Front Page Headlines
Corrective moves for the streamlining of GESY
Majority tendency for changes aimed at ensuring viability. Reassessment of the framework for the remuneration of private doctors. Abolition of the €25-charge for visits to specialists.
- European Council: Solidarity by the partners
- Akinci: Insistence on BBF
- Exercise: Cyprus-Italy and France
Again, problems in healthcare
Doctors, nurses on strikes and parties raising tensions over GESY. Scaremongering over a deficit budget at the time when it presents surplus.
- The EU dismisses the Turkey-Libya memorandum
- Shielding the EEZ with military exercises
- Myrofora of Cyprus (the woman who lost her five-year-old son in 1974 and still hopes to find him)
- At the Presidential Palace for signatures for LNG – Shaking hands with the Chinese on the terminal. Modifications by the legal service for the protection of the Republic’s interests.
- Ankara’s lies to the UN, revealed
They backed employers again
DISY, DIKO, EDEK, Solidarity and ELAM, siding with the demands of employers, and at the expense of workers, cut the funds from the state budget concerning setting up the unitary inspection service for tackling undeclared employment and the protection of workers’ rights.
Budget passes with caveats
Cash for Estia and Paphos-Polis road withheld as part of amendments also passed by MPs.
Clear positions
Support to Greece and Cyprus by the high-level summit. President Nicos Anastasiades has asked for “clear positions” by the EU on the Turkish-Libyan memorandum and the Europeans spoke clearly: They stress that the agreement between Libya and Turkey violates international law. Cavusoglu: We will stop whoever is operating on our continental shelf. Solidarity by Germany-Italy to Greece and Cyprus.
- Poll: Mustafa Akinci continues to come first
Main News
Support from EU on latest Turkish moves but no measures in sight
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Regional/International Relations, Energy
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades expects clear positions from the EU partners on the issue of Turkey’s provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean while some states have already pledged their solidarity with Cyprus and Greece, the papers report.
The EU leaders, that will discuss the Turkey issue during dinner on Thursday, are expected to pronounce the deal between Turkey and Libya as void but not much else is expected.
Government spokesman Kyriacos Koushios said on Wednesday Anastasiades expects clear positions from Cyprus’ EU partners as regards the agreement between Turkey and Libya on the delimitation of maritime areas.
He also expressed hope that the summit’s decisions would reflect a clear position regarding the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Libya by pronouncing that it goes against international law and produces no legal effects for the rest of the region’s countries.
The dailies also report that the draft conclusions include a statement that the Turkey-Libya accord infringes on the sovereign rights of third states and does not comply with the UN Law of the Sea. The draft also says that the European Council unequivocally reaffirms its solidarity with Greece and Cyprus regarding these actions by Turkey.
In the meantime, Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday that Rome favours a European response that will support the interests of Cyprus and Greece. Speaking at the Italian parliament, Conte said that it was important for the European Council to reaffirm support for the EU eastern Mediterranean member states as well as a reference on full respect for international law.
Some of the dailies also cite spokesperson for the German foreign affairs ministry, Maria Andebar, who told Cyprus News Agency that her country shares the EU’s stand of solidarity with Greece and Cyprus. She also urged Turkey and Libya to respect the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of all EU member states.
Haravgi, Alithia, Phileleftheros and Politis report that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu however, warned whoever thinking of launching operations in Turkey’s continental shelf that they would be stopped.
He also said that the Libyan government may not be in a position to sign bilateral agreements but it can sign memoranda. Cavusoglu also said that Turkey is ready to sign similar agreements with other East Med countries, except the Republic of Cyprus which it does not recognise, on the delimitation of maritime areas, the papers report. According to Phileleftheros Cavusoglu is warning with a new 1974.
Politis also reports that no moves are expected to lead to sanctions because several members are reluctant going beyond statements since they are not ready for harsh decisions against Turkey.
Phileleftheros, citing important EU circles, reports that that the next steps will depend on two issues; on one hand, it is not clear what will happen if Turkey does not comply with EU positions, and whether Greece will pursue a new framework of sanctions. The second issue concerns the assessment of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum by the competent EU legal services which has not yet been completed.
KEY ACTORS
Koushios (Cyprus)
>> Anastasiades expects a clear stand by EU partners on Turkish provocations & agreement with Libya.
Conte (Italy)
>> Wants the EU support the interests of Cyprus & Greece by reaffirming support for the EU East Med member states as well as a reference on full respect for international law.
Andebar (Germany)
>> Germany shares EU’s stand of solidarity with Greece & Cyprus.
>> Urges Turkey and Libya to respect the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of all EU member states.
Cavusoglu (Turkey)
>> Warns Turkey will stop anyone trying to operate in her continental shelf.
>> The Libyan government may not be in a position to sign bilateral agreements but it can sign memoranda.
>> Turkey is ready to sign similar agreements with other East Med countries, except the RoC.
China calls for support from international community on Cyprob
Cyprus Mail
Regional/International Relations, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The daily reports that China’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Huang Xingyuan said that his country, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a good friend of Cyprus, is ready to do its utmost to play a constructive role in the resolution of the Cyprus problem at an early date.
The ambassador also said in an interview that China has consistently supported Cyprus’ efforts in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the resumption of dialogue and negotiation on the basis of relevant UN resolutions for a just, reasonable, balanced and comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem which must be in the interest of both communities.
The ambassador also said that the international community needs to help facilitate this process. He also said China calls on relevant parties to exercise restraint, avoid taking any unilateral actions that may affect the resolution of the Cyprus problem, and create a basis of mutual trust and favourable conditions for the negotiations.
KEY ACTORS
Xingyuan (China)
>> China, as a permanent member of the UNSC & a good friend of Cyprus, is ready to play a constructive role in the resolution of the Cyprob.
>> China supports Cyprus’ efforts in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity but also the resumption of dialogue for a Cyprob solution which must be in the interest of both communities.
>> The international community must help facilitate this process.
>> China calls on stakeholders to exercise restraint, avoid taking any unilateral actions that may harm the procedure & create a basis of mutual trust and favourable conditions for the negotiations.
Exercise at sea sends out messages on Cyprus’ sovereignty
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
External Security, Regional/International Relations, Energy
OVERVIEW
The dailies report a three-day joint naval exercise with the participation of Cyprus, France, and Italy will start on Thursday inside Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone south of Limassol.
The defence ministry said in a written statement, the aim of the Passex exercise is to improve the operational capabilities of crews, enhance the level of communication, and promote cooperation. Passex is jointly conducted by the naval forces of various countries to ensure a high level of coordination in times of war or humanitarian relief, it said.
Politis reports that through the exercise, France and Italy also send their own messages to Ankara.
The paper cited Defence Minister Savvas Angelides saying that the presence of warships of various countries in the Cypriot EEZ aims at serving also those countries’ interests but also upgrade cooperation.
“In addition to the operational capability assessed through such activities, we also send a message for the free exercise of the sovereign rights of Cyprus, the companies and those who have the right to exercise such rights in the exclusive financial zone of the Republic of Cyprus,” the minister said, according to the paper.
Phileleftheros reports that the Republic responds to Turkish aggression with new exercises in the Cypriot EEZ. It added that from now on, in the exercises will also participate countries with interests in the region such as those from which the energy companies licensed to operate in Cyprus’ offshore blocks come from.
Elderly mother still waits for the return of her son lost in 1974
Phileleftheros
Human Rights, CBMs
OVERVIEW
The paper reports that present at the ceremony held yesterday at the old Nicosia town hall near Eleftheria Square for the decoration of a Christmas tree with photos of missing persons, was Myrofora, a woman who had lost her five-year-old son, Christakis, during the 1974 invasion.
The elderly woman hanged her son’s photograph on the Christmas tree saying she wanted back her child, snatched from her in 1974, the paper reports.
The daily described the contrast between Myrofora’s pain and the merriment around her from passersby ahead of the Christmas season.
While journalists were waiting for the officials’ limousines to arrive to share Myroforas’ pain in front of the cameras, she was walking around with the photo in her trembling hands saying: “I want my son back.”
Presidential Commissioner Photos Photiou who addressed the event, said that there are still 814 missing persons of the 1,510 initially recorded. He said the government was doing what’s necessary for the truth to shine on each and every one of these cases, the paper reported.