OVERVIEW
Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides on Wednesday launched the multinational search and rescue exercise, dubbed Nemesis 2021, with the participation of eight countries, including Cyprus, the dailies report.
The dailies report that the exercise took place in plots 1, 2, 8 and 9 of the Cyprus EEZ, and saw the participation of Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, France, Israel, Italy, UK and US.
Speaking at the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Larnaca, Petrides said Cyprus was constantly upgrading its procedures for dealing with emergency situations such as antiterrorism operations, search and rescue, and pollution of marine environment, within the island’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
This will be the eighth consecutive Nemesis exercise, which is based primarily on the level of cooperation and coordination among the participants, Petrides said, adding that the effectiveness of all agencies involved in the wider field of maritime safety is not a one-time goal to be achieved but is a process to be pursued continuously.
Petrides also referred to the issue of hydrocarbons exploration within Cyprus’ EEZ. He said that the utilisation of Cyprus’ EEZ comes not only with benefits but also with responsibilities, which the RoC is committed to adhering to.
Alithia reports that Petrides also said that Cyprus wants to see more such exercises by the end of the year, with the participation of other countries that respect international law and the law of the sea.
Politis reports that in her address, Energy Minister Natasa Pilides said this year’s multinational exercise was dedicated to evaluating the preparedness of all involved agencies in dealing with potential terrorist incidents that could arise on hydrocarbon drilling platforms.
Regarding the island’s hydrocarbons programme, Pilides said Cyprus is now going back to business as usual to the greatest extent possible, moving forward with the resumption of the exploration programme in the Cyprus EEZ by the end of the year.
Pilides said that drilling will resume early December and that Turkish provocations are being examined in collaboration with the Foreign and Defence Ministries.
Invited to comment on the Turkish provocations in Cyprus’ EEZ, the Minister replied that all necessary preparations are underway so that the resumption of drilling will go smoothly and achieve positive results. Many people involved are already in Cyprus to make the final preparations, she said, adding that it is very important that Cyprus has the backing of countries not only in the region but also of countries such as France and the US.
Escapee from police custody arrested in north
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
A 24-year-old man who escaped from a Limassol police station early in September has been arrested in the north, the dailies report.
The suspect was initially arrested by police along with another man, 35, after being found in possession of counterfeit euro notes and drugs, Cyprus Mail and Alithia report.
Phileleftheros reports that after escaping police custody and entering the north, the 24-year-old began troubling authorities in the north and committing a series of crimes there.
Phileleftheros reports that given such cases in the past, the 24-year-old will likely face a court sentence in the north before being transferred via the UN to authorities of the Republic.