Front Page Headlines
Measures to change after airport fiasco
Second thoughts by government for those stuck abroad. They decide today for return of Cypriots stuck in foreign countries, if flights are found. Tens of citizens that returned yesterday in isolation and measures against the company that brought them.
- “Elections” to be also postponed
Chain of terror
One step before declaring quarantine in all of Paphos – Coronavirus entered also a military camp. A second camp waits exams for suspected case – Illness of teacher confirmed.
- EU closes borders to overseas for 30 days
- 352 cases in Greece
- Turkey hides cases, doctors in the country say
- The virus of… dispute burrowed into the Synod
- Double standards at the Bases
- Six MEPs restricted at home
- Turkish drones and UAV from Evros to Cyprus
- They monitor Syria from Lefkoniko
Initiatives of humanity and solidarity
13 new cases, most of them health professionals. Military officer among the new cases. Entry to pharmacies will be controlled.
- EU closes borders for 30 days
Late arrivals allowed entry
Entry is a one-off says minister, no more exceptions. Two flights miss 6pm deadline. 13 more cases, largest daily spike.
- World: EU may close bloc’s borders for 30 days
Explosive situation – The measure broke
Due to ban of entry of Cypriots from abroad. Threat of incidents at the airports – Government backed down and allowed the entry of the passengers who were moved to quarantine – Legal measures against the companies by the Republic of Cyprus.
- First good news in war against coronavirus: When will the virus nightmare end?
Main News
Biggest coronavirus spike yet on Monday in government controlled areas
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Human Rights, External Security, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
All dailies focus almost exclusively on issues regarding the spread of the coronavirus, including the spike in new cases in the government controlled areas on Monday and the fracas caused in Larnaca aiport when a group of passengers – mainly Cypriots studying abroad – demanded to be allowed to disembark despite having arrived after the lockdown.
Phileleftheros reports that one of the new cases of coronavirus has been found in a military camp in Stavrovouni, which has now been put under quarantine. The newspaper also reports that samples from a second camp are being tested.
Meanwhile, Politis reports that the National Guard is one of the sectors of society that now has to operate at a reduced capacity due to the emergency. According to an announcement by the Defence Ministry, officers and soldiers belonging to vulnerable groups will have to stay home. Also, only the absolutely necessary number of staff in the ministry and the National Guard will work at one time, in rotation.
Alithia reports that the T/C authorities arrested a T/C man at the Agios Dometios checkpoint when he attempted to cross to the north. The 69-year-old man had returned to Cyprus two days ago through Larnaca but had not put himself in self-isolation as per the measures ordered by the T/C “cabinet of ministers”.
Phileleftheros and Alithia also reports on the refusals of the Bishops for Morphou and Limassol to conform to the decision by the Church of Cyprus to suspend services for the next three days. The two Bishops said that they will continue services as normal. Asked to comment, the Archbishop said that he can’t take the Bishops by the hand and that the people will give their answer.
The dailies publish statements made to the Cyprus News Agency by Petros Karagiannis, professor of microbiology and molecular virology at the Medical School of the University of Nicosia. Karagiannis said that he expects the situation will be under control by July. He pointed out that the country is expected to be clean of the virus by then, but that the state should remain vigilant to prevent additional incidents from abroad.
Karagiannis pointed out that experts have not reached a consensus on how long the pandemic is going to last since this is a new virus. He said he hopes that during the summer the spread of the virus will slow down due to the increase in temperatures, at least in the south.
Dailies report on the proposal by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to the leaders of the EU’s member states to ban travel from outside the EU and to limit not necessary travel within the block. At the same time, the Commission and the Council want to make sure that goods and supplies can continue flowing within the EU.
Phileleftheros also reports on statements by the president of the Union of Turkish doctors, Sinan Adiyaman, who said that incidents in Turkey are far higher than the official number of 18.
The dailies also report on meaures taken by the office of the RoC’s commissioner for human rights, Fotis Fotiou, regarding the enclaved G/Cs in the Karpas peninsula and the Maronites that have resettled in the north. According to an announcement, the government will continue to send food and financial support to the enclaved through UNFICYP and the Cypriot Red Cross. Also, the operation of the bus between Rizokarpaso and Agia Triada that normally operates on Fridays will be temporarily suspended. Schools in Rizokarpaso will remain closed.
Haravgi reports that the Sovereign Base Areas are called to apply the exact same measures as the rest of the government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus. In an announcement the UK High Commissioner Stephen Lillie said that the SBAs are following the RoC’s measures. Lillie also met with permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry Tasos Tzionis in order to strengthen cooperation. The newspaper recalls that two cases were detected in the SBAs.
Politis reports on the discussions in the occupied areas for the postponment of the election for T/C leader. The newspaper reports that the T/C “government” had discussed the possibility and that final decisions are expected to be taken Tuesday. Politis cites information from the T/C side that T/C leader Mustafa Akinci does not disagree with the possibility.
The newspaper points out that the T/Cs are looking for ways in which the postponment can be imposed without violating the “constitution”, but that it is not expected to be difficult due to the extraordinary situation. It is also noted that this development would also push back any developments in the Cyprus Problem, since the priority of all involved in fighting the coronavirus.
Cyprus Mail also reports that the T/C community is requesting for aid from the EU and the UN regarding the coronavirus. T/C leader Mustafa Akinci’s advisor Erhan Ercin met with the head of the Commission’s Cyprus Settlement Support Unit Kjartan Bjornson, UNFICYP head Elizabeth Spehar and head of UNDP-PFF in Cyprus, Tiziana Zennaro.
Turkish drones operate from Cyprus across East Med and Middle East
Phileleftheros
Regional/ International Relations, External Security
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports, citing Greek newspaper Ethnos, that Turkish drones and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) are involved in the country’s behaviour on the borders with Greece, monitor illegal drillings in the Eastern Meditarranean and are involved in the situation in Libya, Syria and Iraq.
In a seperate report citing its own sources, Phileleftheros refers to the fact that some of these drones and UAVs are also landing and taking off from the illegal airport at Lefkoniko, which has become a base for the Turkish army. According to the newspaper, a drone took off from Lefkoniko early before dawn on Sunday and flew over areas in Syria where military operations are ongoing.
Phileleftheros also reports that a third Turkish drill ship is in Mersina since Sunday. According to a post by Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez, the new drillship is called “Kanuni” (law-giver), which is a reference to the historic Sultan of the Ottoman Empire known as Suleiman the Magnificent (1494 – 1566).