Front Page Headlines
The husband paid but… the wife did not accept the money
The state treasurer is exposed for the withdrawal of a cheque in favour of Cypra slaughterhouse. On the instructions of the state treasury, a €54,000 bank cheque concerning the confiscation of a guarantee of the Cypra company belonging to the state treasurer’s husband was withdrawn hours after it was deposited. After a probe of the Audit Office instructions were given for a disciplinary probe against a senior official of the state treasury who was ‘punished’ with a promotion to the A14 pay scale. The House watchdog committee was briefed about the case yesterday by the Auditor-general. The probe on the illegal employment of foreign nationals continues.
- Cyprus problem: (Negotiator) Mavroyiannis returns
- Parliamentary elections: Synergies and ballot papers have been formed
- The measures did not pay off: One death, 185 cases
- Movement: ‘Roadblocks’ at noon and closed schools
They got lost in the maze
Confusion over decrees, thousands of workers standing by, two districts are furious. They threw in a weekly coronavirus test for exiting Limassol-Paphos with the confusion taking tragic dimensions. 450 police officers and soldiers for nine roadblocks in two districts.
- The Varosha refugees asked the government to take a stand
- The British ambassador is pulling the rug from under us
- Occupied properties at 6 per cent of their value
- Cyprus-Greece-Israel announced expansion: Trilateral plus the US on security and defence
No responsibility for support of the health system
The government’s efforts to tackle the pandemic is borderline ridiculous. It even mustered blankets for the primary school children. It does not assume any responsibility for the reinforcement of the health system ignoring that tackling the pandemic also demands proper hospitalisation-treatment. Full responsibility was dumped on the citizens.
- All eyes on Varosha
- Turkey is asking for opening of the 1963-64 files for TC missing persons
- The presence of the army at the roadblocks is an extreme measure
New pandemic relief package
Additional €30m in support per month for those worst hit by the Covid crisis.
- Protests as the north readies for Erdogan visit
Cyprus’… ‘partition’ has sparked division and satisfaction
Positive and negative comments for the measures against the coronavirus. Halt! Roadblocks in nine points. Drivers will be stopped by plastic barriers placed on the road and will be asked to provide explanations and documentation. Government services close down due to coronavirus cases. Seminars, conferences and anti-occupation events are being postponed due to the new strict measures.
- Things are heating up in the occupied areas over Erdogan’s picnic in Varosha – ‘Ankara get your hands off us’. Constant and strong protests by TCs against the new faits accomplis.
- Diversion: Turkey is asking for praise from the Council of Europe on the issue of the missing persons
Main News
Lillie: ‘The two leaders must find common ground’
APhileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, External Security
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that the UK High Commissioner to Cyprus Stephen Lillie “has pulled the rug from under us,” by mentioning that the GC side too bears responsibility for the situation on the Cyprus problem since it is not being convincing about its positions as regards political equality and a bizonal bicommunal federal (BBF) solution.
According to the daily, what Lillie said during an interview with Alpha TV, basically refutes UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s reassurances to President Nicos Anastasiades during their telephone conversation this week. At the same time, he made apparent what the opposition in Cyprus has been saying from time to time that the president’s positions on the Cyprus problem do not sound convincing abroad and to the international community.
Lillie said that TC leader Ersin Tatar has his own position on the Cyprus problem and Anastasiades his, and that the point of the talks is to find common ground between these positions. This statement basically sends out the message that a compromise should be sought between the Turkish positions on a confederation or two states and the GC side’s positions on a BBF, the paper said.
Lillie also called on Anastasiades to be clearer as regards his positions pointing out that Turkey had said it was willing to discuss a BBF solution but is not sure the GC side means it when it says it wants such a solution.
On political equality, Lillie said this was part of the formula for the solution of the Cyprus problem for almost 30 years and that it was clear to him that the TC side wants to be treated as politically equal to the GC side.
He expressed the view that if it becomes possible to find a federal formula where the two communities actually share power as equal whether it is mutual respect or the power of appreciation between the two communities then this provides a suitable basis for discussion.
Phileleftheros reports that the GC side has repeatedly argued that the positions on a two-state solution expressed by Tatar and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu point to a change in the basis of the talks, noting that this is not accepted by the international community and the UN Security Council. But it should perhaps review this because the British diplomat whose country has a significant role in the UN Security Council regarding the Cyprus issue records another approach and leaves the door open for proposals that push the Cyprus issue to another basis, the daily said.
Lillie also said he believed that the informal five-party summit on Cyprus is very important because the parties will work together with the UN to put down their positions and start finding common ground and mapping out a way forward.
The daily also recalls that Government Spokesman Kyriakos Koushos said on Wednesday after Raab’s telephone conversation with Anastasiades that the British foreign secretary gave reassurances of the UK’s intention to positively contribute to the convening of an informal five-party conference, as well the continuation of the talks for the achievement of a Cyprus settlement, based on what has already been agreed.
Politis reports that ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis who is also the GC side’s negotiator, will be back in Cyprus next week to prepare the ground for UNSG special envoy Jane Holl Lute’s round of contacts on the island at the end of this month.
Mavroyiannis, who was serving as Cyprus’ permanent representative to the UN in New York, is expected to permanently return to Cyprus towards the end of the year to assume his duties as negotiator. This sends out the message that intense and important developments on the Cyprus problem are expected from January, both as regards the informal, five-party meeting and meetings between the two sides.
Diplomatic sources told Politis that Lute will arrive on the island late November for contacts with both sides and will also hold talks with the guarantors in a bid to establish a framework for dialogue ahead of the informal five-party meeting. The same sources estimate that the informal 5 + 1 meeting will take place at the beginning of next year as preparations are needed. The daily, citing also foreign diplomatic sources reported that both in the informal meeting but also during the preparatory period, Anastasiades and Tatar will be able to lay out all the issues and positions that want to be discussed, whether these are political equality or sovereignty or two states or confederation so that the scope of demands is clear. The same sources said that despite Tatar’s references to a two-state solution, this does not mean that the federation chapter is closed, Politis reported.
KEY ACTORS
Lillie (UK High Commissioner)
>> The aim of the talks is for two leaders to reach common ground & the five-party summit is very important because the parties will work together with the UN to find common ground & map out a way forward.
>> Anastasiades should be clearer as regards his positions on the Cyprob and if he truly wants a BBF since Turkey said it was willing to discuss such a solution but is not sure if this is want the GC side wants.
>> The TC side wants to be treated as politically equal to the GC side so if a federal formula is found where the two communities actually share power as equal this would make a suitable basis for discussion.
Famagusta mayor wants government to advise refugees on property issue
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Property, Human Rights, Negotiations Process, External Security
OVERVIEW
The issue of Varosha and the expected arrival on Sunday of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been widely reported by the papers on Friday.
According to the dailies, President Nicos Anastasiades received a delegation of the Famagusta municipality headed by mayor Simos Ioannou.
During the meeting, he briefed them on the government’s actions to stop Turkey’s illegal actions in Famagusta, with letters to the UN Secretary-General and his telephone conversations on the issue with foreign officials, most recently with the UK Foreign Secretary, European institutions, such as the EU High Representative, as well as the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy, Jane Holl Lute.
He also told the delegation about other steps and actions that are underway on the part of the Cypriot government.
Haravgi, citing statements by Ioannou, reports that the delegation realised that the president was disappointed by the stance of the international community and the EU on the matter.
He also said that they called on the president to arrange a meeting with the Attorney-general to discuss the Varosha properties issue because there is division among Varosha refugees as regards what to do on the return of their properties as per statements of TC officials.
Ioannou said that the state ought to explain to those who wish to return under TC administration the ramifications of their decision and the fact that they will first need to file to the Immovable Properties Commission (IPC), a move that comes with political and legal issues.
The mayor also said they called on Anastasiades to put pressure so that the fenced area passes under UN control, even without the return of its residents and with a ban of entry to non-legal residents.
Phileleftheros, citing sources, reported that the municipality representatives, that met Anastasiades three days prior to the Turkish president’s arrival for a picnic in the fenced area, called on the president to take a clear stand, in cooperation with the legal service, and warn Varosha refugees over the legal and political risks entailed from turning to the IPC but also giving them reassurances that their town will not be lost.
Basically, the government is called upon to officially take a stand on the matter, by assuming political responsibility and not let each Famagusta refugee decide on their own, the daily reported.
The daily also reported, citing more information, that many Varosha refugees, following the threats of the occupation regime that unless they make use of their right to claim their properties through the IPC they will lose, it, are preparing to file their applications. On the other hand, there is another group opposing such a move for personal and political reasons and find this a dangerous and condemnable act, the paper reported, adding that these two groups are up against one another. A third group of Varosha refugees, are torn about what to do, the daily reports.
In the meantime, the Famagusta municipality said it was obliged to call off a planned protest at Dherynia checkpoint on Sunday afternoon against Erdogan’s visit, after failing to secure a special permit for people to travel there from Limassol and Paphos which are both locked down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The dailies also report on reactions in the north ahead of Erdogan’s arrival on Ankara’s interference in their internal affairs but also the Turkish president’s picnic in Varosha.
They also report on the joint statement by 62 GC, TC groups and organisations including parties and trade unions but also bicommunal groups against Turkey’s unilateral moves in Varosha which they argue goes against UN Security Council resolutions.
Varosha, they said, “is one of the symbols of our divided island” while Turkey’s moves undermine, not only the peace process and regional stability, but also relations between the two communities.
“Such initiatives are not in the interest of the TCs, who are paying a heavy price due to the lack of solution, nor of Turkey, which is facing multiple economic and political problems in the midst of the pandemic,” they said.
Statements and actions on the issue, since the opening of Varosha, have shown that this initiative is led directly by Turkey, thus bypassing the TCs, they said, adding that this was yet another intervention in the TCs’ internal affairs.
They stress that the celebratory nature of this initiative, which was undertaken over the painful memories of the legitimate inhabitants of Varosha, causes further harm.
They also said that they have always supported the opening of Varosha before a comprehensive settlement, provided that this is done in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and stress that every peace initiative must take place in a spirit of reconciliation and promote cooperation and rapprochement.
All dailies also report that UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar met with Tatar on Thursday and, among other things, she referred to the issue of Varosha and recalled that the UN position on Varosha remained unchanged, guided by relevant Security Council resolutions.
Turkey calls for access to military areas in south to locate missing TCs
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
CBMs, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that Turkey is calling on the GC side and Greece to grant access to their archives for the 1963-64 and 1974 periods but also military camps and areas to further help the Committee on Missing Persons locate TC missing persons.
The request was part of Turkey’s comments to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers that is expected to discuss the issue of missing persons on December 1-3 as part of its examination of the “Cyprus v. Turkey” and Varnava cases.
The dailies report that Turkey said the Turkish side has been doing its part in providing the CMP with all the necessary assistance to ensure the committee continues to achieve tangible results as quickly as possible.
It said, however, that it was imperative that the GC side as well as Greece, also part with the relevant documentary evidence in their possession for the period of 1963-64 and 1974 when the disappearances took place in Cyprus and give access to their military camps and military areas under their control.
In this respect, the police records kept by the GC side for the 1963-64 period which have not yet been shared with the CMP, are especially crucial in locating TCs who were last seen at police checkpoints so as to ensure the continuation of the effectiveness of the CMP, the note said, according to the papers.
Turkey also said that all information at the disposal of the Turkish side about possible burial sites have been provided to the CMP as per the 1997 Agreement between the TC and GC leaders. Thereafter, any new information that comes to the disposal of the Turkish side about possible burial sites and other places where remains might be found is shared with CMP to assist its work. It added that in the north until 31 October 2020, a total of 1,112 exhumations were conducted by the CMP, 1,048 in the civilian areas and 64 in the military areas. In order to ensure the continuation of the effectiveness of the CMP, therefore, all relevant parties should fulfil their respective obligations in giving the CMP full access to all areas as well as to respond to the requests of CMP for archival information on possible burial sites, it said.
Turkey also pointed out that the operations of the CMP were also interrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Alithia reports that Turkey is looking for praise from the CoE, while, in order to deflect attention, is asking for access to the Cyprus Police archives for the 1963-64 period on TC missing persons.
Cyprus, Greece, Israel trilateral takes place in Nicosia
Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations, Energy, External Security
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that Cyprus, Greece and Israel, held a Trilateral Defence Ministers meeting in Nicosia on Thursday and announced they would intensify their defence cooperation, including examining collaboration in a 3+1 format with countries with a keen interest in defence and security developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, such the US.
In a joint declaration they stressed that “in order to maintain peace and security in the region, good neighbourly relations and cooperation must prevail, on the basis of International Law and respecting UNSC Resolutions.”
“In this framework, we condemn any actions that do not comply with the International law, and undermine regional peace and stability, undertaken by countries or non-state actors. We welcomed the recent, historic, political developments in the region which will contribute to achieving peace, stability and regional cooperation.”
They also said that the three countries are determined to further enhance “their robust, ambitious and strategic partnership in the domains of defence and security which aims to foster regional cooperation and partnership and jointly address common challenges and threats.”
“Our shared values, the respect for international law and our commitment to a stable, secure and prosperous Eastern Mediterranean are core pillars of our partnership,” they said.
They said they remain committed to further advancing their trilateral defence and security cooperation.
The defence ministers of the three countries agreed to hold the next Trilateral Defence Ministers meeting in Israel next year.
Cyprus’ Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides, said in his opening remarks, that the meeting expresses the common will of the three countries to continue their cooperation in the fields of security and defence with the aim of promoting peace, stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He also said both he and Greek Defence Minister Nicos Panagiotopoulos informed their Israeli counterpart on “the provocative actions of Turkey in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), in the Mediterranean maritime zones and the Aegean, where Ankara continues illegal drillings and seismic surveys.”
He moreover said that he informed the Greek and Israeli ministers “on the illegal Turkish actions as concerns the fenced-off city of Varosha, which violate the UN Security Council resolutions; actions that undermine the Secretary-General’s efforts to resume negotiations that aim to reunify Cyprus on the basis of the agreed framework.”
Both dailies report that President Nicos Anastasiades received Israel’s Defence Minister Benny Gantz at the Presidential Palace.
After the meeting, deputy Government Spokesman Panayiotis Senontas said Anastasiades and Gantz reaffirmed their will “to extend and expand the excellent relations between Cyprus and Israel, especially as far as security is concerned.”
“The cooperation between the two countries aims to promote peace, security and stability in our region,” said Senontas.
Anastasiades also briefed Gantz on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, as well as on the ongoing Turkish provocations in both the Cyprus EEZ and Varosha.
Gantz stressed the need for Turkey to immediately end its illegal actions in Cyprus and the wider region to create favourable conditions that will allow the resumption of a productive dialogue on the Cyprus problem.
EDEK MP tables bill to back refugees & stop applications to IPC
Phileleftheros
Property, Human Rights
OVERVIEW
According to the daily, EDEK MP Costis Efstathiou tabled a bill to set up a fund to support owners of properties in the occupied areas in a bid to stop refugees from turning to the Immovable Properties Committee (IPC) in the north.
Efstathiou told the House refugees committee he suggests a €0.40 fee on all real estate transactions in the free areas, such as transfer of land or sale of immovable property which will go to the fund.
He said that refugees who seek compensation from the IPC receive money equal to 6 per cent of the value of their properties while what lawyers and middlemen fail to tell applicants is that the documents they sign refer to the ‘constitution’ and the ‘laws’ of the breakaway regime, therefore, they automatically recognise that their property is transferred to the pseudo state.
Efstathiou said that after the IPC was established some people, taking advantage of the bad financial situation of refugees, encouraged them to claim loss of use of property but in essence, they are getting just a small percentage of their property and they sign off its alienation.
Representatives of the legal service and the finance ministry said this proposal was unconstitutional while members of the House committee said they would back Efstathiou’s proposal since this was a way to help refugees without the state being burdened with having to earmark a budget for this.