Front Page Headlines
Second relaxation, mutations causing fear
Schools, retail and culture opening with rapid tests and concern. With the fear of mutations, doors are opening for retail stores, theatres and cinemas, while thousands of students return to classes. Along with employees, the Health Ministry suggests rapid tests for pupils too. However, in every case parental consent is a necessary prerequisite. The speed of vaccinations is picking up, with the first 7,200 AstraZeneca doses arriving today. Around 70,000 doses are expected by the end of the month.
- Coordination on Cyprus Problem: Mitsotakis in Cyprus
- Kotzias-Andros clash: Tsipras leaves former FM hanging
Crucial stress test
New phase with the opening of the economy under restrictions and the return of pupils and educators. Concerns by experts over a relapse of the epidemiological picture.
- Mitsotakis-Anastasiades meeting: Coordination of moves by Greece and Cyprus
- From the interview of Nikos Kotzias in ‘Ph’: Fires were started in Nicosia and Athens
- Nicosia Municipality requesting restoration of listed buildings
- Almost all of us have used GESY
Return to schools with obstacles
60,000 students return to schools. Nothing has changed, educators complain. Education Minister does not see pending issues.
- Preparation ahead of informal five-party
- Alexis Tsipras categorically refutes Nikos Kotzias and his comments on AKEL SG
- The first 7,200 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine arriving in Cyprus today
You shouldn’t have listened to Odysseas…
Court tells police. After pressure from the auditor general a police tender for the procurement of bullets was cancelled. Odysseas strongly insisted on his position ignoring the fact that the cost of a new tender would be much larger than the winning bid.
- Mitsotakis-Anastasiades: Coordination on 5-party
- Ersin Tatar: He says he will also discuss confederation now
- Ioannis Gregoriades: Prospect of a positive conclusion and solution
- Alexis Tsipras: The AKEL SG did not request Kotzias’ dismissal
- Schools-shops open gates
Main News
Mitsotakis arrives in Cyprus for coordination ahead of informal summit
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on the arrival to Cyprus of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday for the coordination of positions on the Cyprus Problem ahead of the informal five-party summit expected to be held next month.
Alithia, citing information from OMEGA, reports that the summit might be pushed back to mid-March due to the current epidemiological situation in the US. The UN had suggested Geneva and the dates of March 1-3 as an alternative solution for the summit, though Alithia reports that Turkey had expressed some difficulties with that arrangement and proposed pushing the summit back. The paper reports on information that suggests Turkey is attempting to get the UN to organise the informal five-party summit as close as possible to the date of the EU summit scheduled for March 25, when EU leaders will assess the issue of the imposition of sanctions on Turkey. The GC side has from the outset expressed readiness to participate in the informal summit wherever and whenever it may be held, Alithia reports.
On Monday, Anastasiades is expected to brief his Greek counterpart on discussions held with the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in Nicosia last week and other developments. Phileleftheros reports that also on the agenda of discussions between Mitsotakis and President Anastasiades are developments in Greco-Turkish relations, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the new conditions created by the new US government. Phileleftheros reports that Greece and Cyprus are also looking ahead to the EU summit in March where an evaluation of Turkey’s stance will be made anew. These developments require a common planning of moves and tactics if Greece and Cyprus are to make it through the mountain of challenges they have before them, Phileleftheros writes.
Phileleftheros and Alithia report on EDEK’s take on the new Cyprus Problem processes, with the party expressing concern over the UK’s intentions and its pursuits relating to sovereign equality. The party also warns of the risks and traps that surround the informal summit, and called on Anastasiades to not participate. Rather, the party proposes the organisation of an international conference on Cyprob with the participation of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), where the international dimension of the issue will be discussed, including the abolition of guarantees, the withdrawal of all occupation armies, the repatriation of settlers and the safe return of all refugees, both GC and TC, to their properties.
Politis reports that within the week, Anastasiades will be flying to Israel for contacts relating to cooperation on the pandemic and the further enhancement of relations with the neighbouring country.
The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is also expected to visit the island in the coming period, as the EU is seeking to play an important role in Cyprob processes, Politis reports. Further, the paper writes, at this moment in time it is important for Anastasiades to publicly show the support that the Republic has from partners. On the one hand, Politis reports, Mitsotakis’ visit on Monday will provide Anastasiades with a boost, while on the other a potential repetition by Borrell that the EU will not accept a two-state solution would be another positive boost for the Republic ahead of the informal summit.
Haravgi reports that Borrell has also accepted an invitation to visit Turkey. The paper also notes that the Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay will be paying a two-day visit to the north on February 10-11 to discuss matters relating to the informal summit.
KEY ACTORS
EDEK
>> Anastasiades should not participate in informal five-party summit, which involves risks and traps.
>> Proposes that instead of informal summit, an international Cyprob conference should be held with participation of the UNSC P5.
Tatar states readiness to examine confederal solution
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that TC leader Ersin Tatar expressed openness to discussing a confederal solution, which would include the idea of sovereign equality.
In a Zoom interview with Turkish journalists, according to Phileleftheros, Tatar said he was ready to examine the model of a confederation if the sovereignty of TCs is accepted. While discussing a confederation, Tatar said that “if formal negotiations begin, we want an acceptance of our sovereignty, if this happens, we will examine it but we don’t want to give it a name now. Our priority is for the necessary guarantees to be given so that the presence of TCs continues forever.”
Tatar also said that the north is prepared to participate in the informal summit, so that their demands and proposals can be explained. He said that if a solution is not found, then the north will continue on its course and pursue recognition, noting that Raab also recognises that if a solution is not secured then GCs and the Republic’s economy will also lose out.
Politis reports that while the details of the informal summit have yet to be clarified due to issues related to the pandemic, moves are being made backstage with guarantor powers which have an important role to play in the final outcome of the informal summit. Citing information, Politis reports that the UK is attempting to persuade both sides to go the summit with “vague points and constructive ambiguities” in terms of what they are seeking. The paper views Tatar’s comments as an example of the ambiguity that the UK is suggesting. Politis also recognises however that after his meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu, Tatar has remained consistent in his demand for sovereign equality.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Ready to examine confederation solution model if sovereignty of TCs is accepted.
>> The securing of guarantees of a permanent TC presence on the island a priority.
>> North ready to participate in informal summit to explain positions and demands.
>> If a solution is not found, north will pursue recognition.