GCC Press Review 31 Jan 2021

Front Page Headlines

Sunday Mail

The long road to citizenship

Years after they have applied, people who have met criteria are waiting. Is there any excuse? A former minister thinks not.

  • Woman who lived in Turkish military camp
  • Egypt’s gas sector forging ahead, Cyprus vulnerable

Simerini

Dissolution of RoC and upgraded relations with EU

Double Turkish dogma through five-party. A diplomatic scene is being set up with EU, UN, the British, and with Athens-Nicosia as spectators. Why do Athens and Nicosia want to neutralise the EU. Federation, common ground, and the UNSC’s mandate.

  • Cyprus Problem: From the ‘painful compromise’ to the utopia of the ‘honourable compromise’
  • Turkish-British agreement: Bi-zonal from… June 1957
  • Deterrence: Veteran officers cry out over defence
  • British bases: Historic decision for Mauritius and implications for Cyprus
  • Cape Greco: 7 mysterious antennas and the geopolitical projection of France
  • Pandemic: ‘Chaos’ over the relaxation plan
  • Economy: The crisis of the pandemic and the recovery
  • Plan: How will the measures work with so many corrupt people?
  • Stavros Sideras (Opinion): ‘Hecuba’s curse’ and a ‘whatever’ solution
  • Christodoulos K. Yiallourides (Opinion): Five-party – Existential questions and challenges
  • Dr Christos Achilleos Theodoulou (Opinion): The UN Security Council and neutrality
  • Marinos Sizopoulos (Opinion): New informal five-party on Cyprus Problem – Hope or trap?
  • Doros Paphitis (Opinion): Turkey is preparing the terms of our own ‘diplomatic solution’

Politis

Concern over the rise in corruption

Poll by Interview on behalf of ‘Politis’. 72% of respondents believe corruption is growing over the years, 21% thinks it’s the same amount, while just 6% thinks it’s less. 51% of respondents said they are quite to very satisfied with the way the government dealt with the pandemic. DISY the leading party.

  • Final conference similar to Crans Montana in the summer
  • Coronavirus: Mutations, masks and horizontal measures
  • Victims of kidnapping: 38 children did not return home
  • Takis Hadjidemetriou (Opinion): “Cultural works are the foundation of peace”

Phileleftheros

Ideas under English directorship

Sounding out on two Vice-Presidents, much will be clarified with the arrival of Raab. The insistence of the Turks on two states and the ‘movement’ towards confederation.

  • Coordinated moves by Ankara ahead of five-party
  • The dangers behind dialogue with Turkey
  • 5G premiere today from Cytamobile-Vodafone
  • Parliament: Many lists, minimal results
  • Life on benefits: How the pandemic changed the lives of Cypriots
  • Giorgos Arestis: Displaced, the unfortunate of the Turkish invasion
  • Endy Zemenides (Opinion): Joe Biden is aware of Cypriot and Greek issues
  • Nikos Georgiou (Opinion): Famagusta should unite the entire nation
  • Georgios Arestis (Opinion): The displaced, the unfortunate of the Turkish invasion

Kathimerini

Government on path of deterioration due to corruption

Friction after the president’s state address.

  • Those talking about two states did not ask the EU: Margaritis Schinas speaks to ‘K’
  • With the seal of Brussels comes an end to all relating to two states: Borrell letter to Nicosia exclusively in ‘K’
  • The vulnerability of the Turkish moratorium
  • Second phase under conditions: What scares the government
  • Charalambos Theopemptou (Opinion): We haven’t changed positions on the Cyprus Problem

Haravgi

Anastasiades-DISY government dangerous

  • Tangible risk of slipping into negotiations from the outset
  • ‘Friendship attack’ by Turkey, scepticism in Brussels
  • Borrowers prey to the appetites of banks

Alithia

The new five-party summit with preconditions of success

Two-state solution off the agenda. Turkish provocations to cease, sanctions against Turkey to be cancelled, powers of central government to be limited and political equality to be regulated. EU and UN in complete harmony. German mediation catalytic in withdrawal of Turkish vessels and end to provocations.

  • Occupied Areas: They react to UNSC resolution on UNFICYP
  • Refutations: New reactions over Yiorkadji list
  • Coronavirus: Cyprus launches frontal assault on pandemic
  • They will put him on trial: Greek national in occupied areas’ prison
  • Christos P. Panayiotides (Opinion): The Cypriot political system is the worst in the world
  • Suitcases with millions: When Cyprus violated the UN embargo and money laundered Milosevic’s billions

Main News

EU clarifies positions on Varosha & two-state solution


Kathimerini, Politis
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, in a letter addressed to Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides, clearly states the positions of the EU ahead of the informal ‘5+1’ summit, which include support for UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions calling on the international community to not recognise the north, the papers report.

In the letter, dated January 15, according to Kathimerini which publishes parts of the letter, Borrell clearly states the EU’s position against developments in Varosha: “Let there be no doubt: respecting the status of Varosha, as set out in relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, is of paramount importance. The EU is deeply concerned about developments on the ground and has condemned Turkey’s unilateral actions, which must be reversed. No actions should be carried out in relation to Varosha that are not in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.”

Borrell added that the EU calls for the upholding of UNSC resolutions that deter the international community from recognising the north: “The European Union is equally clear that relevant UN Security Council Resolutions must be upheld which call for all States not to recognize the purported State of the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ and to respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, unity and non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus.”

Kathimerini reports that Borrell also stated the readiness of the EU to participate in UN efforts for the resolution of the Cyprus Problem, and stressed the importance of “avoiding any unilateral actions that may inflame tensions,” a comment which the paper says was intended for Turkey.  

Kathimerini reports that Borrell’s letter is a response to the letters sent by Christodoulides in late October and mid-December, informing Brussels on Turkey’s actions as regards the Cyprus Problem and Varosha, and asking for the EU’s contribution.

Kathimerini reports that Borrell also made the EU’s position clear to Turkey and to the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. Specifically, the paper reports that Borrell told Tatar that a two-state solution is a no go, as a solution would need to ensure the functionality of the state within the EU. Kathimerini reports that in contrast to Tatar, Ankara responded by claiming its position is not dogmatic.

Politis reports that in addition to the arrival to the island this week of the foreign ministers of Turkey and the UK, Borrell is also expected to come to Cyprus for talks ahead of the informal summit. The exact date of Borrell’s visit will be determined in the coming days. Both the British foreign secretary and the EU top diplomat are expected to also hold talks with the TC leadership while in Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Kathimerini publishes an interview with European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas, who also weighed in on discussions regarding the basis of a Cyprus solution. Schinas told the paper that “those who talk about two countries in Cyprus have not asked the EU”.

In the interview Schinas talks about the contacts he had with Christodoulides and Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu, which he said indicated that the 5+1 meeting would focus on feasible solutions. At the same time, he did not rule out a stronger EU presence to ensure that any solution is in line with the acquis communautaire, but noted that it was still too early for this debate.

The main issue for the EU, he added, was for a reunited Republic of Cyprus to be a member state of the EU and the eurozone from day one. “It must operate with ‘European software’ especially in the areas of governmental and political action where there is Community legislation and competence,” he said. Europe must be the absolute criterion within which a possible solution would fit, not the other way round, he added.

“This is a one-way street and Europe will insist and get involved in this, in order to avoid any arrangements that would run counter to this basic principle,” he said.

KEY ACTORS
Borrell (EU)
>>
UNSC resolutions should be upheld both as regards Varosha and in terms of the international community’s duty to refrain from recognising the north.
>> A two-state solution is a no go.

Schinas (EU)
>> Those talking about 2 states in Cyprus haven’t asked the EU.
>> Important for reunited RoC to be a member state of EU & eurozone.
>> Solution must fit within European framework.


UN aiming for formal Crans Montana-style conference in summer


Politis, Alithia
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Politis reports on the UN’s long-term plan and what is expected to follow the informal five-party summit. It notes that international interest has returned to the Cyprus problem, not because Cyprus attracts any particular interest as a state, but because the country could serve as one of the vehicles that will lead to a change in EU-Turkish and EU-NATO relations.

Despite Ankara’s public rhetoric on a two-state solution, the messages that Nicosia is getting from Brussels, the US and UN is that the Turks have given the green light for another effort to resolve the Cyprus problem, based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) with political equality, writes the paper. Hence, it adds, despite Turkey’s efforts, reference to the BBF was not removed from the text of the latest UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution. At the same time, the Turkish side has quietly, without fanfare, stopped/frozen any activities regarding the opening of Varosha and is keeping Turkish research vessels away from the Cypriot EEZ, despite any Navtex issued.

Alithia reports that realisation of the latter moves on Varosha and the EEZ required intense and insistent pressure from Germany on Turkey, which only bore fruit after Germany’s FM met with his Turkish counterpart. In reality, the Turkish side made the moves after the GC side replied that it would go to a summit without preconditions, but also after Turkey secured the EU’s agreement that it would not decide on any sanctions relating to its violations in the Cypriot EEZ – something which the GC side also accepted.

Politis reports that while ideas come and go on a decentralised federation, loose federation, covert confederation, and two states, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell have made it clear to the interested parties that the most advanced solution that the EU is willing to accept is the BBF, and nothing else. The EU has explained to Ankara that they can have as many states as they like in Cyprus but the EU will not accept an additional Cypriot state in the bloc. The EU considers that the message has been received by both Ankara and Nicosia (the GC side). The TC community will get the message on Tuesday when Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visits the occupied areas to determine the Turkish side’s stance on the Cyprus problem ahead of the informal 5+1 summit.

The paper further reports that Nicosia understands clearly the determination of the international community to take peace efforts to their peak within a short period of time from today. Politis quoted a European source saying, “this time either a solution will be found or a deadlock declared and other formulas sought for the island so that the unresolved problem does not affect the functioning of the EU’s external relations”. The source added: “The EU is not about to forget the TCs, it won’t leave them hanging and isolated.”

Meanwhile, according to the paper, the President’s negotiating and advisory team has been convening at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia to explore the functionality of the federal state and the potential for increased competences that may be assigned to the constituent states. The Cyprus problem team comprises: former foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides, head of the president’s diplomatic office and intelligence service Kyriacos Kouros, former DISY MEP Panayiotis Demetriou, negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and four constitutional experts – Aristotelis Constantinides, Costas Paraskeva, Constantinos Kombos, and Achilleas Emilianides.

Politis further reports that the informal summit will likely be held on March 1-4 in Geneva. The UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antionio Guterres aims to announce the launch of formal negotiations at the summit. And if this is deemed unfeasible then the informal discussions may be extended for some weeks with the aim of resuming negotiations.

The UN’s desired roadmap is to see negotiations begin in early April, based on the composition of the third Mont Pelerin meeting (following the January 2017 conference in Geneva), involving talks between the two sides’ negotiators and the directors of the guarantor powers’ foreign ministries.

The UN’s hope is that these talks will lay the groundwork for a final conference along the lines of Crans Montana to be held during the summer. There is also the prospect that preparation of the final conference takes place at the leaders’ level since the TC negotiator is considered to be inflexible in his positions within diplomatic circles, writes the paper.


UK seeking stronger role in Cyprob processes


Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The UK is seeking to play a stronger role in Cyprus Problem processes, Phileleftheros reports, and is tabling its own ideas as to what a solution could look like.

The paper ties the UK’s enhanced diplomatic efforts with its attempt to show a fortified diplomatic front in the post-Brexit era, with the Cyprus Problem seen as an opportunity for it to take the spotlight in regional developments. The paper views the scheduled visit of the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to the island on February 4 as a continuation of the UK’s systematic efforts to maintain the upper hand in the Cyprus Problem.

Phileleftheros reports that the Foreign Office is considering a number of ideas which serve to bridge differences between the two sides, but the country’s priority is to safeguard British presence on the island.

According to Politis, the UK has a particular interest in the shape of the solution and is adamant on eliminating all possibilities of constructive ambiguity which would point to anything other than a bizonal bicommunal federation, due to its interest in preserving the Akrotiri Base (since Dhekelia would be returned, as provided for in the Annan Plan) .

Phileleftheros reports that the Foreign Office is testing the waters on both sides and recording reactions, with the UK’s main aim being the securing of political equality in a loose federation of two “community states” with many competences, under one central government which will secure the country’s sovereignty, single citizenship and international personality.

The UK has thrown in the idea of a rotating presidency without any substantive competences (in fact, none at all, writes the paper), and two Vice-Presidents, one from each community, that will express the concept of “equality”. The British appear to support the requirement of one Turkish Cypriot vote in decisions and a small, flexible Council of Ministers consisting of four GCs and two TCs.

The UK also appears to be calling on Nicosia to make a move showing “good will” towards Turkey with reference to the issue of political equality.

Phileleftheros considers that the Turks will insist on a two-state solution, only to “shift” position towards a confederation, which will be considered a “concession” towards a “loose federation”. At this point, pressure will be put on the Greek side to utilise this “concession”. The paper considers in its analysis that the British formula will be used to find a golden compromise, potentially bringing in through the window a confederal solution in practice, though perhaps not in name.


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