Front Page Headlines
They are out and about holding guns
Seven politicians have gun holder permits because… they are in danger. Former and current officials-political persons have secured gun permits for their personal security. They have been baptised as special police constables. A top-secret letter by the justice ministry to parliament says that until January 2020, 55 gun holder permits were in force. The new House President, Adamos Adamou, showed the way: he reduced by half his guard, even citing unnecessary expenses.
- Anastasiades-Tatar: Tete-a-tete with eyes on Varosha
- Measures until January – They are discussing expansion and extension (of coronavirus measures).
- Izmir: They are searching for survivors in the rubble
Bomb in the president’s hands
The scientists have submitted ideas for the expansion of restrictions and night-time curfews. The measures in Limassol and Paphos did not pay off but they will be expanded to cover all districts. Trade unions want remote work in the civil service, reservations by OEV-KEVE (employers’ federation & chamber of commerce and trade) Kyperounta is experiencing its own lockdown with 39 cases. Europe locked at home for the second time.
- Blind date for Anastasiades-Tatar – Today is the first meeting.
- (Izmir) A three-year-old girl was found alive under the earthquake rubble
Hospital wards are filling up with Covid-19 patients
Twenty-seven people with SARS-CoV-2 are being treated at the Famagusta hospital, five patients continue to be intubated at the Nicosia general hospital’s intensive care unit while eight others are at the Covid-19 ward. Another 197 cases were recorded yesterday, 37 of which in an old-people’s home.
- Tatar raises the issue of the lifting of the ‘embargo’
- Assessment of developments by Mitsotakis-(AKEL leader) Kyprianou
- European ultimatum (to Cyprus) on the environment
Covid crisis in nursing home
Second death in care home where 37 have tested positive.
Response to AKEL and DIKO and (Auditor-general) Odysseas Michaelides’ DIKO past.
Naturalisations – The government strikes back. AKEL knew Giovani’s activities but kept mum. Nicolas Papadopoulos never explained where his shares in the Tassos Papadopoulos law office went and under what terms. The auditor-general was in the top brass of DIKO’s student branch. DIKO, with Nicolas’ whims, is blackmailing the people and not the government.
- Anastasiades-Tatar: Their first tete-a-tete today is a defining one
- National Guard: New counter incentives for dealing with draft dodging
- Tomorrow we are headed to a partial lockdown – Rapid rise in coronavirus cases, another 197 were announced yesterday. Burning questions over the 37 cases and the two dead in an old people’s home.
- US elections: Will Biden or Trump be the new planet head? – The ballots will speak today.
Main News
Anastasiades will convey readiness for talks in meeting with Tatar
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, External Security, Territory
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on today’s first, informal meeting of the two leaders at the UN-protected area in Nicosia.
According to the papers, Government Spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said President Nicos Anastasiades will convey to Tatar his strong political will for a positive response to the UN Secretary-General’s invitation for the resumption of the talks on the Cyprus problem. Koushos expressed hope that both Turkey and the TC side will also respond positively to the UNSG’s invitation and show the same political will.
In the meantime, Tatar said he will convey to Anastasiades the TCs’ expectations but will also raise the ‘embargo’ imposed on them and the issue of direct flights to the north, the papers reported.
Koushos said the positions of the president and the GC side are clear and have been reaffirmed many times. He recalled the meeting of November 25, 2019, in Berlin and the letter which President Anastasiades sent to the UNSG on October 19 in which he expressed his will to proceed to dialogue. “We expect the resumption of the dialogue at the invitation of the UNSG, as he himself has said in his reply letter.”
He added that Anastasiades would also raise the issue of Varosha and the need to adhere to UN Security Council resolutions on the issue.
“Developments on Famagusta do not contribute to a proper climate for the restart of the talks,” Koushos said. He noted that Anastasiades hopes that the other side will show the political will to create a better climate in view of the UNSG’s expected initiative.
Responding to a question, Koushos recalled that the meeting on Tuesday will take place in the presence of the UNSG’s Special Representative in Cyprus, Elizabeth Spehar, adding that depending on the climate and the conditions that will prevail, the UN will evaluate the situation and continue to take action aiming at convening an informal five-party meeting.
He noted that the initiative belongs to the UNSG who will decide how to handle the whole issue as regards the process and when he will convene the informal five-party meeting.
Koushos also said that statements made by Tatar and Turkish officials, including the Turkish president himself, as regards the basis for a Cyprus settlement are not encouraging, do not contribute to the continuation of the talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana, and do not create a good climate.
He also said that the settlement must be based on and in line with UN decisions, UN Security Council resolutions, the convergences that have been achieved and EU values and principles.
He added that there is no other choice but to come to the talks. “It is a political decision, and it is our firm position that the Cyprus issue should be resolved through negotiations and talks,” Koushos said.
According to Politis, tonight’s ‘menu’ will be the demanding and thorny issues the two leaders will discuss as they are expected to touch upon as many open issues possible in a bid to probe each other’s intentions ahead of what’s to come. Depending on developments, the possibility of a second meeting between the two leaders cannot be ruled out. What UN seeks is political will for the continuation of the process. Tatar, through his statements, seems to be ready to set red lines.
Politis also reports that while all eyes are on Varosha in an effort to seek ways to curb Turkish plans there, Famagusta ‘municipality’ is discussing securing a new bank loan so that it can proceed with necessary works in the fenced area. The daily reports that leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Tufan Erhurman criticised Tatar for not knowing what exactly is going on in Varosha since Ankara has taken over.
Phileleftheros reports that this first meeting between the two leaders is uncharted territory since no one can predict what could come out of it and what could be announced as regards the Cyprus problem.
Anastasiades will go to the meeting aimed at seeing progress on the effort on the Cyprus problem, with what has been agreed in Berlin a year ago as his compass while Tatar made sure to announce yesterday his demands which will definitely make things difficult as regards the efforts for the restart of the talks, the daily reported.
Haravgi reports along the same lines that Anastasiades will convey to Tatar in tonight’s meeting his strong will to resume talks, while Tatar stated that he will raise the issue of lifting the ‘embargo’ and isolation of the TCs.
KEY ACTORS
Koushos (RoC spokesman)
>> Anastasiades expects the resumption of the dialogue & has strong political will for a positive response to the UNSG’s invitation for the resumption of the talks & hopes Turkey and the TC side will too respond positively & show the same political will.
>> Developments on Famagusta do not contribute to a proper climate for the restart of the talks. Hopes the other side will show the political will to create a better climate in view of the UNSG’s expected initiative.
>> Tatar’s, Turkish officials’ & Erdogan’s statements on the Cyprob are not encouraging & do not contribute to the continuation of the talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana.
>> The Cyprob solution must be based on UN decisions, the UNSC resolutions, the convergences that have been achieved and the EU values and principles.
>> There is no other choice but to go to the talks since Cyprob should be resolved through negotiations and talks.
Tatar
>> Wants to discuss TC expectations, lifting of the TCs’ isolation & direct flights to north.
AKEL, DISY initiatives abroad on Cyprob
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations, EU Matters, Territory
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on initiatives by main opposition AKEL and ruling DISY aiming to reach stakeholders abroad as regards the Cyprus problem.
Haravgi, Alithia and Phileleftheros report that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou had a meeting on Monday with Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis during his visit in Athens for contacts on the Cyprus problem.
During their meeting, the two men discussed the prospects for the solution of the Cyprus problem after last month’s elections in the north and Turkish provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s support in efforts for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF).
Kyprianou said that meetings with the Greek prime minister are always important. He said the priority of the GC side should always be tackling Turkish efforts for the change of the negotiation framework but also the launch of the talks for a solution.
“We believe the situation is very crucial,” Kyprianou said.
Kyprianou also met with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and the leader of Greece’s Communist Party, Demetris Koutsoumbas.
Following his meeting with Sakellaropoullou, the AKEL leader said that a systematic effort has been made by the whole international community, primarily the UN, but also those who can influence Turkey to withdraw its unacceptable demands for a two-state solution and agree to the resumption of substantive negotiations on the basis of a BBF, as defined in relevant UN resolutions.
“Greece can contribute to this direction by improving its relations with Turkey and developing a dialogue on resolving disputes between them,” Kyprianou said, adding that it was unfortunately obvious that Turkey’s priorities were different.
After his meeting with Dendias, Kyprianou said that there is now an additional level of difficulty after the latest developments but that they agreed that there is no option but to try for respect of the agreed solution framework by the Turkish side and the resumption of substantive negotiations with a view to achieving a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Kyprianou was to also meet with head of SYRIZA, Alexis Tsipras, the dailies report.
Alithia reports that ruling DISY, as part of its international campaign on Famagusta, sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Turkey’s illegal activities in Famagusta.
In response, the European Commission said the EU has expressed grave concern over the decision to proceed with the ‘opening’ on October 8 of part of the fenced area of Varosha and has called for the immediate reversal of recent actions.
It added that the EU will continue to underline the importance of the status of Varosha, as set out in relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and will continue to be guided by these resolutions, in particular 550 (1984) and 789 (1992). It is crucial to ensure the full respect of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the letter said.
“The EU supports the speedy resumption of negotiations, under the auspices of the UN, and remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded. We expect the same of Turkey and stand ready to play an active role in supporting the negotiations,” it said, Alithia reports.
Phileleftheros, in another article, citing Greek diplomatic sources, also reports that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in his reply to a letter by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, stresses that the US deplores the ongoing Turkish gas exploration activities in areas where Greece has potential jurisdiction.
Dendias had sent Pompeo a letter describing the latest illegal and provocative actions by Turkey, The US official said Greece was a pillar of stability in the region and stressed the excellent level of bilateral relations between Greece and the US. Pompeo also said that the US, like Greece, wants stability and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean where cooperation will develop always guided by international law, the sources said, Phileleftheros reports.
Semi-occupied municipalities call for action on closed crossings
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Haravgi reports that the committee of municipalities adjacent to the buffer zone and semi-occupied ones said it has yet to hear from President Nicos Anastasiades, five months after it sent a letter to him for a meeting to discuss the issues concerning the crossing points.
Head of the committee, Dherynia Mayor Andros Karayiannis said he had sent Anastasiades a letter last June calling for a meeting to discuss the new state of affairs as regards crossings following the restrictions imposed last March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The mayor said yesterday they had also sought to discuss with the president the situation on the crossing points that closed but also on opening more such as in Pyroi, but also close to the Famagusta and Paphos Gates in Nicosia.
Karayiannis said serious issues are pending on the crossing points that remain closed and no one knows when they will reopen and under what conditions.
He added that urgent discussion was necessary also on the opening of the Pyroi and Kokkina crossings since residents in those areas have been protesting for years but there has been no move towards that direction.
Meanwhile, Cyprus Mail reports that the government has donated €175,000 to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP).
This donation brings the Republic of Cyprus’ financial assistance to the CMP to a total of €3m making it the largest single donor country. The amount does not take into account other programmes sponsored or partly funded by the government.
The daily also reports that only 16 remains were identified in 2020 which is the lowest figure since 2007. It cites a state announcement saying that it was a fact that for the last at least five years the CMP programme has been facing problems and challenges and as a result there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of remains exhumed during the excavations resulting in a reduction in the number of identifications.