Front Page Headlines
Complex reading at the EU28 table
Athens-Nicosia demand solidarity from their EU partners on the Turkey-Libya agreement. Today, Christodoulides-Dendias are briefing the Foreign Affairs Council. On Thursday, Mitsotakis-Anastasiades will seek measures at the high-level meeting.
The EU’s indifference is scary
Nicosia and Athens are prompting the partners again on the Eastern Mediterranean. (Greek FM) Dendias insists on intimidation of Libya by Turkey.
- The war for the EEZs in the East Med
- AKEL leader: He asked for consistency from both (leaders)
Overcharging in housing loans
Households are paying thousands of euros due to the small letters in housing loans. Banks offer low interest rates that act as ‘touting’ but at the same time, they increase charges on fess for research, management, paperwork, guarantees etc. For a €200,000 loan, this type of fees reach €1,720 per year.
- (Andros Kyprianou) “The two leaders must show determination”
- (Neoclis Sylikiotis): Energy should become a lever for solution
Turkey… relapsing
The illegal Turkey-Libya memorandum before the Foreign Affairs Council today. Turkish foreign ministery: Don’t forget we pushed you into the sea. Greek foreign ministry: ‘Hubris is the choice of those who cannot accept their history”. Nikos Dendias: The ‘memorandum’ was the result of blackmail by Turkey to the Tripoli government.
- Alecos Markides: We could have gone to The Hague through the UN – The government, however, did not approve of this.
Main News
Nicosia, Athens to try to get support from EU partners over Turkey-Libya agreement
Alithia, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Nicosia and Athens will on Monday brief their EU partners at the Foreign Affairs Council on the controversial agreement between Turkey and Libya on the delimitation of their EEZs, the dailies report.
President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis are expected to do the same later in the week during the European Council deliberations.
Under the headline, The EU’s indifference is scary, Phileleftheros reports that the Greek and Cypriot Foreign Ministers Nikos Dendias and Nikos Christodoulides respectively will try again to convince the European partners and the EU as a whole to express more interest in everything that is happening in the region.
Citing information, the daily report that the two ministers were to brief their counterparts that Turkey blackmailed Libya and took advantage of the chaotic situation in the to secure its government’s signature in an illegal memorandum, which violates international principles.
The two ministers were to also argue that the EU’s policy of non-involvement in the Middle East Is not in the best interest of Europe. On the contrary, Europe is forced to pay the expensive cost of actions of other countries, such as the civil war in Syria, the immigration issue and billions the EU is paying to different directions.
According to the papers Christodoulides will also have a meeting with the new EU High Representative, Josep Borrell to also discuss the legal measures against Turkey for violations in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Politis, citing diplomatic sources in Brussels, reports that the EU’s stance towards Turkey is starting to enter a different phase as her counterproductive actions increase following the agreement with Libya.
Despite efforts by Cyprus and Greece to utilize this climate, Brussels is not ready for confrontation with Ankara, as it wants to move with great caution also due to the migration issue, the daily reports.
According to the paper, no decisions are expected today at the Foreign Affairs Council.
AKEL: Leaders need to act with determination
Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou called on the two leaders to act with consistency and determination.
Speaking during a memorial, Kyprianou said that the only road to a future and prospects was through the honest compromise provided by the agreed framework for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
“We want for the next generations to live in our country peacefully, in conditions of security and with their human rights and basic freedoms guaranteed,” he said.
Kyprianou also said he found as positive that the target for the solution was reaffirmed before the UN Secretary-General in Berlin earlier in the month.
He also called on the two leaders to act with consistency and determination and take initiatives. The people, he said, are tired of waiting.
KEY ACTORS
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Calls on two leaders to act with determination and consistency towards the goal for the solution of the Cyprob & take initiatives since the people are tired of waiting.
>> The only way forward is through honest compromise.
>> The next generations must live peacefully, in conditions of security & with their human rights and basic freedoms guaranteed.