Front Page Headlines
USA puts focus on East Mediterranean
Pompeo at Souda with message of close strategic relationship with Athens. USA – Greece relations are at their highest point according to the American Secretary of State, who sent a message to Ankara from Crete to come to the table in order to solve its differences with Athens. Permanent presence of American warship USS Hershel “Woody” Williams at Souda, with K. Mitsotakis calling it the most strategic area in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Report on rule of law: Slap by Commission on passports
- Coronavirus: 30 new cases, mistakes in contact tracing
- Summit: Backstage pressure on Nicosia
- Naturalisations: The “talented” mister Tony Newman
- Parade: With empty sidewalks, F-16 and foreign dignitaries
Shifts centre of gravity
Careful and meaningful US messages regarding Greece, aimed at Turkey. Diplomatic marathon ahead of European Council. Nicos Dendias goes to Nicosia today on short notice.
- New rise in concerns: 30 new cases with SYOP (professional soldiers), students and football players
- Three flights from occupied Cyprus: They transferred occupation military in a hurry
- Most applicants are Indians: 4,393 asylum applications this year despite lockdown
- Names of investors and providers from Odysseas
Public hospitals should be supported
Ministry of Health should not throw the ball of responsibility elsewhere. Government should oversee process of (hospitals) becoming autonomous. All necessary tools should be given to health professionals.
- They react against muzzling of educators
- They add insult to injury after their resounding failure
Minister ups the economic outlook
FinMin says will only shrink by 5% with growth expected in 2021.
- Cyprus: AKEL ‘divisive’ in 60th anniversary speech
- Legal view: The artist’s dilemma and defending liberty
Suddenly, a double shock!
The coronavirus does not let us relax. 30 new cases cause alarm. Increase in cases also in football. During the lockdown one in four adults in Cyprus displayed medium to high levels of anxiety. Changes to children’s way of life after the lockdown, such as with an increase in sugar consumption, increase of time on screens, reduction of physical activity. Ministry of Health calls for measures to be kept to avoid worse situations.
- The awesome, state-of-the-art USS Hershel “Woody” Williams: Gigantic helicopter carrier permanently in Souda – Mitsotakis: The time for diplomacy has come – Pompeo: Greece a pillar of stability
- Kyriakos Koushios: Only AKEL blames our side instead of Turkey
- Again yok: Occupied areas still without water since malfunction continues
- For coordination ahead of tomorrow’s summit: Dendias comes to Nicosia today on short notice
- Turkish lira: It doesn’t stop tumbling down
Main News
Anastasiades says sanctions on Turkey are not an end in themselves
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Regional/International Relations, External Security, Energy, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Anastasiades said on Tuesday night that Cyprus is seeking to rescue “the trustworthiness and dignity of both Europe and the European citizens of Cyprus” during the summit of the European Council on Thursday.
When asked whether Cyprus will use the sanctions on Belarus as a bargaining chip to achieve the imposition of sanctions on Turkey, Anastasiades said that sanctions are not an end in themselves, the Cyprus Mail reports. Anastasiades added that the aim is to “finally realise the prevalence of what Turkey’s obligations as a candidate country are in line with EU principles”.
Anastasiades was also asked on reports of a German initiative for sanctions on Turkey at a later date if the country does not comply, to which he responded that he had no such information.
Politis reports that Cyprus is being pressured to accept sanctions on Belarus and that the effort for sanctions shifts to an effort towards de-escalation which could see Turkish research vessels Yavuz and Barbaros withdrawing from the Cypriot EEZ. This would contribute to the creation of the necessary climate towards a restart of negotiations for the Cyprus Problem.
Oikonomiki Kathimerini reports that Germany has begun a diplomatic effort to de-escalate tensions in the Cypriot EEZ, and that German officials have told Cyprus that they do not believe sanctions will be effective and that such a move will only increase Turkish provocations. Government sources told the newspaper that the situation regarding the German initiative is still fluid. However diplomatic sources note that Cyprus still has difficulty finding support among the other member states.
However, according to sources from the Presidency, the government notes that sanctions are not the primary goal. The same sources say the primary goal is a comprehensive solution but for this to happen, first Turkish provocative actions should be stopped. The newspaper’s sources insist that Anastasiades will not step back regarding the need for sanctions on Turkey, but they point out that if it is arranged that Yavuz and Barbaros will pull back then that would be a positive development.
Diplomatic contacts continue ahead of the summit, with Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Dendias arriving in Cyprus on a visit arranged on short notice on Wednesday.
Phileleftheros writes that Dendias is expected to inform his counterpart on his meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday. Dendias will meet Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides, who will also be welcoming a scheduled visit by Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya.
Meanwhile French President Emmanuel Macron met with leader of the Belarusian opposition Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Lithuania, the dailies report, citing international news agencies. According to Politis, a member of her team told Reuters that Tsikhanouskaya reiterated her position that new elections should be held in Belarus within the year, and that she hopes for support for reform in Belarus from Europe.
Oikonomiki Kathimerini reports that Turkey believes that European interests are essentially cancelling the possibility of sanctions for three reasons: some EU member states still want Turkey’s cooperation on migration; the EU has no common front when it comes to sanctions; and European economies are closely tied to the Turkish economy. The newspaper points out that according to the international press, European banks have lent a total of 182 billion dollars to Turkey or to Turkish businesses.
The dailies also report on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Crete, his meeting with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the announcement that American helicopter carrier USS Hershel “Woody” Williams will be based at the Souda military base on the island for the foreseeable future. Wednesday was the second day of Pompeo’s two-day visit to Greece.
In his statements, Pompeo called on Greece and Turkey to press ahead with talks to resolve their disagreements over maritime delineation as soon as possible, Cyprus Mail reports. Pompeo pointed out that the Eastern Mediterranean should become a foundation for energy security and that the US supports Greece’s efforts to diversify energy routes. He said that he believes in Greek-US security cooperation and pointed out that Russia has a destabilising influence on the region.
Phileleftheros reports Mitsotakis saying in a statement that Souda is now becoming the most strategic spot in the region. He added that with Pompeo they discussed the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, adding that the region is very sensitive and has been tested by Turkey’s aggression.
Mitsotakis added that Turkey’s behaviour continues to provoke in the waters of Cyprus. He added that Greek positions are in line with the US position that unilateral moves in the region should be avoided.
Cyprus Mail also reports that Greece already imports US liquefied natural gas (LNG) and plans to create a floating LNG storage and regasification unit which will connect to a pipeline that will channel natural gas to central Europe through Bulgaria. ExxonMobil, Total and Hellenic Petroleum have also set up a joint venture that will search for gas off the coast of Crete.
On the domestic front, the government responded to criticism expressed by AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou during a speech on Monday. Government spokesperson Kyriakos Koushios said on Tuesday that Kyprianou’s speech was divisive and accused the opposition party of providing alibis for Turkey’s behaviour.
Koushios laid down a series of rhetorical questions over whether it was President Anastasiades’s policies that brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war, or that allowed Turkey to lay a military claim to the right to drill off the coast of Crete and Kastelorizo, or that gave Turkey the opportunity to sign a memorandum with Libya and invade Iraq, Syria and intervene in Nagorno-Karabakh. Koushios said that AKEL’s previous statement against Turkish militarism contradicts its accusations against the government of following partitionist policies.
Governing DISY deputy president Harris Georgiades responded that AKEL is not showing political seriousness and is not being reliable. He added that DISY will not follow the opposition in an unnecessary conflict.
AKEL spokesperson Stephanos Stephanou responded by saying that the government and DISY are lacking in covering exactly this need for seriousness and reliability. Stephanou said that the government managed through its erratic policy to take the blame off Turkey regarding the failure of the Crans Montana conference, and to leave Cyprus without meaningful support from the EU for Turkey’s provocative moves against Cyprus. He said that polices are judged by results, and that the government has been unable to bring Turkey to task over its threats and provocations.
The government spokesperson responded by saying that it is sad for AKEL to work to serve its own party political interests by attacking the President and putting the blame on the G/C side instead of on Turkey while the RoC is fighting against Turkish actions.
DIKO president Nicolas Papadopoulos said in a statement that the RoC should remain focused on the goal of effective sanctions against Turkey, since it will be the only way to regain Cyprus’s lost credibility in Europe and also face Turkish provocations. Solidarity meanwhile said that Saudi Arabia was right to ban the import of Turkish products, and that if Muslim countries can close the door to Erdogan, so should the RoC.
In another development, Politis reports that this year’s Independence Day parade will take place without the participation of citizens due to the coronavirus pandemic. Greek Defence Minister Nicos Panagiotopoulos will also attend the parade, along with the army chiefs of Greece and Italy, Constantinos Floros and Enzo Vecciarelli, as well as French admiral Laurent Isnard who is in charge of the country’s naval forces in the Mediterranean.
KEY ACTORS
Nicos Anastasiades (Cypriot President)
>> Cyprus seeks to rescue trustworthiness and dignity of Europe and European citizens of Cyprus
>> Sanctions are not an end in themselves – the aim is to realise the prevalence of what Turkey’s obligations are as a candidate country
>> Hasn’t been informed of initiative for measures against Turkey at a later stage if Turkey does not comply
Mike Pompeo (US Secretary of State)
>> Greece and Turkey need to press ahead with talks to resolve disagreements over maritime delineation
>> Eastern Med should become foundation for energy security and US supports Greece’s efforts to diversify energy routes
>> He believes in US – Greek security cooperation
>> Russia has destabilising influence on region
Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Greek prime minister)
>> Military base in Souda is now the most strategic spot in the region
>> The region is sensitive and being tested by Turkey’s aggression, which continues to provoke in Cypriot waters
>> Greece agrees with Turkey that unilateral moves should be avoided
Kyriakos Koushios (government spokesperson)
>> AKEL secretary general’s speech on Monday was divisive
>> AKEL is providing alibis to Turkey’s behaviour
>> Its condemnation of Turkish militarism contradicts its accusation that the government follows partitionist policies
Stephanos Stephanou (AKEL spokesperson)
>> The government managed through its erratic policy to take the blame off Turkey and leave Cyprus without meaningful support from the EU
>> Policies are judged by results and the government has been unable to bring turkey to task over its threats and provocations
Turkish military forces moved from the occupied areas to Syria
Phileleftheros
External Security, Regional/ International Relations
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that Turkey has moved some military forces from the occupied areas to Syria on three flights with a A-400 military transport aircraft. According to the report, this seems to be an unscheduled move that could be connected with Turkey’s efforts to get involved in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The A-400, which arrived to Cyprus from Turkey travelled three times from Tymbou airport in the north to an airport in Hatay province in Turkey on Monday afternoon to early evening.
The newspaper reports that on Monday night observers recorded a military convoy leaving Hatay province and crossing the border into Syria. The A-400 returned to Turkey early in the morning on Tuesday.
According to Phileleftheros the same aircraft had also conducted flights from Turkey to areas in Azerbaijan close to the border with Armenia, on Thursday and last Saturday.