Front Page Headlines
Two years of mockery with the Yiorkadji list
The plenum decides on its publication and Adamou uploads it onto Parliament’s website. Featured prominently is a political figure who was recently in the limelight for his involvement in ‘golden’ passports cases. Parties adopt the position, after two years of legal acrobatics, that public interest trumps personal data. Just two political figures take up four and six pages respectively in the 30-page list, for which all efforts were made to keep it in the darkness.
- UNFICYP: In the end, space also found for BBF in resolution
- Corruption: President’s address tonight and measures on asset declarations/conflict of interest
- European Public Prosecutor’s Office: Exerting pressure for appointment of prosecutors
- Retail: Turnover at rock bottom
- Rapid tests for all: De-escalation with a dropper
Shoddy decisions
Unexpected week-long extension of lock on schools and retail. Mandatory rapid test for workers.
- Foreign Minister sees positive situation: Express procedure for informal five-party
- Cry of despair from forgotten residents: “Help us save Strovilia,” 20 G/Cs shout
- Turkey praises EU’s gestures
- Lawyers preparing law suit: They’re taking the Health Ministry to court over decrees
- They gave a ‘haircut’ to Petrides’ restrictions on passports to high-risk people: What the Minister’s testimony revealed
- Pressure from society dictated the publication of the Yiorkadji list: ‘Ph’ reveals Parliament’s draft decision
Piecemeal relaxations are provoking reactions
Actors Union of Cyprus: “Decisions are provocative.” Displeasure from Primary Education parents. Barbershops, hairdressers, beauty parlours to open.
- Guarantor powers (present) with Foreign Ministers at informal five-party
- European prosecutors coming to Cyprus
- The corruption ring is massive
- Yiorkadji list to be made public today. It will be uploaded to the Parliament’s website
- Dheryneia Municipality asking for incentives for return of families to Strovilia
Slight easing of Covid measures
Mandatory testing on those returning to work, primary schools and retail reopen on Feb 8
- Lawyer in passport exposé says Al Jazeera misreported his meeting
- Attorney-General hits back at EU corruption and fraud claims
Yiorkadji list: Ignites fires
MPs and others preparing law suits. The plenum is deciding on its publication today – Tomorrow it will be uploaded onto Parliament’s website. Commissioner for Personal Data Protection: The publication of the list as is, instead of transparency will probably increase gossip. Adamou: Let’s do it through the minutes to avoid lawsuits.
- Fear brings… a little relaxation!: The Council of Ministers proceeded with the gradual relaxation of restriction measures for coronavirus.
- Cyprus Problem: Five-party in first week of March with Security Council resolution as ‘guide’
- Ersin Tatar: One state in Cyprus should recognise the other to go for a viable solution
- “It’s a lot of work”: EU Prosecutor lays it on us. Attorney General rebuts
- Parliament: They’re looking for the formula to check asset declarations of judges
- Council of Ministers decision: deputy ministry of Social Welfare to be established
Main News
Informal summit to take place first week of March, FM says
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on statements issued to the Cyprus News Agency on Wednesday by Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides, who revealed new details on the informal five-party summit being organised by the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres.
Christodoulides said he was informed by the UN that it is considering two dates, both of which are in the first week of March, for the summit that will probably be hosted in New York’s Greentree. The FM said final decisions lay with the UNSG, who is likely standing by until the UN Security Council (UNSC) finalises the process of renewing UNFICYP’s mandate on Thursday, while his decision will also depend on coronavirus-related developments.
Christodoulides added that preliminary information suggests the summit will span three days, but did not rule out the possibility of the UNSG requesting that all parties extend their stay.
Phileleftheros reports that the UN will be following ‘express procedures’ as regards the summit, which the paper said will be purely procedural. The paper reports that the initial plan of the UN, which seems to have remained unaltered, foresees that on the first day, the UNSG will hold separate meetings with the five parties. The second day will possibly include a joint meeting where the UNSG will brief all parties, while the third day will feature the summit’s announcements.
The dailies report that Christodoulides said that the three guarantor powers will be represented at the summit at the level of Foreign Ministers. Regarding the EU, Christodoulides said that the bloc’s Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell will likely be present.
Christodoulides said it was clearly conveyed to him that the resolution of the Cyprus Problem is a priority for the EU, and announced that Borrell will potentially pay a visit to the island ahead of the summit. He added that he is in contact with his UK counterpart Dominic Raab, who Christodoulides said may also visit Cyprus in the upcoming period to discuss and prepare ahead of the summit.
Christodoulides said assessments of the situation are positive, and expressed hope that the new efforts lead to concrete and viable results.
Reports say BBF & Varosha included in UNSC resolution
Alithia, Haravgi, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that the UN Security Council (UNSC) has concluded discussions on the final text of the resolution renewing UNFICYP’s mandate that is expected to be adopted on Thursday.
Politis reports that a positive development is the reference to a bizonal bicommunal federation (BBF) in the resolution’s operative part, but adds that the Republic’s requests have not been fully satisfied, referring to a lack of reference to convergences that led to Crans Montana and to the Joint Declaration of November 25, 2019, issued following the informal meeting in Berlin.
Haravgi reports that the UNSC, acknowledging the upcoming informal summit, relayed its own messages through the text of the resolution. The paper reports that in the first paragraph of the resolution, the UNSC expresses full support for the UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) Good Offices mission. The second paragraph expresses support for the UNSG’s ongoing efforts and welcomes his intention to call an informal 5+1 summit.
Haravgi adds that in the operative part of the text is a separate paragraph on Varosha, which reiterates the UNSC’s position regarding the town’s status, as defined in relevant resolutions. The text also reiterates the UNSC’s call for a de-escalation of tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, and highlights that differences must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law.
Alithia reports that the resolution will serve to boost the UNSG’s efforts to retain the solution basis as a BBF, despite Turkey’s moves towards a two-states solution.
Tatar: recognise north first then go for viable solution
Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on a recorded video message in which the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar reiterates his position in favour of a two-state solution, and asserts that a viable solution to the Cyprus Problem can only follow from the recognition of the north.
Tatar was addressing a webinar on the Cyprus Problem organised on Wednesday by the Council of Turkish Cypriots Association in the UK (CTCA), the British Turkish Cypriot Association (BCTA) and the London School of Economics (LSE) think tank Circle Foundation.
Haravgi quotes Tatar, who said: “In Cyprus, there are two states, one in the ‘north’ and one in the ‘south’, and one must recognise the other. Only in this case will we be able to reach a solution in Cyprus which will be permanent and viable.”
According to the dailies, Tatar said that since the Turkish Cypriot community is one of two communities on the island, it is entitled to recognition from the international community, in equal measure as the recognition offered to the Republic. Tatar also conveyed his position in favour of a two-state solution, and said that this is something that must be accepted by both sides if a solution is to be found.
Phileleftheros, which refers to Tatar’s position as blackmail, reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader accused the Greek Cypriot side of rejecting all efforts for a solution, including the Annan Plan, noting that it is this stance on behalf of the Greek Cypriot side that is motivating Tatar to pursue a two-state solution, which also finds the Turkish government in 100% agreement.
The Turkish Cypriot leader also reportedly said that a fair solution along the lines he is proposing will contribute to peace and security across the Eastern Mediterranean.
The dailies report that in her intervention in the webinar, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for European Neighbourhood Wendy Morton said the UK will continue supporting efforts toward securing a fair and sustainable solution on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal solution as outlined in UN Security Council resolutions. Morton also expressed the UK’s full support for efforts exerted by the UN Secretary-General toward resolving the Cyprus Problem.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Permanent and viable solution to the Cyprus Problem requires that the Republic and the international community first recognise the north as an administration of equal status to the Republic.
Dherynia Mayor seeks government funds to boost Strovilia population
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Territory
OVERVIEW
Dailies report on statements issued to the Cyprus News Agency by Dherynia Mayor Andreas Karayiannis regarding his renewed efforts to secure government funds for the repair of uninhabited homes in the section of Strovilia on British Base soil.
Alithia reports that Karayiannis on Wednesday held a meeting with the Interior, Foreign, and Finance Ministries to make his case on the need to boost the population of Strovilia, which now numbers some 20 people, most of whom are elderly. Karayiannis is seeking government funds to both help Greek Cypriot residents of Strovilia and attract new and younger inhabitants to the area.
Phileleftheros reports that currently, the government provides €5,000 every seven years for house repairs, which Karayiannis said is an inadequate sum to tackle necessary construction work.
Politis reports that even though Strovilia was not included in the development zones of a deal reached with the British government allowing the development of land in non-military areas within Sovereign Base Areas (SBA), Karayiannis said efforts are ongoing for the attraction of new residents to the area.
Karayiannis is requesting the repair of homes that are in bad shape, including those left uninhabited due to the passing of their owners or their transfer to nursing homes, to provide an incentive for relatives of the owners to settle in Strovilia.
The dailies report that the Interior and Foreign ministries have now been informed about at least 10 individuals wishing to revamp homes that belonged to their families who left the area, some after the events of 1974.
Karayiannis said the Municipality is now waiting for an official response from the government regarding the scale of the incentives to be provided.