Front Page Headlines
(Anastasiades) Seeking commitment for substantive EU involvement
The president is seeking active solidarity of EU partners today. Tete-a-tete meetings with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron among others. Targeting pre-accession funds and visa liberalisation.
- Fake ‘war’ with Turkish ships – (Defence Minister) Stavros Angelides and (Greek DM) Evangelos Apostolakis remain calm. Greece and Cyprus face the situation with seriousness.
- Occupied areas: The ‘government’ is ‘falling’
- Move for ‘private’ gas
- Turkey: Davutoglu and Gul criticise the decision (on Istanbul election rerun)
(Energy) Plans remain intact
France did not change its plans in the (Cypriot) EEZ due to Turkey. Total promotes launch of research in blocks 2, 3 and 9. The president briefs the EU, expecting support.
- Agreement on development of ‘Aphrodite’ in 2024 – Final negotiations today with Noble-Shell-Delek. Increased rates to consortium but assurance of timeframes.
- Plea for information on missing persons
- Election race raises questions – DISY-AKEL spat. Sener Levent accuses AKEL and Niyazi (Kizilyurek)
Zero tolerance on the revival of fascism
Seventy-four years today from the day when the Red Army raised its victory flag in the Reichstag, crushing fascism and Nazism. The anti-fascist struggle continues against the ghosts of the extreme right and fascism, which are being revived and are threatening, and against the neo-liberal policies that hatch and sustain them.
- What did they do to avert the ‘Turkish invasion’ in the EEZ?
- The ‘government’ in the occupied areas is falling after the resignations of Denktash, Ozersay and Erhurman
Staying calm over EEZ ‘no weakness’
Defence minister says Cyprus will not be forced into escalating East Med tension.
(Turkey) Ignores and provokes
Turkey ignores the international outcry and reaction to her illegal activities in the Cypriot EEZ while calls as a bluff statements on international warrants. Cavusoglu: We will send a second drillship in the East Med for drillings soon. Anastasiades: My aim is to analyse to the 27 EU leaders the whole situation, the violation, that is, by Turkey of international law.
- Russia: (Foreign Minister Sergey) Lavrov is coming, unknown when – Greece is in no danger from the S-400.
- Crisis in the occupied areas: Denktash resigned, Ozersay walked out
- Advice to the new MEPs from the veterans
Main News
Defence Minister: Cyprus won’t get dragged into creating tension
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Energy, Regional/International Relations, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades on Thursday will seek support from EU leaders in the form of sanctions against Turkey at an informal Council Meeting in Romania while Cyprus’ energy programme carries on as scheduled, the papers reported.
Anastasiades travelled to Romania to take part in the informal European Council where he will raise the issue of Turkish actions in the EEZ following the strong protests that have been made. He will also hold bilateral meetings with heads of state and government of EU member states.
Alithia reports that prior to his departure, Anastasiades said: “My aim is to analyse to the 27 EU leaders the whole situation, the violation, that is, by Turkey of international law.”
According to the Cyprus Mail, Nicosia is considering asking the EU to squeeze Ankara on the matter of the EU-Turkey customs union, or block Ankara’s access to EU pre-accession funds.
Politis reports that, as a first step, the Republic of Cyprus is seeking such messages that would convince Turkey not to proceed with drilling. It has not been ruled out that during the briefing, Anastasiades might seek measures against Turkey, although the primary objective is to secure a strong statement from President of the European Council Donald Tusk, the daily reported.
During meetings with other EU leaders, he is expected to probe the possibility of measures concerning Turkey’s pre-accession funds and blocking visa liberalisation but also sanctions along the same lines as those imposed on Russia in 2014, Politis reported.
The daily reports that Anastasiades is expected to hold meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
In the meantime, Defence Minister Savvas Angelides said after a meeting with his Greek counterpart Evangelos Apostolakis who was on the island for a series of contacts, that Cyprus remains “fully composed and will not get dragged into any actions that create tension in the region.”
Angelides discussed the matter with Apostolakis during a scheduled meeting that is part of regular contacts between the two countries.
The Cypriot minister said Cyprus’ calm should not be perceived as a weakness, as Cyprus was coordinating with Greece and the EU, as well as other friendly countries.
“Cyprus and Greece have been established in the minds of the international community as pillars of stability and credibility in our region and as EU member states we aim at further bolstering the role we have assumed to tighten relations between Europe and the Middle East,” Angelides said.
Apostolakis said Greece applauds the Cypriot government’s sober stance, adding that they remain in coordination with Cyprus and EU partners and allies for the next moves.
Apostolakis also said that in a turbulent neighbourhood, Cyprus and Greece remain at the centre of geopolitical and geo-economic developments, seeking peace and stability.
“At the same time, however, we decisively defend our sovereign rights. Our goal is to serve through the internationally established principles and international law, peace, security, stability and security cooperation in the region,” he said.
Politis reports that sources within the defence ministry rejected reports on the presence of 10 Turkish navy vessels including submarines standing by in Kyrenia, Famagusta and Antalya ready to protect the ‘Fatih’ drillship located off Paphos. The report came from the Turkish version of Russian news agency Sputnik, and was picked up by Greek and Cypriot media resulting in creating a ‘war climate’ which could be especially dangerous given the role of the media in the Imia crisis, the daily said. Defence ministry sources spoke of hybrid warfare through the spread of fake news, Politis reported.
On the same issue, Phileleftheros, citing Greek Open TV, reported that Turkey has sent 10 of its warships in the region as a safety net around ‘Fatih’ and ‘Barbaros’.
Meanwhile, Russian ambassador Stanislav Osadchiy said on Wednesday that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be visiting Cyprus sometime this year.
The ambassador said Lavrov had been informed of the issue in the Eastern Mediterranean and was in touch with his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides from the first moment.
“We think that during this difficult time in this region any step that undermines the potential for negotiations must be avoided,” Osadchiy said. “We really believe that all differences can be resolved at the negotiating table. We support this and hope something is done as soon as possible that would lead to a solution of the Cyprus problem.”
According to the Cyprus Mail, Lavrov’s visit does not appear to be related to developments in the area.
Phileleftheros reports that the Turkish provocations do not seem to negatively affect the Republic’s energy programme.
Citing sources, the daily reported that Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides was informed during his visit in Paris this week that French energy company Total is to announce soon its intention to carry out research in Cyprus’ offshore blocks 2, 3 and 9 while moves are expected on 7 as well. Between 2019 and 2020 the company is expected to carry out five drillings, the daily reported.
Nicosia finds these messages important because it is a form of response to Turkish provocations.
During his meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, Christodoulides discussed among other things Turkey’s illegal moves in the Cypriot EEZ and concrete ways of reacting collectively within the EU, in accordance with the spirit and relevant provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon, the relevant references in the March 2018 European Council Conclusions on Turkey’s illegal Actions in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the common position of the EU within the framework of the EU-Turkey Association Council, the daily reported.
But France’s position in favour of Cyprus has annoyed Turkey, the daily reported, adding that the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the announcements made by France regarding the actions of Ankara within the Cyprus EEZ.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has argued that since 2004 Turkey has made her position clear and pointed out to France that what she says also applies to her, Phileleftheros reported.
Alithia reports that Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey and the TCs do not acknowledge the EEZ agreements the GC administration signed with other countries.
Turkey is in line with international law and has been asking the UN and the EU to solve this problem. “Despite the fact the GC side accepts this orally, it did not show an approach to guarantee the rights of the TC people. It dismissed all suggestions. Despite the constructive approaches, the GC side does not want to share the gas and oil reserves in the region with the TC people,” he said.
Turkey’s duty as a guarantor power is to protect the rights of the ‘TRNC’ and the TC people, said the Turkish FM. He added that Turkey can conduct seismic exploration and drilling activities anywhere it wants within its continental shelf.
KEY ACTORS
Angelides (Cyprus)
>> Cyprus remains calm and will not get dragged into any actions that create tension in the region but this should not be perceived as a weakness. There is coordination with Greece, EU and other friendly countries.
>> Cyprus & Greece have been established as pillars of stability and credibility in the region and will further strengthen this role to tighten relations between Europe and the Middle East.
Apostolakis (Greece)
>> Congratulates Cypriot government for its sober stance. Greece is in coordination with Cyprus and EU partners and allies for the next moves.
>> Cyprus and Greece remain at the centre of geopolitical and geo-economic developments, seeking peace and stability in a turbulent neighbourhood but will defend their sovereign rights.
Osadchiy (Russia)
>> Russia believes that any step that undermines the potential for negotiations must be avoided.
>> Differences ought to be resolved at the negotiating table.
>> Expresses hope that there are developments that lead to a solution of the Cyprob.
Cavusoglu (Turkey)
>> For Turkey & TCs the EEZ agreements GCs signed with other countries are not valid. Turkey, which is in line with international law, had asked the UN & EU to solve this problem.
>> Despite GC declarations that they safeguard the rights of TCs they do not prove it with actions.
>> GCs dismissed all suggestions & don’t want to share hydrocarbon reserves in region with TCs.
>> It is Turkey’s duty as a guarantor power to protect the rights of the ‘TRNC’ & the TCs.
>> Turkey will carry out seismic surveys and drillings wherever it wishes within its continental shelf.
Anastasiades: Access to Turkish military archives a most important CBM
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades on Wednesday called on anyone with information on missing persons within the government-controlled areas to submit it to him personally, promising discretion. This would help to tackle the problem concerning the TC missing persons, he said.
“I hope the other side keeps the same constructive attitude,” Anastasiades said.
He was speaking at the ceremony for the appointment of Leonidas Pantelides as the new GC member of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP).
Anastasiades said that Turkey must realise that she is not absolved of her responsibilities on this issue.
“We call on her once more to abide by her legal and moral obligation based on international law and to cooperate to effectively investigate the fate of the missing persons,” he said.
Allowing access to the archives of the Turkish military and giving the opportunity to relatives of missing persons to bury their loved ones, he said, was probably “the most important confidence-building measure”.
Pantelides pledged to work to tackle some internal weaknesses and external obstacles that have slowed down the effectiveness of the whole effort of locating remains of missing persons.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Promises discretion to encourage people go to him personally with info on missing persons. This would help locate more remains of TC missing.
>> Expresses hope the TC side does the same for GC missing.
>> Calls on Turkey to realise she is not absolved of her responsibilities on this issue and to comply with her legal and moral obligation to cooperate.
>> Granting access to Turkish military archives, thus allowing relatives of missing persons to bury their loved ones, is probably the most important CBM.
Pantelides (GC member of CMP)
>> Internal weaknesses & external obstacles slowed down the effectiveness of locating remains of missing persons.
Agreement on Aphrodite to see Cypriot natural gas by 2024
Phileleftheros
Energy, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The final round of negotiations between the government and the Noble-Shell-Delek consortium of energy companies on the profit share from the development of the Aphrodite gas field is expected to be concluded today, the daily said.
The agreement provides for the companies to get to work almost immediately for the production of the first Cypriot natural gas toward the end of 2024, beginning of 2025.
Citing information, Phileleftheros reports that one of the most critical points the government wanted to achieve was to set specific and strict timetables for the development of the field and the production of natural gas, which will be sent to Egypt through a pipeline for liquefaction.
The discovery of the deposit was made in 2011, followed by confirmatory drilling two years later but since, there had not been any willingness by the consortium for development of the field, which asked to renegotiate the terms of the original agreement to make it a viable investment.
The fact that there were no explicit binding terms in the initial agreement obliging the consortium to develop the field within a set timeframe was one of the elements that pushed the government to agree to renegotiating the terms on profit sharing.
Changes concern increasing the consortium’s revenue in the first years and even more when smaller daily quantities are available. Conversely, the state’s share will increase when international prices rise and when the daily quantities increase. This is interpreted as an opportunity for more revenue for companies in the first stage of exports in order to recoup their investment faster.
The government, despite financial loss, will gain by ensuring development of the gas field soon. It also has the right to impose penalties if companies fail to comply with the set timeframe.
Levent: An AKEL TC MEP will serve Turkish interests in the EP
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
As the public spat between ruling DISY and main opposition AKEL escalates ahead of the European-elections, TC MEP candidate Sener Levent entered the fray on Wednesday with criticism of AKEL and its own TC candidate, Niyazi Kizilyurek, Phileleftheros reports.
Leader of the Jasmine Movement Levent, who was a guest on state broadcaster CyBC television last Tuesday criticised the election campaign of Kizilyurek in the occupied areas and the fact that he was hosted by ‘state’ television.
Levent said that the ‘state’ channel is under the control of the Turkish army and one could not be a guest without the support of Turkey.
“I live in the occupied area and you in the free one, and there comes a party from the free area on our side to ask for votes from our own community,” Levent said according to Phileleftheros.
He added that TCs are captives in the north and AKEL’s candidate, who is asking for their vote, goes to Ankara and embraces with their conqueror. But now he wants us captives to support him, he said.
Levent also said that if the TC community votes for AKEL, their representative to the European Parliament will simply be a spokesman of Turkey, the paper reported.
Meanwhile, the spat between DISY and AKEL is ongoing with the two sides exchanging fire on Turkish actions in the Cypriot EEZ.
DISY leader Averof Neophytou called on AKEL to support the national effort to tackle Turkey’s aggression with political weapons. Such matters should not be used for winning a few votes, the homeland must be above parties, party expediencies and votes, he said.
According to Haravgi, AKEL spokesman Stefanos Stefanou, called on Anastasiades to say what he has done to avert the illegal but foreseeable Turkish actions and how does he interpret that the UN keep equal distances on the matter.
Meanwhile, in an opinion piece in Politis, journalist Costas Constantinou reports that far right ELAM is not happy that the party’s name has been written on the ballot paper for the Euro-elections also in Turkish, as Milli Halk Cephesi. Citing information, Constantinou said that the party is unofficially urging its voters to scratch the Turkish name from the ballot paper before they cast their vote.
KEY ACTORS
Levent (Jasmine movement)
>> The fact that Kizilyurek appeared on ‘state’ TV means he enjoys Ankara’s support.
>> AKEL seeks support from TCs who are captives in the occupied areas but their candidate is on good terms with the conqueror.
>> If AKEL’s candidate is elected he will act as Turkey’s spokesman to the EP.
Neophytou (DISY)
>> Calls on AKEL to support national efforts to tackle Turkey’s aggression with political weapons.
>> Parties should not use such matters for electioneering as the homeland must be above party expediencies.
Stefanou (AKEL)
>> Wants Anastasiades to say what he has done to avert Turkish actions in the Cypriot EEZ.
>> Wants Anastasiades’ interpretation of the neutral UN stance on the matter.
ECHR will have to weigh in on Evkaf’s rights in Famagusta property
Alithia, Cyprus Mail
Property, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Claims by Islamic religious organisation Evkaf over property in fenced off Varosha is one of the most serious issues the European Court of Human Rights (EHCR) will have to rule on in one of three cases filed recently concerning the ineffectiveness of the immovable property commission (IPC), the Cyprus Mail reports lawyer Achilleas Demetriades as saying.
Demetriades represents KV Mediterranean Tours, a company that applied to the ECHR over a complex of residences it owns inside Varosha in Famagusta that had filed an application with the IPC in July 2010 asking for compensation for loss of use and restitution of the property. But in November 2012, the IPC decided that Evkaf must be included in the process as a litigant, after the Turkish side argued that the closed off town and large areas outside of it belong to Evkaf. Following unsuccessful attempts to address the matter legally in Cyprus the company filed a case with the ECHR.
“Our position is that Evkaf has no place in this procedure,” Demetriades said. There is a reference in the 1960 Treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus on the final settlement of all claims by Turkish Cypriots, including Evkaf, in exchange for £1.5m sterling paid by the British government, he said. “Legally, I cannot understand the demand of Evkaf,” Demetriades said. Unless there is settlement by mid-June the procedure will proceed at the ECHR, he said.
Demetriades also represents a case concerning two GC refugees, Theorodora Panayi and Evdoxia Shartou, who applied to the IPC in 2012 over a property they had inherited from their mother.
Another case filed with the ECHR concerns Ioannis Kyriakides who went to the IPC in 2011 and settled on an offer for £428,360 sterling but the money was never paid.
Alithia reports that Kyriakides’ lawyer Murat Hakki said that non-payment of compensation by the IPC is a systemic problem faced by thousands of GCs. He said that due to the lack of legal remedies in the north, taking cases to the ECHR is a form of pressure on the IPC.
Ozersay: It is the GCs’ actions that constitute invasion
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Governance & Power Sharing, Energy, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The papers report on the collapse of the coalition ‘government’ in the north but also the response by the TC ‘foreign ministry’ to Anastasiades’ statements on a “second invasion”.
According to the dailies, ‘Deputy Prime Minister’ and ‘Foreign Minister’ Kudret Ozersay announced late on Wednesday that he was walking out of the ‘coalition government’ following the resignation earlier in the day of the head of one of the parties forming the coalition, ‘Finance Minister’ Serdar Denktash.
‘Prime Minister’ Tufan Erhurman was expected to meet with TC leader Mustafa Akinci on Thursday morning to announce the dissolution of his ‘government,’ the dailies said.
Bigger attention was given to the announcements by the TC ‘foreign ministry’ and the head of the National Unity Party, Ersin Tatar, on GC reactions to the presence of the ‘Fatih’ drillship in the Cypriot EEZ.
Under the title ‘They are accusing us of invasion and encroachment!’, Phileleftheros reports that Kudret Ozersay and Tatar have launched an attack against the Republic of Cyprus and the right to exercise her sovereign rights.
Ozersay, in his announcement as an ‘FM’, the daily reported, said that if the GC side wants to see an invasion it should look at its own actions. The GC leadership cannot hide its own actions behind such references, Ozersay said, adding that Turkey and the pseudo-state are against unilateral actions as regards hydrocarbons.
Ozersay also said the GC side has been encroaching the rights of the TCs for years.
Ersin said that the Turkish drillship is drilling in an area that falls within the sovereign sights of Turkey and of the pseudo-state, Phileleftheros reported.
Haravgi reports that Ozersay and Tatar speak of encroachment of the rights of the TCs.