Front Page Headlines
Not a word from Rea about her own house!
Accountant-general claims she is being targeted and does not see a conflict of interest. Didn’t see, didn’t hear about the Cypra slaughterhouse, which belongs to her husband and her children and is run by them, and where a host of illegalities and irregularities and criminal offences were detected. Ms. Georgiou also left out the amount of 1 million euro that her husband withheld from the Veterinary Services and which should have been deposited to the Republic’s coffers. Parties call the Cypra slaughterhouse case a huge scandal, implicating the accountant-general, while AKEL makes accusations of political backing and a cover-up.
- Domestic transmission: Improvement after local lockdowns
- USA-Russia: Superpowers committed to BBF (bizonal bicommunal federation)
- Greece-Cyprus Problem: Nicosia decides…
- Passports: You’re welcome to come testify…
Shocking invasion in nursing homes
Horizon ahead darkened by second pandemic wave – Epidemiologists prepare proposals. Nicosia, Larnaca, Famagusta on a dangerous road.
- (Virus) Also chases the uniformed: 152 police officers in quarantine because of cases and contacts
- They sent a letter to the President of the Republic: 81 priests in the Limassol Metropolis ask for loosening of measures for churches
- The shocking story of a 1974 photograph
Hospitals need first aid
Understaffing at hospitals and serious shortcoming in A&E (Accident & Emergency) departments. 18 suggestions from AKEL were not utilised. OKYpY (state health services) inactivity in treatment of the mentally ill.
- COVID-19 hit the nursing homes
- Support from Sassoli to Sener Elcil
- The international community condemns the opening of Varosha
‘Too early to ease up’
Two more deaths. 274 new cases through PCR. 114 positives from rapid tests. Concerns grow for care home residents.
- People: A question of respect – Pakistani student on life in Cyprus
Christmas… alone
Holidays with restrictions and self-restraint because of coronavirus. Epidemiologists work on proposals for measures that will be taken after November 30, also during Christmas.
- Training centre: Ambitious government plans for Cyprus-American security centre
- State Department: US slaps Erdogan over Varosha
- Achilleas Demetriades: Varosha – 335 appeals to the “commission”
- Vasilis Demetriades (shipping deputy minister): Tenders open soon for Cyprus-Greece sea connection
Main News
Russia and US react to Varosha moves, reiterate support for BBF
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Governance & Power Sharing, Regional/ International Relations, External Security, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Politis reports that both the US and Russia have stated their positions on the Cyprus Problem ahead of the possibility of an initiative by the UNSG towards the resumption of negotiations.
In a statement, Russian ambassador Stanislav Osadchiy said that breaking the current deadlock might require time given the diverging opinions on the future of the island, but added he is certain that with persistence the differences can be bridged.
Osadchiy also said that as far as Russia is concerned it is unacceptable for the essence of UN resolutions to be cast into doubt, including on the basis of a solution, or to be freely interpreted. Politis notes that this is a message pointing against a two-state solution as well as against disagreements with the principle of political equality.
The Russian ambassador also said that the country supports a solution based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation and welcomed the UNSG’s initiative for an informal summit. He added that the lack of movement of the past three years is concerning as it has led to an unravelling of the situation around the island.
He also said that Turkey’s decision to partially reopen Varosha is unacceptable and that unilateral actions contrary to UN Security Council resolutions create new obstacles to the effort for a resumption of negotiations.
Alithia reports that according to Greek media reports, a State Department spokesperson said that the US see Erdogan’s visit to Varosha as a move in the wrong direction. The spokesperson said that the opening of Varosha is incompatible with UN Security Council resolutions 550 and 789 and is also counterproductive. The spokesperson reiterated that the US continues to support the country’s reunification within a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution.
Phileleftheros also reports that Brussels is annoyed with Turkey’s behaviour, adding that time seems to be running out for Ankara ahead of the next European Council on December 10. The newspaper cites a statement by German chancellor Angela Merkel that the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean has not gone the way everyone was wishing.
Politis reports that UNSG envoy Jane Holl Lute is expected to be in Cyprus on November 27-29 to hold meetings with President Anastasiades and T/C leader Ersin Tatar.
UNSG spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that Lute has started consultations in order to create conditions for an informal 5+1 meeting (two Cypriot sides, the guarantors, plus the UN), Cyprus Mail reports. Dujarric said that the UN hopes that the meeting will allow for the restart of the negotiations that took place in Crans Montana.
Responding to a question on statements made by the Turkish President advocating for a two-state solution, the UNSG’s spokesperson said that in the context of these conversations each party has the right to take the initiatives that it wants, but that the UN’s objective is to bring the parties together and restart what ended a few months ago.
Alithia reports that the government plans to use the Cyprus Center for Land, Open-seas, and Port Security (CYCLOPS) that will be set up in Cyprus following an agreement with the US, as an international training centre in cooperation with other EU member states and countries in the region.
In a written response to a parliamentary question by AKEL MP Yiorgos Loukaides, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that CYCLOPS will facilitate cooperation with countries in the region and EU institutions such as the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in Finland. CYCLOPS will be run by the MFA and operate as a non-for-profit educational centre. It will be permanently owned and administrated by Cypriots and there will be no permanent presence of foreigners.
According to the announcement, the costs of establishing the centre and its operation for three years will be covered by the US government. It is expected to be set up close to Larnaca Airport. Ministries and services related to justice and security will be involved with the centre.
The MFA points out that the Middle East is full of destabilising state and non-state actors, and that for the RoC the main destabilising factor in the region is Turkey.
European Parliament President expresses support to Sener Elcil
Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security, CBMs, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Phileleftheros reports that European Parliament President David Sassoli has issued a written statement expressing his full support to the head of the T/C teachers union Sener Elcil. Sassoli was responding to a call by AKEL MEPs Giorgos Georgiou and Niyazi Kizilyurek, who had informed the European Parliament President of the political attacks launched against Elcil by the Turkish government and T/C leader Ersin Tatar.
Sassoli wrote in his statement that he supports freedom of speech and that he is a firm believer that no one should be attacked because of their political position, regardless of whether this happens in the European Parliament or not. AKEL’s MEPs had sent the letter on November 7.
Sassoli also wrote that he is following the situation in Cyprus closely, including Turkey’s unilateral actions in Varosha, and reiterated his solidarity to Cyprus. He added that the discussion which will take place in the European Parliament plenary on November 24 on the situation in Varosha and the urgent need for a return to negotiations will be an opportunity for him to reiterate his position.
In another issue, Cypriot MEPs are disagreeing over an initiative by S&D (DIKO) MEP Costas Mavrides for a joint letter to EU High Representative Josep Borrell in which 33 MEPs from six European party groups (EPP, S&D, RE, Greens, ECR, GUE/NGL) ask for a pan-European ban on the Turkish far-right Grey Wolves organisation, similar to the ban that was instituted in France. According to an announcement by Mavrides, the letter was signed by presidents and vice presidents of parliamentary committees and other European Parliament officials.
Phileleftheros notes that the two Cypriot GUE/NGL (AKEL) MEPs, Giorgos Georgiou and Niyazi Kizilyurek were not among the signatories. The two MEPs issued an announcement on Friday responding to online reports accusing them of not signing, in which they point out that it is funny that “politicians and journalists from the far right” ask from AKEL to prove itself.
They also pointed out that they know very well who the Grey Wolves are, and that they have launched rhetorical attacks against AKEL and T/C MEP Kizilyurek. They also point out that the AKEL MEPs had informed the President of the European Parliament on the far right intimidation against the T/C left and T/C teachers union leader Sener Elcil.
Demetriades: Government should give political guidance on Varosha
Alithia
Territory, Property
OVERVIEW
Lawyer Achilleas Demetriades told Alithia that the government needs to give political guidance to Varosha property owners, adding that so far 335 people have appealed to Turkey’s Immovable Properties Commission (IPC) in the north.
Demetriades said that in the space of just a few days, the number of appeals increased, shooting up from 281 to 335, which means that 54 cases were filed right after Turkey’s public event regarding the opening of Varosha.
The lawyer, who represents a lot of G/Cs that have appealed to the ECHR over properties or issues related to missing persons, advised Famagustans to only claim the return of their properties or money lost from loss of use and not claim compensation. He pointed out that appealing to the IPC does not lead to a recognition of the north, as it is only states that can recognise states.
Demetriades added that he is not advocating for mass appeals, and called on the government to give political guidance to Famagustans in coordination with regional associations.
Alithia reports that a group of architects, urban designers, academics and activists, under the banner, “Imaginary Famagusta”, condemned unilateral moves by Turkey and part of the T/C political elite in Varosha, pointing out that this act ignores UN and ECHR decisions.
Alithia recalls that the government and most of the political parties disagree with mass appeals to the IPC, with the government believing that such appeals will assist Turkey’s plans. T/C leader Ersin Tatar also said on Thursday that both G/Cs and foreigners have been appealing to the IPC, while reiterating the T/C claim that areas of the city belong to Muslim religious organisations (vakuf).