Front Page Headlines
SMS system scrutinised
Why are we still texting to go out? Why are we putting up with it? And why only two outings a day?
- Arrests, water cannon used in Nicosia anti-corruption protest: Many prevented from taking part
- Access at last: New law gives us the right to demand public sector information like never before
- Opinion: Forthcoming talks will be about divorce not reunification
“Sovereign equality, the end of the country”
Andreas Mavroyiannis: There’s no way we will accept what Turkey is promoting. “What the Turks want is for us to have two sovereign states that will come together to agree on a contract, so that they can mutually appoint certain competences under a confederal form.”
- British-Turkish bizonal hymns: The chronic syndromes of the Cypriot political leadership
- Confederation through a BBF: Dominic Raab, his three ‘hierarchs’ and Ersin Tatar
- Libya: New government with a Turkish stamp
- Blue homeland: The ‘flourishing hubris’ and ‘most lamentable’ of the Asian Erdogan who prepares to harvest
- One missing person is seeking justice: 47 years later, the wounds remain open for the family
- Mediterranean conference: They’re planning to put the natural gas in their hands
- European Parliament: Topics involving Cyprus at the centre
- Savvas Iakovides (opinion): Turkey is a major threat for Israel, Cyprus, and the region
- Petros Th. Pantelides (opinion): The catastrophe through the unacceptable five-party
The vaccines fiasco and European nationalism
Ursula’s admission and Stella’s responsibilities. The lack of vaccines is causing concern among governments of the European Union that are turning toward the Russian and Chinese vaccines. Delays in the production of vaccines and the constant mutations make possible a third coronavirus wave. The USA and the United Kingdom have received around 40% of the 119.8 million doses that have been administered globally.
- The scenarios ahead of the five-party (meeting): The real G/C-T/C give-and-take
- Interview: Ozdil Nami – Anastasiades has destroyed his credibility among T/Cs
- Occupied areas: Propaganda and T/C antibodies
- Weather: Temperatures in Cyprus break records
‘Hole-ridden’ umbrella model
Intense backstage in the Cyprus Problem for a formula with two sovereignties and ‘common’ roof. The Turks setting up an asphyxiating grip.
- Philia Forum: New Mediterranean cooperation bothering Ankara
Moving towards rejection of British ‘plan’
It refers to a confederal formation, say members of the negotiating team who express strong reservations
- Political parties: The Cyprus Problem also on the agenda
- Kudret Ozersay: A common basis for negotiations necessary
- Brussels concerned about overcrowding at Pournara (camp for migrants)
AKEL proposals on protection of workers
AKEL submitted proposals for the protection of workers’ rights yesterday, warning that a new wave of poverty and unemployment due to the pandemic is coming. It also pointed out that at the same time that the European Parliament is pushing for decent living conditions, the Anastasiades government is moving in the opposite direction, by referring the introduction of minimum wages in our country to the future and leaving thousands of workers vulnerable to exploitation and employers’ arbitrariness.
- The organisation of the five-party on the Cyprus Problem up in the air
- Non-realistic solution scenarios burden all of us (opinion)
- With optimism but also scepticism in the face of the five-party (opinion)
Services without coordination
Strong criticism from two commissioners: Ombudswoman and Gender Equality. The tragedy in Ergates reminded of the inadequacy of services in the tragedy with the 15-year-old Stylianos. Ombudswoman points to inexperience of civil servants and incorrect assessment of danger from the social welfare services. This is the 39th femicide in Cyprus since 2000.
- March also lost for the five-party: Questions over the UNSG’s delay in convening (the meeting) – Tatar provokes again with the opening of Varosha while highlighting that he is not about to change his stance at the five-party (summit).
- Analysis: The clear framework for the five-party conference
- Christos Panayiotides: The denaturation of ‘political equality’ in practice (opinion)
- Demonstration: Arrests, injuries and clashes in the centre of Nicosia
Main News
Papers paint grim picture of 5-party prospects
Alithia, Kathimerini, Politis, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
As both sides prepare for all scenarios that could play out at the informal five-party summit, the papers provide an outline of the current Cyprus Problem landscape and suggest ways the summit could play out.
Phileleftheros reports that both Ankara and third parties involved in the Cyprus Problem expect that discussions at the informal summit will either lead to an impasse due to the divergent positions among parties or will see the GC side approach Turkish positions. Either scenario, the paper writes, constitutes a failure for the GC side.
Politis reports that though the informal five-party summit will take place without terms and conditions, almost all parties that will come together will table their own conditions mainly involving the basis of discussions on the Cyprus Problem. Politis reports that political observers claim that the chances of positive results emerging from the informal summit are slim, noting that the two sides will be attending the summit to engage in a ‘communications battle’ on a symbolic level.
Alithia reports that the TC leader Ersin Tatar said in statements that with Turkey, the largest and strongest country in the area, on the side of the TCs, the scales are tipped in their favour. Reiterating his call for a two-state solution, Tatar said that two sides living side by side with sovereign equality will be able to cooperate, particularly as regards the exploitation of energy sources. If a solution is achieved, Tatar said that TCs are entitled to at least 30% of natural gas funds. Tatar said the GC side accepts that TCs have this right, but maintain a mentality of superiority.
According to Alithia,Tatar said that a non-solution would only drive the north even closer to Turkey, but stressed that annexation is not on the agenda, since despite the north’s dependency on Turkey it has gotten used to fending for itself.
Politis reports that underlying the claim for sovereign equality is the TC side’s effort to ensure that if needed, they will be able to legally walk away from a confederal government without this secession resulting in relegating the TCs to the status of a community without international status, as happened in 1964.
Politis reports that the GC side has as a fundamental position that two independent EU member states are an unfeasible prospect. The paper adds that the Commission’s Legal Service has examined several potential solutions for two European states in Cyprus, such as models based on the cases of Norway or Monaco. Politically, however, the EU has rejected the scenario of an independent TC state as a member of the bloc. Citing a source from Brussels, Politis reports that such a scenario would see Turkey practically claim the spot of the 28th EU member.
Citing a diplomatic source, Politis reports that the primary goal behind resuming Cyprus Problem peace efforts was to prevent a war between Greece and Turkey. The source also said that Cyprus was admitted into the EU by aberration, in order to boost the confidence and feeling of security of GCs, allowing them to move forward with solving the Cyprus Problem. The paper writes that the source added that unfortunately, the GC side is approaching the issue through a dated mentality, which works to the benefit of Turkey which can stick to the old guarantees framework.
Phileleftheros understands the recent statements made by Erdogan and his partners regarding a two-state solution as burdening an already negative climate, but suggests that Turkey’s two-state rhetoric is an opening position for negotiations, while a confederation remains the goal that Turkey will pursue. Toward this end, Phileleftheros reports that third parties, London especially, are making moves in the background through proposed formulas that facilitate the Turkish side, and particularly its claim for sovereignty.
Phileleftheros reports that the GC side will not be accepting the proposed formulas attempting to bridge the divergent positions, while Turkey has positively approached the ideas put forward by the UK. The paper stresses that the important question is who is encouraging the UK to assume the role it is taking.
Politis reports that the GC negotiating team has recently intensified efforts to enter the new peace process, preparing for all possible scenarios. Specifically, the paper writes that working documents have already been prepared to deal with: the TC claim for two states; the matter of political equality based on the GC and TC vision; the issue of a confederation; and the issue of EU involvement in the final Cyprus Problem settlement. The paper reports that the TC negotiating team headed by Ergun Olgun is also busy with preparation efforts, but claims that it is the Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu who will be handling negotiations during the informal summit.
Kathimerini reports that the formula being shaped by the UK was submitted in writing to the GC negotiating team last week, and while it is currently being studied but not officially discussed, most members of the team are expressing strong hesitation. Some, the paper writes, have already rejected the proposal, which leans toward a confederal solution rather than a federal one, particularly in view of the idea of ‘community states’. Kathimerini also claims that the proposal also refers to a ‘community led federation’, which bridges the ideas of political and sovereign equality. The paper reports that despite the potential rejection of the UK’s proposal, the fact that new ideas that deviate from the agreed-upon solution are being tabled raises concerns. Kathimerini reports that AKEL also rejects the proposals being tabled by the UK.
The paper also reports however that government sources have refuted that the UK has submitted a specific plan, noting that there are several proposals and thoughts seeking to bring about positive results during the informal summit. The same sources said that the ‘demonisation’ of the efforts being exerted by the UK is wrong, since their goal is to break the impasse.
Kathimerini reports that the UK is aiming to get the two sides to not focus on terminology but to see the bigger picture. Further, the paper writes, the UK’s proposal did not come as a shock, since Nicosia had given the green light for the tabling of proposals that could break the impasse.
Phileleftheros also reports on attempts by Turkey toward creating new faits accomplis, particularly through Famagusta. The paper writes that during his latest meeting with Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmakers in Ankara, Erdogan confirmed that Famagusta was on Turkey’s agenda. Phileleftheros reports that Turkey is planning to revamp and modernise areas that span from Varosha to Karpasia.
Alithia reports that Tatar said that there is no legal hurdle in transforming Varosha into a non-military zone, with the paper noting that Tatar essentially exposed his plans to open the entire town. Tatar said that currently, infrastructure and cleaning work is ongoing, while the second phase of new projects will begin soon, Alithia reports.
Regarding the EU Summit scheduled for March 25-26, Phileleftheros reports that Athens and Nicosia will not accept that discussions include EU-Turkish relations and particularly matters involving a positive agenda. The reason for this is that both the Cyprus Republic and Greece see the repeated postponement of the informal summit as a deliberate attempt to push the Cyprus Problem meeting to after the EU Summit, so that EU leaders refrain from discussing sanctions against Turkey and instead launch discussions seeking to enhance EU-Turkish relations. The paper writes that Germany is attempting to bypass Greek objections to discussing Turkey.
Outlining the international community’s stance on the Cyprus Problem, Politis reports that the EU is seeking a solution to both the Cyprus Problem and Greco-Turkish differences in order to redefine its relationship with Turkey, which it is eager to keep away from Russia. The US under Biden is eager to return to the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions, which will be facilitated by a Cyprob solution so that Cyprus can act as a link for regional countries and as a strategic partner of the US. This, in turn, requires that Cyprus stabilises its relations with Turkey. The UK is now seeking to remain active in the region, and is taking a stronger role in Cyprob processes since its main base in the area is located on the island. The UK is seeking a federal solution as a two-state solution would automatically cast doubt on the British Bases. Russia is following the above moves with suspicion as a resolution of Cyprob through an initiative of the West leaves them outside the geopolitical game, while under non-solution circumstances Russia can aid Nicosia via its position in the UN Security Council.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Cooperation is possible under framework of two states sharing sovereign equality, particularly on natural gas, to which TCs are entitled to at least 30% of the funds.
>> A failure to secure a solution to Cyprob would drive the north closer to Turkey, but annexation is not part of the plan.