Front Page Headlines
All in consultations… and Nicolas left out!
Government ready to accept suggestions that form a parliamentary majority. Yesterday’s meeting between Averof Neofytou and Andros Kyprianou sent clear messages essentially addressed to DIKO. Important references also on the future of the Cyprus Problem. Monotonous repetition of the demand by Nicolas Papadopoulos to please Odysseas Michaelides. Intervention by Attorney General in favour of publicising findings of investigative committee. Proposals regarding foreclosures, health services and support for citizens in need are included in package given by EDEK to President of the Republic.
- Increase in number of dead: Forget loosening (of measures) before vaccinations
- Domestic workers: Slavery conditions in 2020 Cyprus
- In a prison cell: ELAM hoodlum was National Guard captain
Going for dismissal of Odysseas
Government appeals to Supreme Court – Decisions taken after budget was voted down. Material collected to prove “inappropriate behaviour”.
- December a month of death: All pandemic indicators remain consistently high – 42 deaths in 16 days – 4,372 cases in 14 days, 322 relating to elderly and 933 children – The cases to population ratio went from 349.8 per 100,000 to 498.3 per 100,000 across Cyprus – Vaccines also for Turkish Cypriots in occupied areas through the Republic of Cyprus – Yesterday’s toll: two deaths, 25 patients in critical condition, 115 in hospitals.
- New plans for five-star eight-story (hotel): Archbishopric hotel (planned) over ancient monument
- Turkish officer “connects” testimonies of executions of non-combatants
- Army captain under arrest over beating
Attorney General will “filter” the findings
Cover-up expected over “golden” passport findings. “Public interest” and not publication comes first! Calling for “transparency” causes damage!
- Finding a way out is on government’s shoulders
- Domestic workers: Countless hours of work
- Fears of further spread of virus – Two dead and 410 cases
Search begins for consensus
New round of contacts after budget failure, projects, plans in jeopardy.
- Anastasiades will be among first to be vaccinated against Covid-19
- World: Major coup trial gets underway in Turkey
- Cyprus: ‘Huge strides’ to becoming an education hub
- Lifestyle: New project aims to help entrepreneurial migrants get working
What Sizopoulos-Lillikas are asking for
EDEK submitted package of proposals on budget to President – (Citizens’) Alliance on Tuesday. Averof – Andros found common ground on Cyprus Problem, not on budget. “(Democratic) Cooperation” attacks Nicolas: Don’t throw rocks when you live in a “glass office”. President will respond to Nicolas’s letter with facts.
- Most victims in Nicosia-Limassol: Another 2 dead yesterday – Coronavirus deaths increased by 20% in December – Will have Christmas in church courtyards – President Anastasiades among the first to be vaccinated.
- Ombudswoman: Domestic workers in Cyprus work 40% more
- Attorney General: Will the findings be publicised or not?
- Higher Education: 53,262 students in Cyprus
Main News
G/C official clarifies vaccines ordered for T/Cs too
Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs
OVERVIEW
The Republic of Cyprus has requested information through the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health on the specific number of vaccines that will be needed by the Turkish Cypriots, the dailies report, citing the Cyprus News Agency.
G/C head of the Technical Committee, Leonidas Phylactou, told CNA that he is in coordination with the Ministry of Health, which requested him to gather information on the number of people that will need to be vaccinated in the occupied areas. Phylactou added that he has already requested this information from his T/C counterpart and is expecting a response.
Phylactou also said that he expects the Health Ministry to call on him to request information on other practical issues related to the vaccination of the T/Cs.
CNA recalls that the Health Ministry had announced in July that it had requested the European Commission to order 1.2 million vaccine doses for Cyprus, a number which includes T/Cs. The agency also reports that the T/C health “minister” has said that the T/Cs have concluded their vaccination strategy and that the plan is for 52,000 to be vaccinated during the first stage.
According to the same report, the T/C official said that he expects vaccines to arrive from the EU through the south at the end of December or beginning of January. He added that the north is entitled to about 30% of vaccines to arrive from the EU, which amounts to about 300,000 to 400,000 doses.
DISY-AKEL disagree on budget but find common ground on Cyprob
Alithia, Haravgi, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report extensively on the backstage dealings regarding governing DISY’s efforts to gather enough support to approve the state budget during a second vote in the House of Representatives in January, but some also report on references to the Cyprus Problem made during a meeting between the leaders of DISY and AKEL.
Politis reports that after his meeting with DISY leader Averof Neofytou, opposition AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou avoided making public references to the issue that kick-started the budget crisis, namely the refusal of the government to give up folders related to the “golden passports” scandal to the Auditor General.
According to Politis, during the Neofytou-Kyprianou meeting, the two leaders agreed that discussions regarding the Cyprus Problem should remain within UN parameters while the aim is for a bizonal, bicommunal federation. Also, according to a CNA report, DISY and AKEL agree that if UNSG Antonio Guterres decides to convene a five-party conference, then the G/C side should accept to attend without setting any terms or preconditions.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell wrote in a blog post that negotiations on the Cyprus Problem need to restart as soon as possible, CNA also reports. In the post, Borrell outlined the current situation in EU-Turkey relations after the European Council’s recent decisions.
Borrell wrote that the continuous deployment of Turkish drilling and exploratory vessels in waters adjoining Cyprus and Greece have created a very negative environment that impeded the development of a positive agenda.
Borrell added that he believes that Turkey’s relations with Greece and the Cyprus Problem are central elements to the complexity of EU-Turkish relations. After explaining the positions of the three sides, Borrell pointed out that all these issues need to be addressed through diplomacy and that this can no longer be postponed.
He also wrote that statements by Turkish officials that Turkey’s strategic goal is accession to the EU are positive, but added that these statements should be matched by actions.
Meanwhile, in an announcement, bicommunal citizens group Unite Cyprus Now (UCN) underlined that a two-state solution is neither viable nor feasible, and that such an approach would go against all recent polls and surveys as well as UN parameters and Security Council Resolutions.
Commenting on a statement by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the country’s support for a two-state solution, UCN said that such a solution would leave the T/Cs outside the EU, economically vulnerable and increasingly dependent on Turkey.
If a federal solution is rejected, and since a two-state solution is not a viable option, Cyprus will be faced with a permanent de facto, non-recognised partition, UCN notes. The status quo is not in any side’s interest and can continue to cause regional crises, said UCN. The organisation called on all Cypriots to realise who is openly or secretly working for partition for their own personal interests and to actively stand up to these plans.
KEY ACTORS
Josep Borrell (EU High Representative)
>> Negotiations on the Cyprus Problem need to restart as soon as possible.
>> Turkish actions in waters adjoining Cyprus & Greece have created a very negative environment that impeded the development of a positive agenda.
>> Turkey’s relations with Greece and the Cyprus Problem are central to complex Turkey-EU relations and can no longer be postponed.
>> Statements by Turkish officials that Turkey’s goal is to be a part of the EU are positive, but statements should be matched by actions.
Unite Cyprus Now
>> A two-state solution is neither viable nor feasible and would contravene will of people as seen in polls and surveys, as well as UN parameters.
>> A two-state solution advocated by the Turkish FM would leave the T/Cs outside the EU, where they would be economically vulnerable and increasingly dependent on Turkey.
>> if a federation is rejected, and since a two-state solution is not a viable option, what will happen is that Cyprus will be de facto partitioned leading into continuous crises.
Domestic workers in Cyprus treated like slaves, report finds
Alithia, Haravgi, Politis
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
According to a report issued by the office of Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou-Lottides, domestic workers in Cyprus work 58 hours per week on average, i.e. 40% more than the 42 hours provided by a standard contract, while one in five works for more than 70 hours per week. Also, 32% of domestic workers in Cyprus are not always paid, or are paid less than the agreed salary.
The report was prepared by the Ombudswoman’s office in cooperation with Dr. Nasia Hadjigeorgiou, Assistant Professor in Transitional Justice and Human Rights at UCLan Cyprus.
In a statement issued by the Ombudswoman’s office and published by the daily press, it is noted that 75% of domestic workers said they would not go to the police to file an accusation if they face violence at the workplace.
Asked whether they get paid overtime, only 7% said yes, 35% said no and 58% they do not know how many working hours are provided for in their contract.
Only one in three domestic workers said that they work to clean only one house, as stipulated in their contracts. One in two clean two houses and the rest three houses. 79% of those that clean more than one house are forced to clean houses selected by their employers. 40% said they would not complain with their employers if they are displeased with working conditions.
RoC creates Council for Foreign Affairs, Defence & Security issues
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
External Security, Regional/ International Relations, Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The Council of Ministers approved the decision to create a Council for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security during its December 16 meeting, the dailies report.
The Presidency said in an announcement that the Council will be based at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be overseen by the President and will be the responsibility of the Foreign Minister who will head its work. According to the announcement, the council will be a mechanism for coordination and production of ideas and practical suggestions in foreign affairs, defence and security, and will act as a supporting mechanism for relevant state institutions.
The Council will be made up of two organs, the Guidance Committee and the Consultative Body. The Guiding Committee will be headed by the Foreign Minister, Defence Minister and head of the Central Intelligence Service (KYP). Its meetings can be attended by other ministers and independent officials, personalities and experts when it is deemed necessary.
The Consultative Body will include the members of the Guidance Committee and another seven permanent members that will contribute with their ideas and proposals. The permanent members will be suggested by the Guidance Committee and appointed by the President.
Haravgi recalls that an advisory council on geopolitical issues had been set up by the government in the past, but that it fell out of use.
ELAM member/army captain involved in budget-related beating
Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Politis reports that the 35-year-old man arrested and charged for beating a 36-year-old in Kolossi, Limassol, due to their disagreements over ELAM’s stance on the state budget, is a captain in the National Guard.
The Limassol District Court ordered that the man be remanded for five days for seriously injuring the 36-year-old man, who had come from Larnaca. The incident took place on Wednesday, the man was arrested on Thursday and appeared before the court on Friday.
According to the report, the 35-year-old has refused to cooperate with the authorities who are looking for others involved in the incident who had arrived with covered faces.
The two men, both ELAM supporters, had exchanged harsh words on Facebook, with the Limassol man against ELAM’s decision to vote for the budget and the Larnaca man in favour.
The newspaper writes that this clash is related to a deeper division within the organisation, since a group based in Limassol criticises the leadership of ELAM for cooperating with the government, while a group based in Larnaca supports the leadership’s stance.