GCC Press Review 27 May 2020

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Opening on June 9th and waiting for you

Plans to restart the steam engine of the tourist industry. Official call by RoC to agents and travellers starts with letter by three ministers. Tourist interest from Israel, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

  • Destruction of evidence with innuendos: New dispute between Papadakis and EDEK
  • Electoral Court: Blocked Parliament for 56th seat
  • Occupied areas: 300 million euros through Turkey

Phileleftheros

Tourism safari begun

Christodoulides, Karousos, Perdios inform our partners abroad for everything. Letter-invitation to tour operators, airport companies and travel agents.

  • 300 million euros to the pseudostate: Transfer to Turkey with message to Akinci
  • Papadakis’s complaint goes to Costas Clerides
  • They built settlements with an expiration date
  • Two new cases in the community
  • 197 Georgian asylum seekers repatriated
  • No” by Electoral Court to Parliament’s request over 56th seat

Haravgi

They quickly forgot “commitments” to hospitals

A “mountain” of problems in Famagusta Hospital. Doctors did not get an answer from OKYpY (State Health Services). Blue Cross and Agios Georgios join GeSY.

  • Xenophobic delirium from the Ministry for the Interior
  • Dead silence regarding trip to Seychelles

Cyprus Mail

Tourists keen on Cyprus summer

Interest shown from Germany and Israel as state looks at subsidising flights.

  • Cyprus: ‘We will not allow anarchy’ minister says over protest

Alithia

Welcome to Cyprus

Campaign to attract tourists off to dynamic start. We sent letters to our tourism partners with special references to our success against the coronavirus. (Tourism minister) S. Perdios: There is interest from foreign tourists and especially from Israel, Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Cyprus on the schedule of Ryanair, which announced it starts daily flights from July 1st.

  • Serious accusations by Demetris Papadakis, which were confirmed by Marinos Sizopoulos: They destroy documents in EDEK! – We destroyed them so that they wouldn’t leak, says EDEK president
  • Interior Ministry: We will not allow anarchy by migrants
  • New lockdown if…: Another two new coronavirus cases
  • Protocoll signed: Injection of 297.14 million euro by Turkey to “TRNC”

Main News

Technical Committee and experts to examine reopening of checkpoints

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Politis, Phileleftheros
Internal Security, Human Rights, CBMs, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health will have a teleconference next Monday, in order to have an in-depth discussion regaring the measures taken by both sides against the spread of the coronavirus.

Kathimerini reports that the decision was taken during last Thursday’s telephone conversation between President Anastasiades and T/C leader Mustapha Akinci. The newspaper also cites information that the reopening of all checkpoints is likely to happen on June 15th.

According to a report by the Cyprus News Agency, experts from both sides that are not regularly members of the committee will exchange information and views in order to better understand the current situation on the island. The experts will then be able to put forward recommendations to the leaders regarding the possibility of reopening the checkpoints.

The newspapers recall that Anastasiades and Akinci agreed on Thursday T/Cs working in the south, students, patients, enclaved and G/Cs and Maronites living in the north will be allowed to cross starting on June 8th.

A source speaking to CNA pointed out that the Technical Committee does not have a mandate to take binding decisions. The mandate given by the two leaders is for the experts to exchange information and assess the situation regarding when the checkpoints can reopen.

Kathimerini reports that the experts from the two sides are also expected to exchange information regarding health safety measures taken at airports, given that the RoC has raised concerns over flights from Turkey given the upsurge of cases in the country.

Kathimerini also points out that the government’s experts had expressed concern over allowing flights from the UK and Scandinavian countries for the same reasons, and reports that the G/C side might ask for the T/C side to limit the number of flights in order to avoid a new increase of cases in the occupied areas.

According to the report, the experts will discuss technical details regarding the passage of workers and students after June 8th, including safety measures as well as which documents will be required by people crossing.

Kathimerini also reports that these as well as other issues have been passed on to the experts in order to avoid further politicisation of the issue, especially by the “government” led by Ersin Tatar and Kudret Ozersay.

Kathimerini cites information that the political repercussions of the closure of the checkpoints were a cause of concern by the government, especially due to the fact that UNSG Antonio Guterres called for a coordinated reopening once conditions allow it. According to the newspaper, FM Nicos Christodoulides had initially brought up the issue in the Cabinet of Ministers, which voted against the reopening at that moment.

The same sources told the newspaper that after the decision to reopen airports, the Foreign Ministry suggested dates for reopening checkpoints during the start and the middle of June, which were the basis of the discussion held by the two leaders.

Kathimerini reports that the government’s concerns are also connected with UNFICYP’s reaction to the closure of some of the checkpoints by the RoC, as well as with increasing calls by the UN for more bicommunal cooperation and the message that the RoC should work with the T/Cs without letting the fear of recognition get in the way.

In related news, Cyprus Mail reports that G/C negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis said that UNSG Guterres is interested in becoming more actively involved in the Cyprus Problem, but that the process is being hindered by the coronavirus pandemic.


Turkey and T/Cs sign economic protocol for transfer of 300 million euro

Alithia, Phileleftheros, Politis
Economy, External Security, Regional/ International Relations

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that Turkish vice president Fuat Oktay and T/C “prime minister” Ersin Tatar have singed an agreement for about 300 million euros to be transferred to the “TRNC” to assist T/Cs with handling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.

Phileleftheros reports that T/C leader Mustafa Akinci was not informed of the signing ahead of time. The signing ceremony, which was due to take place at noon Tuesday via teleconference, was announced by Turkey’s state Anadolu agency earlier the same morning.

The protocol for the economic and fiscal cooperation between Turkey and the “TRNC” calls for funding the north with loans and grants adding up to 2,288,976,000 Turkish lira, which corresponds to 297.14 million euro.

Phileleftheros reports that in his statements, Oktay said that Turkey is ready also to assist with firefighting, and the he pointed out that a Turkish helicopter will be based at an area close to the “TRNC” which was not named.

The newspaper underlines Oktay’s statements that Turkey is ready to assist the T/Cs, as well as Tatar’s statement in which he thanked Turkish President Tayip Erdogan.

Politis also reports that Oktay made references to the Cyprus Problem. Oktay said that Turkey is ready to defend T/C rights to energy resources, and called on the international community to convince the G/C side to accept sharing these resources with the T/Cs.

Oktay also said that there can be no solution to the Cyprus Problem until political equality is accepted and the rights of the T/Cs are respected, and added that Turkey will continue to do anything it can to assist as a guarantor power.

In a written statement issued after the end of the ceremony, Tatar announced that the deal includes 650 million TL funding for defence, 273 million TL for infrastructure, 116 million TL for future investments in the property markets and 1.15 billion TL to cover the north’s budget deficit.

Politis reports that the assistance covers the costs for adding 500 bets to northern Nicosia’s general hospital, for a programme to support tourism and loans to medium-sized and small businesses.

Phileleftheros also reports that on Sunday, Akinci contacted President Anastasiades to ask for assistance in fighting a new fire in the occupied areas. The newspaper points out that the decision not to inform Akinci of the ceremony should be seen as an answer to the T/C leader.


Prominent lawyer accuses RoC of indifference over Varosha properties

Phileleftheros, Politis
Property, Territory, EU Matters

OVERVIEW

Phileleftheros reports on accusations made by lawyer Achilleas Demetriades, who represents owners of properties in the fenced-off area of Varosha, that the Republic of Cyprus no longer supports Cypriot citizens with their claims for compensation against Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights.

Demetriades was responding to a statement made by the office of the Attorney General. The Law Office of the RoC had rejected earlier accusations by Demetriades regarding the government’s stance regarding cases brought to the ECHR.

The lawyer pointed out that the outcome of the case brought by his clients, K.V. Mediterranean Tours Limited, against Turkey will affect the rights of all owners of properties in fenced-off Varosha.

Demetriades also said that the Attorney General did not really comment on the essence of his accusations that the government’s response to Turkey’s unilateral declaration to the Council of Europe’s Council of Minister, was inadequate.

According to Demetriades the government’s response to Turkey’s claims that religious body Evkaf has property rights in Varosha, was to send a mere two-and-a-half page document without supporting evidence, with a two-month delay. The RoC usually submits much longer documents regarding property cases similar to the one in question, he added.

Demetriades also said he believes the RoC is changing its approach at the ECHR, since it no longer supports Cypriots that are appealing against Turkey.

Politis recalls that the position of the Law Office is that the document sent by the RoC included targeted observations that was put together with the assistance of two experts on the issue as well as of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The newspaper also recalls that Demetriades has been asking for months assistance from the RoC regarding property claims in Famagusta and in Tymbou. The Law Office responded so far only on the case regarding Famagusta.

In its response to Demetriades, the Law Office had accused the lawyer of unfair criticism and of misleading public opinion and of essentialy assisting the other side. The office of the Attorney General had also added that the RoC offered its assistance despite the fact that it had not been consulted before the claim was submitted.

Politis also recalls that both Turkey and the claimants can submit their own positions on the RoC’s document by July 7th. The ECHR will then decide whether to adopt Turkey’s position and close the case or whether it will proceed with judging the case on its merits.


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