Front Page Headlines
“They promised to me office posts to choose Larnaca (in local government mergers)”
Aradippou mayor reports there has been a background for mergers. He told Politis107.6 he turned down all that he had been promised to have a clean conscious. On Monday, he will reveal the names of everyone who interfered with political motives for the final decision.
- Mitsotakis to have a chat with Erdogan today
- AKEL: Looking for allies
The new municipalities are like quicksand
Mayors prepare legal battles and parties are saving their weapons for parliament. Nothing is written in stone yet, says the president of the Union of Municipalities.
- Meeting in the shadow of provocations (Mitsotakis-Erdogan)
Cooperation with those sharing the same vision
AKEL launches an initiative for cooperation with powers that share the vision for Cyprus’ reunification and regrouping of society and economy. AKEL will start a dialogue with the political powers in and outside of parliament that share the same vision for a different Cyprus.
- TCs react to the ‘hardening’ of the Green Line Regulation
- Tayyip Erdogan will meet Kyriacos Mitsotakis in London today
New ministers to continue reforms
Finance minister says glad received portfolio in better condition than given over in 2013.
Andros (Kyprianou) who was to go… is staying
Refuting himself, he announced he will reclaim the position of AKEL’s general secretary. In February 2018 he was declaring that he would abide by the provisions of the party’s charter and would retire while yesterday said the charter does not forbid him to stand for re-election.
- (DISY leader) Averof (Neophytou): Yes to a pipeline through Turkey but after the solution
- They are concerned in the occupied areas over the changes to the Green Line Regulation
- Turkey-Libya agreement: Mitsotakis-Erdogan will discuss in London
Main News
Anticipation for Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting over agreement with Libya
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Among the main items in papers on Wednesday is the meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in London over Turkey’s agreement with Libya on the delimitation of their exclusive economic zones (EEZ) that angered Greece, Cyprus and other countries in the region.
The meeting is to take place on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
Haravgi also reports that a source within the Turkish foreign ministry told Anadolu news agency that the Greek islands and the western part of Cyprus should not be given a continental shelf /EEZ but only territorial waters.
The source told the news agency that based on international law, it is the equitable principle that must be used in such cases and not the principle of equidistance which the Republic of Cyprus used for the purposes of delimitating its maritime jurisdiction with Egypt, Lebanon and Israel considering Cyprus as ‘continental territory’.
Based on the equitable principle comparing islands with other countries’ mainland may give them less continental shelf/ EEZ, arguing that factors such as the size, the length of the facade and the location of the islands and how far away from the mainland they are located must be taken into account, the source told Anadolu, according to Haravgi.
Kyprianou: Leaders must act with consistency and determination
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou criticised harshly President Nicos Anastasiades over the way he handled the Cyprus problem and warned that time is running out.
During a press conference, Kyprianou announced he will probably run for re-election next year at the next party congress scheduled for June 2020.
The AKEL leader, among other things, accused the government of its dismal track record.
He also said Anastasiades lacks a clear direction on settlement talks and warned that time is running out.
“If we do not get serious, if we are not consistent in our strategic objective, we shall definitively miss the opportunity to solve the Cyprus problem within the agreed framework, unless that is precisely what certain quarters want,” he said.
He also called on the two leaders to act with consistency and determination and take initiatives towards that end but also address the people with honesty.
Kyprianou also said that when substantive talks start, Turkey must end her provocations or else assume the responsibility for what’s to follow.
The papers also report that Kyprianou announced his party would seek to forge cooperation with parties that share the same vision as AKEL in all fields.
KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Anastasiades has no clear direction on the settlement talks.
>> Warns time is running out & that unless there is no consistency in the GC side’s strategic objective it will miss the opportunity to solve the Cyprob within the agreed framework, unless that is what some want.
>> Calls on two leaders to act with consistency and determination, take initiatives & address the people with honesty.
>> When substantive talks start, Turkey must end her provocations or else assume responsibility for the concequences.
DISY under fire over thoughts for cooperation with Turkey post-solution
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Energy
OVERVIEW
According to the dailies, opposition parties DIKO and Solidarity Movement criticized DISY leader Averof Neophytou who did not rule out the possibility of cooperation with Turkey on natural gas after a solution.
Neophytou, during his speech on Monday night at an event on Cyprus and the new geopolitics of the East Med at London School of Economics, discussing future ways of exporting Cypriot natural gas, did not rule out the possibility this happening also with a pipeline running through Turkey in the case the Cyprus problem is solved.
Neophytou also said that after the solution the relations between Cyprus and Turkey would change opening the way for cooperation opportunities.
This, however, he said, will depend on Turkey’s goodwill to contribute to a just and viable solution.
DIKO however, spoke of political naivety or a conscious effort by DISY to appease and deceive the people. The party said that if Neophytou and DISY believe and maintain that should the Cyprus problem is solved, Turkey will be a trustworthy business partner they are making a huge and very dangerous mistake.
The Solidarity Movement said that the DISY leader follows, even with a delay, AKEL’s footsteps and remains faithful to the naïve belief that Turkey will give at the negotiations table what she is trying to steal from the Cypriot seas while trying to lure Turkey into the Cyprus problem process by mortgaging national wealth.
DISY said in response that political naivety is for some to say ‘No’ to everything without having any alternative proposals. The party also asked DIKO if it preferred Turkey to be a customer for the East Med gas or a co-owner.
KEY ACTORS
Neophytou (DISY)
>> Post-solution, when the relations between Cyprus and Turkey will change there could be an agreement for Cypriot natural gas to be exported also through Turkey.
>> It is up to Turkey to contribute to a just and viable solution.
DIKO
>> Believing that in the case of a solution Turkey will be a trustworthy business partner is a huge & very dangerous mistake & DISY is either being naïve or is consciously trying to appease and deceive the people.
Solidarity Movement
>> Neophytou has decided to follow AKEL’s footsteps & naïvely believes Turkey will give at the negotiations table what she is trying to steal from the Cypriot seas.
>> Neophytou is trying to lure Turkey into the negotiating table by mortgaging to her the national wealth of Cyprus.
DISY
>> Political naivety is saying ‘No’ to everything without having any alternative proposals.
>> Asks DIKO if it would rather have Turkey as a customer for East Med gas or a co-owner.