Front Page Headlines
President’s testimony with many ambiguities
The Investigative Committee stood its ground and asked N. Anastasiades about everything. Hammered with questions about his trips to the Seychelles and the naturalisation of the Saudi Arabian and his family who offered him his private jet. The President claimed ignorance of the participation of his son-in-law in the board of directors of the Ayia Napa marina, in which are foreign businessmen who were naturalised. Citing personal data, he refused to name those who illegally advertised the sale of Cypriot passports abroad.
- Cavusoglu: We’re done with the federation
- Negotiating team: Yes but AKEL… for Tselepis
- Listed buildings: The glass overflowed with the Archbishop
- Five-year bond: Historically low interest rate
- Cyprus: 229m from SURE
They ignored reports
Investigative (Committee): Warnings from the Law Office that the CIP (citizenship-by-investment programme) was violating EU law left in the drawers. The words “I was not aware” characterised the President’s testimony. They did not know when there was personal interest. Passports to Ayia Napa marina, with the President’s son-in-law as head. He did not even know the posting of Andri’s niece. Without regulations there was… flexibility.
- Cavusoglu-Tatar coordinate steps: Ankara does not want the EU getting involved in the form of the solution
- Public rage rebuilds listed buildings: The Archbishop sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind
- Relaxations in sport and culture before the Council of Ministers
President resorted to cheap excuses
Letters from 2015 that the President didn’t see! “The President did not know, did not vote, did not audit.” The Saudi Arabian friend and the joy that the son-in-law did not have NPLs!
- Political equality or else sovereign (equality)
- Nouris backed Phedonas
- AKEL proposal before Parliament for freezing of rents for use of Turkish Cypriot properties
- Restoration and punishment of the guilty
- Vaccination Portal opens for those aged over 83 years – Concern over the South African mutation
‘No favours’ for foreign investors
President tells citizenship enquiry he never interceded for any applicant
- Expert says measures at airports best protection against South African variant
- Justice minister’s Twitter incident is far from over
- Demolished houses will be rebuilt: Archbishop
Clear answers
Three-hour testimony of Anastasiades to committee on naturalisations. President: “There are no difficult questions when the reply is well justified.” From today, focus shifts to the Cyprus Problem and the big problems the country is facing.
- Tatar and Cavusoglu: Forget the federation, only solution two equal states
- I will restore the listed buildings: Archbishop cancelled – due to reactions – the demolitions
- Finance Minister: Markets showed trust in the Cypriot economy
- Coronavirus: 128 new cases, no deaths were recorded
Main News
Cavusoglu sticks to two-state rhetoric, calls for EU impartiality
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Talks on political equality have come to an end and negotiations must now be based on the sovereign equality of two states, the Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu said Tuesday during a joint press conference with the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in the north.
Politis reports that Cavusoglu met with Tatar on Tuesday and finalised the basis of their next steps ahead of the informal five-party summit, which Cavusoglu said was Turkey’s idea.
However, Cavusoglu said “talks on the basis of political equality have ended and now negotiations must begin on the basis of sovereign equality and two states,” according to a quote by Politis.
Phileleftheros reports that the message Cavusoglu wanted to send through his visit to the north was that Turkey will not be willing to discuss anything other than a two-state solution. The paper sees the move as ramping up pressure ahead of the five-party summit. Alithia reports that Cavusoglu also referred to different approaches within the GC side, and that he knows full well that President Anastasiades also wants a two-state solution, as seen through the Archbishop’s recent statement to this end.
Cavusoglu said that Turkey and the north have been calling for an end to negotiations on a federal solution since the talks in Geneva in 2017, noting that “Akinci said it too at Crans Montana”, Haravgi reports.
Talks at Crans Montana failed due to the GC side’s refusal to share power, Cavusoglu reiterated according to Haravgi, adding that this is a stance that is upheld today. Politis quotes Cavusoglu as saying that the GC side has showed that “it does not want to share, not only political equality but nothing at all with the Turkish Cypriot people and with the ‘TRNC’.” Haravgi reports Cavusoglu saying that “if there is no political equality then there must be sovereign equality. We are now at this point.”
Cavusoglu said that today, “in Cyprus there are two communities, two peoples, two states. There is a de facto situation, regardless of whether it is recognised or not. This is what we must show,” Haravgi reports. Politis and Phileleftheros offer a different version of the quote, in which Cavusoglu calls for the de facto situation to be “made official”.
“We want a permanent solution that will be negotiated via the diplomatic route,” Cavusoglu said, adding that the direction of a two-state solution is also the will of the TC community, as proved by the latest ‘elections’, Haravgi reports.
On his part, Tatar said the positions of the north and Turkey are fully streamlined, and both sides will go to the five-party summit in support of a cooperation of two states which live side by side on the basis of sovereign equality, Haravgi reports.
Tatar said that during his recent discussion with the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) he supported the position that a two-state solution was what won him the ‘elections’, noting that “if the world respects democracy, it will respect what we will say on behalf of our people,” according to Haravgi.
The paper adds that both Tatar and Cavusoglu referred to the issue of natural resources, with the latter stating that if a fair formula is secured, then 50% of the problem in the Eastern Mediterranean will be resolved. Phileleftheros reports that Cavusoglu said that a solution could be found through the proposal tabled by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on a regional conference that would see the participation of all stakeholders, including the north. The paper reports that Turkey also favours a conference without the participation of the north and the Republic.
Phileleftheros reports that in response to the recently expressed opposition to a two-state solution by EU officials (Charles Michel and Josep Borrell), Cavusoglu said the solution model is not up to the EU. Politis and Phileleftheros report that Cavusoglu stressed that the EU will be participating in negotiations as an observer because Turkey has allowed it, and called on the EU to be fair, objective, and impartial.
Phileleftheros, citing the Press and Information Office (PIO), quotes Cavusoglu as saying that “the EU does not have the authority to take such a decision on behalf of the two communities and especially on behalf of the ‘TRNC’,” noting that the EU has always supported the rights of GCs and ignored those of TCs. Cavusoglu said the EU likewise does not have the authority to decide on zones of maritime jurisdiction, which was also supported by the EU Court, Phileleftheros reports.
“As a guarantor power I can voice my opinion. The ‘TRNC’ can voice its opinion. But the EU, which wants to participate as an observer cannot take and impose decisions in advance,” Phileleftheros quotes Cavusoglu as saying.
Phileleftheros reports that Cavusoglu reverted to Turkey’s old approach which sought to keep the EU out of Cyprus Problem processes. The paper reports that Turkey appeared positive to the presence of an EU official at negotiations but Cavusoglu sent the message that the EU will have to accept whichever solution emerges, regardless of whether the state that will emerge will be functional or not.
KEY ACTORS
Cavusoglu (Turkey)
>> Repetitive failure of talks on political equality under federal solution means this chapter must close. It’s time to discuss two-state model enjoying sovereign equality.
>> Akinci also called for an end to discussions on federal solution at Crans Montana.
>> Two-state solution justified in view of GC side’s refusal to share anything with TCs & the current de facto situation. It is also the will of the TC people.
>> Fair solution to hydrocarbons issue could resolve half the problem in the East Med.
>> Solution model not up to EU, which must show objectivity and impartiality.
Tatar
>> Positions of Turkey and north fully streamlined.
>> Respect for two-state solution, which is the will of the TC people, is respect for democracy.
Greece, UK FMs discuss Cyprob ahead of summit
Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The Cyprus Problem was on the agenda of discussions between the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in London on Tuesday, the dailies report.
According to the Cyprus Mail, citing the British Foreign Office, the two “shared perspectives on prospects for an enduring solution in Cyprus” and said they are looking forward to the upcoming informal summit.
The Cyprus Mail quotes Dendias saying that he “reiterated Greece’s firm position, which Great Britain shares… that the solution must be based on a bizonal bicommunal federation in line with the Resolutions of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and it must also be compatible with European Law.”
Citing a British diplomatic source, the dailies report that London is hoping the informal summit leads to a new round of formal negotiations, noting the importance of all sides agreeing to participate without preconditions. Regarding the divergent positions between the two sides, the source said the role of the UN and countries such as the UK which want a solution is to locate and highlight potential convergences.
Politis reports that there are concerns about the content of the informal summit, with parties drawing up alternative action plans for each potential outcome.
Raab is expected to arrive in Cyprus on Thursday, while the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to fly in on Monday.
Haravgi reports that during the meeting, Greece also called on the UK to contribute as a permanent member of the UNSC to efforts seeking to create a framework for the implementation of international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Phileleftheros reports that Dendias presented Greece’s take on matters involving the Eastern Mediterranean, and expressed concern over Turkey’s actions. Dendias said both Greece and Cyprus base their foreign policy on international law, regardless of whether this stems from treaties signed a few years ago or a century ago, and called on neighbouring countries to do the same.
Phileleftheros reports that the UK welcomed the resumption of exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey, noting the importance shared by the UK’s two NATO allies in the security and welfare of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Phileleftheros reports that following the meeting, which also saw the participation of the UK Minister for European Neighbourhood Wendy Morton, Dendias briefed his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Christodoulides on the contents of his discussion with the UK officials.
KEY ACTORS
Dendias (Greece)
>> Greece remains firm supporter of BBF solution in line with UNSC resolutions and EU law.
Demolished listed buildings will be restored following backlash
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The Archbishop vowed to restore the demolished listed buildings adjacent to its under-development Cathedral in the old quarters of Nicosia after the move spurred waves of reaction from both officials and the public, the dailies report.
The Cyprus Mail reports that Nicosia Mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis said on state radio that he was assured by Archbishop Chrysostomos that the four listed buildings will be restored to their previous state, but the Municipality is still waiting to hear who ordered the demolitions, which were described by both the Mayor and the Interior Minister as illegal.
Alithia reports that in a letter addressed to the Nicosia Municipality, the Archbishop said that the reason for the demolition of the listed buildings on Isokratous street was due to Saturday’s bad weather, which damaged one of the buildings, deeming them a safety hazard.
The dailies report that Attorney General Giorgos Savvides on Tuesday sent letters to the Interior Minister and the Mayor of Nicosia requesting to be briefed on the events of the case and the actions authorities are planning to take, in view of assessing whether any further actions are required on his part.