Front Page Headlines
Five ministries are investigating Mr Cypra
The slaughterhouse is also being investigated by the Commission for the Protection of Competition for abuse of dominant position in the market. The ministries of health, agriculture, labour, interior and justice are investigating the owner of Cypra slaughterhouse for possible criminal offences. The slaughterhouse, that is in a dominant position serves/controls almost 80 per cent of the Cypriot market and has a monopoly over the slaughter of cattle. The issue on reports on concealing responsibilities with the withdrawal of a cheque by the state treasury to the benefit of the husband of the state treasurer is being tabled in parliament. The owner of the slaughterhouse Giorgos Gerogiou was asked to attend the House labour committee today to give explanations for everything he is being accused of.
- Varosha-Cyprus problem: ‘Awkward’ accusations while waiting for Lute
- Karabakh: Erdogan as a watchdog
Chaotic pandemic condition
Decisions attributed to wrong calculations have wreaked chaos all over Cyprus. The ministers, after the citizens’ fury, are rushing to rectify the decisions. The checks (at roadblocks) led to lines stretching for kilometres, the justice minister acknowledged the mistake. Confusion at the testing centres in Limassol, thousands of citizens are rushing to get tested.
- Lute’s appointments have been set for November 27 – Moves in the Cyprob mist.
- Six gifts by Erdogan to Ersin Tatar: Hospital, new offices, electricity
Their inadequacy causes unimaginable hardship
For days, both in Paphos and Limassol, due to the government’s shoddiness and irresponsibility, hundreds of citizens are stuck in crowds without observance of the indicated protection measures, to get tested for Covid-19, necessary to be able to travel (to, from, between the two districts) from tomorrow.
- Lute is arriving: The informal meeting on the Cyprus problem will be at the end of December, beginning of January
- The AKEL leader called on the president to focus on the restart of the talks
- We honour the Polytechnio uprising
Fury over long roadblock lines
People were kept waiting for hours to take tests needed for movement
- Turkey ‘could annex north by 2023’
He stirred reactions
The day after Erdogan’s visit to the occupied areas. The UN is monitoring developments with concern, Borrell made clear to Tatar that the EU will not accept a two-state solution. Attack by the Turkish foreign ministry on Borrell over Varosha. The EU decides on Turkey at the high-level summit in December. Akinci: We are being dragged to a two-state solution.
Main News
FM: Turkey might annex north if there is no Cyprob solution
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Politis, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, Territory, Property, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides expressed on Monday concern over the risk of Turkey annexing the north in case no solution is found by 2023, which is when Ankara will celebrate the 100th anniversary since the establishment of the Republic of Turkey.
He also said EU High Representative Josep Borrell is expected to visit Nicosia and Athens prior to the European Council of December 10 and 11, while the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy, Jane Holl Lute, is expected in Cyprus at the end of November. The informal five-party conference on Cyprus could take place end of December or January, he said according to the dailies.
The dailies report that Christodoulides, while presenting his ministry’s budget for 2021, told the House finance committee he was concerned Turkey might annex the north by 2023 if there is no solution to the Cyprus problem as part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s neo-Ottoman approach, in light of modern Turkey’s 100-year anniversary and its effort to lead the Muslim world, as well as due to financial hardships the country is faced with internally.
Unfortunately, he said, the occupied areas but also areas in northern Syria and in northern Iraq are all potential targets for Erdogan “and this is something that should trouble us and of course we are concerned,” Christodoulides said.
Referring to efforts to resume the talks, he said according to the information available, UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute is expected to visit Cyprus at the end of November, in an effort to bring everyone on board for convening an informal five-party conference either at the end of December or in January, in order to announce the start of substantive negotiations.
The real effort started last week after Lute’s contacts with the three guarantor powers, and is expected to culminate by the end of November or early December.
Christodoulides said solving the Cyprus problem continues to be the number one priority with the aim to resume negotiations from the point they were left off at Crans-Montana, for a solution on the agreed framework for a bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF).
“Apart from our readiness to resume talks, our reaction focuses on using all means available to the foreign ministry, particularly in the EU, despite inherent weaknesses due to member-states’ interests with Turkey, “Christodoulides said.
He also said that there have been interventions by the EU, UN Security Council permanent members and the UN Secretary-General himself, who spoke with Turkey in order for Erdogan’s visit to Varosha not to take place.
He also said that the government has taken some decisions at attorney-general level but which he could not reveal.
The minister also said the TCs’ protests against Erdogan and his policies were very important and have been taken into account, particularly by the EU.
The dailies report that Greek Government Spokesman Stelios Petsas said that the presence of the President of Turkey at the military parade held in Turkish occupied Nicosia, as well as his visit in the fenced-off area of Famagusta, known as Varosha, constitute a provocation against the Republic of Cyprus, the EU and the UN.
Petsas said that these actions form part of the escalation of Turkish illegal behaviour and they will be discussed during the forthcoming European Council, in December. He stressed that Greece supports the resumption of the negotiation process under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General for a comprehensive, functional and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the European acquis.
Haravgi reports that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said that Erdogan’s presence in occupied Cyprus and Varosha was unacceptable, illegal and condemnable. Turkey’s and the new TC leadership’s actions lead to new fait accompli which will cause massive problems to the efforts for the resumption of talks and reaching an agreement on the solution.
Pointing out that valuable time has been lost since Crans Montana which gave the opportunity for the idea of a two-state solution to mature in the heads of part of the people, and lead to new fait accomplis, as the party had been warning, Kyprianou called on Anastasiades to launch an international initiative for a return to substantive talks.
Ruling DISY also condemned Erdogan’s visit and stressed that the GC side was ready to go to an informal summit, but it was necessary to prove this on a daily basis.
It is also time for the EU to strengthen with actions the GCs’ will by actively participating in their effort for the dialogue to resume.
The daily reports that Erdogan’s illegal visit was also condemned by the other political parties through announcements but with a different starting point regarding the need to resume talks and for a BBF solution.
Phileleftheros reports that Lute is expected on the island next week for meetings with the two leaders on November 27.
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Alithia and Phileleftheros also report that the Turkish foreign ministry has turned against the EU following the condemnation by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell of Erdogan’s visit to Varosha on Sunday.
The Turkish foreign ministry said that if the EU wishes to contribute to the settlement of the Cyprus issue, it should acknowledge the existence and the will of the TCs. The Turkish foreign ministry said that the views expressed by Borrell on the fenced city of Varosha and settlement of the Cyprus issue “have once again revealed how disconnected the EU is from the realities on the island and exposed the fact that it ignores the free will of the people of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) reflected in the ballot box.” It added that it should not be expected from the EU to contribute to the settlement, arguing that it does not refer to the Turkish Cypriots in any of its statements, and it did not fulfil any of its promises to the TCs.
Borrell had said, among other things, that the EU’s message was very clear: “there is no alternative to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem other than on the basis of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.”
He said the EU was fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, and to reunification based on a BBF with political equality, within the UN framework. The EU, he said, has reaffirmed the importance of the status of Varosha, as set out in relevant UN Security Council resolutions while “no actions should be carried that are not in accordance with these resolutions.”
He called on Turkey to contribute in concrete terms and undertake responsible actions with a view to creating a conducive environment for negotiations.
According to Politis, embarrassment but also persistence prevail in the government ranks regarding the developments in Famagusta but also regarding Ankara’s plotting and scheming. Complaints and verbal expressions of support from the EU and the international community are not enough to halt these plans while concerns intensify as the process on the Cyprus issue does not progress.
Citing sources, the daily reports that the government would like the informal meeting to take place as soon as possible so that the procedure starts. Lute is expected on the island after November 26, while the informal meeting is expected to take place in January. For the Presidential Palace, given that things have reached the point they are now after the provocative statements and moves last Sunday by Erdogan and Tatar, there is no other option than the restart of the effort to return to substantive talks.
It has by now been consolidated that when Ankara says it will do something, it does so at a later stage and this intensifies concerns even more, the daily reported.
The government has complained regarding Ankara’s and Tatar’s stand to the UN, and the EU but the international community as well as the bloc, have turn their expectations to the talks, the result of which they believe will bring a solution to the issues also of Famagusta, natural gas and the maritime zones. The Presidential Palace seems willing to follow this road despite any strong views heard by political leaders, however, it wishes, in parallel with public placements to make clear to the international factor and in the EU that there is strong annoyance from Erdogan’s moves and that it really is not easy to go into substantive negotiations while there are provocations, Politis reported.
In another article, Phileleftheros reports that Erdogan has given Tatar six gifts, which, however, serve Turkey’s interests and not the TCs. These concern electricity and natural gas to the north though underwater pipelines, the operation of the immovable properties commission (IPC) for the return to Varosha of its former residents, steps for Tatar’s visit to Azerbaijan, the construction of a new ‘presidential palace’, a two-state solution based on political sovereignty and a new 500-bed state of the art hospital.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Fears Turkey might annex the north by 2023 if there is no solution to the Cyprob, as part of Erdogan’s neo-ottoman approach, in light of Turkey’s 100-year anniversary and to divert attention from the bad financial situation the country is faced with.
>> Reaching a Cyprob solution is still the government’s top priority with the aim for talks to resume negotiations from where they left off in Crans Montana based on the agreed framework for a BBF.
>> The foreign ministry is also focused on using all means available, particularly in the EU, to tackle Turkey’s provocations, despite inherent weaknesses due to member-states’ interests with Turkey.
>> The government has taken some decisions at attorney-general level on Varosha but cannot be made public.
>> The TCs’ protests against Erdogan & his policies are very important and have been noticed, particularly by the EU.
Petsas (Greece spokesperson)
>> Erdogan’s visit to the north & Varosha are a provocation against the RoC, EU and the UN and form part of the escalation of Turkish illegal behaviour.
>> Greece supports the resumption of the Cyprob talks for a comprehensive, functional and viable solution, based on the resolutions of the UNSC & the European acquis.
Kyprianou (AKEL)
>> Erdogan’s presence in occupied Cyprus & Varosha is unacceptable, illegal and condemnable.
>> Turkey’s and the new TC leadership’s actions lead to new fait accompli which will cause massive problems to the efforts for the resumption of the talks and reaching an agreement on the solution.
>> AKEL has been warning that valuable time has been lost since Crans-Montana which gave the opportunity for the idea of a two-state solution to mature in the heads of part of the people.
>> Calls on Anastasiades to launch an international initiative for the repetition of substantive talks.
DISY
>> Condemns Erdogan’s visit.
>> Calls on GC side to daily prove its readiness to go to an informal summit & on the EU to strengthen with actions the GCs’ will by actively participating in their effort for the dialogue to resume.
Turkey (MFA)
>> Call on the EU to acknowledge the existence and the will of the TCs if it wants to contribute to the settlement of the Cyprus issue.
>> Accuses the EU of being disconnected from the realities in Cyprus & of ignoring the free will of the TCs, reflected in the ballot box.
>> Does not expectfrom the EU to contribute to the Cyprob settlement given it never refers to the TCs in any of its statements while it failed to fulfil any of its promises to them.
Borrell (EU)
>> For the EU, there is no alternative to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprob, other than on the basis of relevant UNSC resolutions. The bloc is fully committed to reunification of the island based on a BBF with political equality, within the UN framework.
>> No actions should be carried as regards the status of Varosha that are not in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions.
>> Calls on Turkey to contribute in concrete terms & undertake responsible actions with a view to creating a conducive environment for the Cyprob negotiations.
Mass applications to IPC pose risks for Cyprob, government says
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Property, Human Rights, Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that the government on Monday said that Varosha refugees should not file to the immovable property commission (IPC) to claim their properties in the fenced-off area, citing risks for the Cyprus problem.
Government spokesman Kyriacos Koushos said that mass applications to the IPC for properties in Varosha, would pose very serious risks.
In statements to the Cyprus News Agency, Koushos said he fully respects people’s right to property and everyone was free to make decisions on matters concerning their properties, but stressed that the legal advisers of the government, both in Cyprus and abroad, share the view that a possible mass filing of appeals to the IPC for properties in Varosha, “poses very serious risks, as not only does it not prevent, but in fact encourages Turkish plans in relation to the fenced-off area of Varosha and the prospects of reaching a solution of the Cyprus problem.”
In essence, he said, such a development would be used by the Turkish side to promote the approach of some people in Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community, whose ultimate goal is to create conditions in the enclosed area that will become the gravestone for the prospects of resolving the Cyprus issue on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.
Cyprus Mail reports that main opposition AKEL backed this position, with its leader Andros Kyprianou saying that the government’s approach on this issue was “correct”.
Speaking to Astra radio on Monday morning, Kyprianou said that when applications were filed to the IPC back in 2014 there were hopes regarding the negotiations at that time. “Today,” he added, “it is uncertain whether talks will begin, and things are changing course.”
Phileleftheros quotes lawyer Achilleas Demetriades telling Active radio, however, that there are no risks from mass applications to the IPC. “My advice is for people to ask to return to their properties and take possession so that their property is safeguarded , but also lay claims for the damage suffered,” he said, according to Phileleftheros.
KEY ACTORS
Koushos (RoC spokesman)
>> Fully respects people’s right to property & everyone was free to make decisions but they ought to know that a possible mass filing of appeals to the IPC for properties in Varosha, poses very serious risks.
>> Mass appeals to the IPC on Varosha properties not only does it not prevent, but in fact encourages Turkish plans in relation to the fenced off area of Varosha and the prospects of reaching a Cyprob solution based on a BBF.
(Kyprianou) AKEL
>> Agrees with government position on Varosha properties.
>> Back in 2014 when people started filing to the IPC, there were hopes regarding the negotiations at that time but today there is uncertainty on whether talks will begin while the situation is unstable.