Front Page Headlines
Clear criminal record was not so clear
Three-member investigative committee on slaughterhouse case – A positive development, says Cypra. Husband of accountant general G. Georgiou won a public tender in 2015 by omitting his two criminal convictions as owner and director of Cypra. Police investigation that took place after a complaint by MP G. Perdikis did not end in criminal prosecution because of gaps in the legislation. Accountant general was called to close those gaps! Work of investigative committee will look 10 years back, before the closure of the Kofinou Slaughterhouse. Public employees and officials will be checked for corruption and conflicting interests.
- Nicos to Nicolas: Your obsessions… and your stubbornness
- Budget: Government-DISY open to proposals
- Coronavirus: Another five dead and 402 cases
- Council of Ministers: Holiday relaxations with a cross at hand
Give-and-take ahead of elections
A battle of point scoring between the parties before approval of the Budget with GeSY (general health system). Proposal for self-dissolution of parliament also on the table.
- Relaxations for appearances – Ten people at the festive table – Church going only on Christmas and Epiphany – Public allowed to move until 1am on New Year’s Eve, up until 11pm on Christmas Eve. New complaints from shopping centres and dining establishments.
- Only 28% of need covered during first three months: Vaccinations start on Sunday but with very small numbers.
- Head-on collision between President and DIKO
- Blame and provocation game from Akar
Extension of measures and limited exceptions
Church services with 75 people on Christmas and Epiphany. Relaxations on time constraints for New Year’s Eve. Five dead, 130 in hospital and 402 new cases.
- AKEL secretary general: Utilise Klimos river
- Responsibilities on GEEF (National Guard General Staff) chief and three ministers
- President is insulting our intelligence
- AKEL proposal for resumption of negotiations also with United Nations and T/Cs
- Vaccines arrive on Saturday, vaccinations start on Sunday: Priorities set
Tweaks to rules for the holidays
Current restrictions extended until January 10, but curfew will be later on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
- Cyprus: New govt push to gain support for budget
Only Odysseas, a former DIKO member, is incorruptible?
Anastasiades’s tough response to Nicolas. President of the Republic says he is ready to quit if he is found to be involved in a corruption case or an illegal act. “Government neither refused nor refuses to hand over folders, and respects the legal opinion of the Attorney General, as the Auditor General himself admits.” President: “You will not harm me no matter how much mud you throw.”
- Small relaxations during the holidays for psychological reasons: A little freedom and a little church! – Another five dead yesterday and 402 new cases – We go home later on Christmas and New Year’s – Church going under strict conditions on Christmas and Epiphany – Vaccinations begin in care homes on Sunday.
- New measures in occupied areas: Crossings of students and workers prohibited during holidays
- Averof Neofytou: We will have an approved budget by January
- Germany: No to arms embargo on Turkey
Main News
German FM against arms embargo on Turkey
Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros
External Security, Energy
OVERVIEW
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that he does not believe Greece’s demand for an arms embargo on Turkey is right, the dailies report, citing a translation of statements made to the German state news agency.
Maas is reported to have said that an arms embargo is not something that is easy to do regarding a NATO member state, adding that Turkey purchased missiles from Russia because it was not able to purchase US missiles.
The German Foreign Minister added that he hopes differences in the Eastern Mediterranean will be solved through negotiations, but admitted that there are no developments in this area. This is the reason why more persons were added to the sanctions list during the last European Council, he said.
Meanwhile, Oikonomiki Kathimerini’s correspondent in Istanbul reports that Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar called for restarting exploratory talks with Greece, insisting that these should also address the issue of demilitarising certain islands.
The newspaper further notes that Turkey issued a NAVTEX that will keep Oruc Reis in Antalya Bay, that is, in Turkish territorial waters, until June 2021, which leaves an open window for negotiations.
Akar also said, during an interview with Turkish NTV television, that Turkey’s priority is to protect its interests, noting that they are ready for negotiations, but that they will not allow the creation of faits accomplis.
In an announcement, the Turkish Defence Ministry reiterated that Turkey will continue to defend the interests of the T/Cs and to guarantee peace and security, according to a report by Turkish daily Hakikat ,translated by the Press and Information Office.
KEY ACTORS
Heiko Maas (Germany)
>> Greece’s demand for arms embargo on Turkey not right.
>> It would not be easy to do this against a NATO member state.
>> Turkey purchased missiles from Russia because it wasn’t able to do so from the US.
>> Hopes differences in East Med will be solved at the negotiation table, but lack of positive developments led to extending sanctions list in last EUCO.
Hulusi Akar (Turkey)
>> Turkey is ready for negotiations with Greece but will not allow faits accomplis.
Limited exceptions to corona measures for holiday period
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou announced on Tuesday that the Council of Ministers decided to extend coronavirus measures to January 10, while granting an exception to the ban on church services for Christmas Day and Epiphany Day. The cabinet also decided to change the curfew hour to 11pm for Christmas Eve and 1am for New Year’s Eve.
Ioannou said that the epidemiological situation is stable and that there has been a minor improvement. However, the minister underlined that the selective relaxation of measures was decided only in order to improve the psychological state of citizens.
The Health Ministry also announced that the first batch of vaccines will be arriving in Cyprus on Saturday December 26 and that vaccinations will begin in special centres the very next day.
The Ministry notes that in line with the time frame agreed between the European Commission and Pfizer/BioNTech, vaccines will be sent to the member states once a week. Cyprus is expected to receive about 28% of the total amount of dosages within the first three months of 2021.
About 8,000 persons will be the first to be vaccinated, starting with staff and residents of care homes for the elderly and the staff of the reference hospital.
The dailies also report that another 402 cases of coronavirus were detected in the government-controlled areas on Tuesday, while five more people passed away.
According to an announcement by the Health Ministry, the reduction in cases noted during previous days is due to the weekend. The 402 cases were detected through 4,088 PCR tests, while another 8,570 antigen rapid tests turned out another 231 possible cases.
A total of 101 persons have died so far in the south. On Tuesday, 130 people were being hospitalised with the condition of 32 being critical, of which 12 are intubated.
Alithia reports that another 21 cases were detected in the occupied areas on Tuesday, after 3,586 tests. Three of these cases were detected at Tymbou airport, one at a port, three were found through contact tracing and 14 were local transmissions.
Alithia also reports on a statement issued by T/C health “minister” Ali Pilli, who said that if the EU wants to give vaccines to the north it will do so while being aware that the north is a separate state. He said that the T/C side did not request vaccines, but that the G/C side said it will hand over a part of the doses they will get from the EU and that they had requested to be informed of the number of doses needed.
Cabinet approves ratification of East Med Gas Forum statute
Alithia, Cyprus Mail
Energy
OVERVIEW
The Council of Ministers approved a bill ratifying the statue of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) and its establishment as an international organisation on Tuesday, Energy Minister Natasa Pelides said after the meeting, the Cyprus Mail reports.
Pelides said that this is an important development since the statute establishing the EMGF will officially enter into force after being ratified by its first five member states. So far the statute was ratified by Palestine, Egypt and Jordan, and is expected to be ratified by the parliaments of Cyprus and Israel soon.
Greece and Italy are also proceeding with the approval of the statute by their governments.
Pelides also pointed out that the EU has formally announced through the Commissioner for Energy that it is moving ahead with joining the EMGF as an observer.
Alithia also reports on a speech made by President Anastasiades during an energy symposium organised by the Institute of Energy for South-eastern Europe, which was also reported on by the media in the past few days.
The newspaper focuses on Anastasiades’s statement during his speech that Cyprus fully supports the EuroAsia Interconnector project, which will connect the electricity grids of Israel, Cyprus and Greece, and the EuroAfrica Interconnector project, which will connect Egypt, Cyprus and Greece.
AKEL leader calls for green plan for buffer zone river area
Haravgi
CBMs
OVERVIEW
AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou visited the section of the Klimos riverbed located within the buffer zone in the Agios Dometios area, along with the Agios Dometios mayor, party officials and the UN, Haravgi reports.
According to the report, the issue that has come up with the area is that the Water Development Department of the RoC’s Ministry of Agriculture and UNFICYP have not allowed the cleaning of the riverbed with diggers in order to protect the biodiversity of the area and the nests of endemic turtles.
This policy however has led to the creation of mosquito nests as well as to the flooding of houses in the area, since cleaning the riverbed by hand is difficult.
Kyprianou said that AKEL will address the issue with the Minister for Agriculture and point out the need for a development plan for the area. Kyprianou pointed out that the party is aware of the difficulties created because the area is in the buffer zone, but added that the two sides could cooperate to promote a project that could be funded by the EU.
He said that he has discussed the issue with the mayor of Agios Dometios and that AKEL will assist the municipality in any way to promote a project that could be supported by the EU.
Budget negotiations continue ahead of new draft next month
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Oikonomiki Kathimerini, Phileleftheros, Politis
Economy
OVERVIEW
Politis reports that after EDEK and Citizens’ Alliance, more parties are submitting proposals to the government regarding the budget, in an effort to get a say in the new draft that will be brought to the plenary in January.
According to Politis, Solidarity and Cooperation of Democratic Forces (formed by three MPs that left DIKO) met with DISY president Averof Neofytou on Tuesday, while AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou is meeting President Anastasiades on Wednesday.
The newspaper notes that both of the small parties as well as AKEL underlined the importance of the General Health System (GeSY) in their proposals, pointing out that they will not accept proposals that change the philosophy of the system.
Oikonomiki Kathimerini reports that technocrats at the Finance Ministry are working on the draft for the 2021 budget, taking into account proposals being submitted and proposed by parties. The aim of the government is to pass the budget in January with 18 votes from DISY, 3 from Cooperation, 2 from Solidarity, 2 from ELAM, 1 from Citizens’ Alliance and 3 from EDEK (a total of 29 out of 56).
DISY leader Averof Neofytou said on Tuesday that he expects that the country will have an approved budget in January, Alithia reports, noting that this confirms that DISY has agreed with EDEK and Citizens’ Alliance on the terms under which they will support the bill.
Neofytou was speaking after a meeting with the coordinating committee of the Cooperation of Democratic Forces. He said that the budget will be approved because the government is listening to its partners, to parties and political platforms that understand the dangers of a non-agreement.
AKEL sends talks proposal to T/C parties & UNFICYP
Haravgi
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Haravgi reports that it is unclear whether AKEL secretary general Andros Kyprianou will bring up its proposal over the possible restart of negotiations during his meeting with President Anastasiades on Wednesday, which is expected to focus on the effort to approve the state budget.
According to information cited by the newspaper, AKEL has already sent its proposal to UNFICYP and the T/C political parties that support a federal solution.
The newspaper recalls that the proposal is made up of two parts. One part outlines specific steps that need to be taken by the President in order to ensure a restart of negotiations from where they were left off in Crans Montana. These include accepting political equality (and T/C effective participation in decision making) in practice in order to safeguard all convergences.
The second part focuses on hydrocarbons and maritime areas, and includes incentives for the T/Cs to return to the negotiations table.
Anastasiades says will quit if found involved in illegal acts
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
In a letter sent to DIKO leader Nicolas Papadopoulos, President Nicos Anastasiades repeated that he is ready to quit if found to have been involved in any case of corruption or illegality, or to have turned a blind eye to acts that harmed the country’s finances, the dailies report.
Anastasiades told Papadopoulos, who has withheld DIKO’s approval of the state budget until the government shares folders related to the golden passport scandal with the Auditor General, that the government’s stance is based exclusively on the Attorney General’s legal opinion on the matter. Anastasiades also accuses Papadopoulos of obsessions and stubbornness, as well as indifference over the effects that DIKO’s actions will have on citizens.
The President also said in the letter that the findings of the investigative committee led by Dimitra Kalogirou and the findings of the investigative committee on golden passports will both be publicised, in coordination with the Attorney General and with a temporary exception for cases where there are criminal offences in order to respect privacy law.
DIKO responded with an announcement asking how it can be expected to detect any involvement by the President when he obfuscates investigations.
In a statement, AKEL accused the President of making statements only for the sake of creating impressions and that there is an obvious conflict of interest in the fact that the President’s former law firm and firms connected with government members were involved in applications for the naturalisation of investors.