Front Page Headlines
Carnival with masks and frugality
The good epidemiological picture, the need to boost the market but also the public’s need to decompress are giving rise to second thoughts. Pressure by professionals and the public appears to be working as the idea of opening catering businesses on March 1 and having a normal carnival is gaining ground, but with stricter protocols. The Limassol picture is concerning but manageable, according to Dr Petros Karayiannis, who speaks of an encouraging improvement in the country’s epidemiological picture, which allows some relaxations. If we reach the achievable goal of vaccinating 30% of the population by the end of April, we can have Easter with fewer restrictions. Today vaccinations stand at 5% of the population.
- (Sexual) Harassment: Reports file getting thicker
- USA-Egypt: Weapons with a human rights backdrop
- Corona mutations: Second generation vaccinations coming
Black hole of millions
A dance of bids for rapid tests, which reached 1.94 million and the cost is increasing. The assignment of the job under the microscope of the Audit Service, since many are being assigned with emergency procedures.
- The EU wants a role and a voice in the Cyprus Problem process: Messages toward our side too
The pandemic cannot suspend democracy
The AKEL SG tables the matter of the prohibition of demonstrations before the President. Initiatives by AKEL in Parliament to raise the issue of excessive restrictions on personal and political freedoms. The government should not try to attack Saturday’s protest and the Police should show a democratic maturity. They’re refusing to assume their responsibilities. No resignation or termination… Emily Yiolitis continues to sit in her place.
- Without a five-party we’re losing Varosha too. Area of land at the ‘Turkish consulate’
New housing plans unveiled
Schemes seek to halt rural depopulation, special focus on mountains.
He questioned myths, fought against the establishment
Alecos Constantinides: In the ramparts until the very last moment. Nicos Anastasiades: Learned, astute and bold, he did not hesitate to point out, cauterise and reprimand phenomena which affected our country daily. Journalists Union: He was among the pioneers, pillars of Cypriot journalism, with a strong and didactic language, deep and justified analyses, but also with scathing, wry comments.
- Tatar revealed why he does not want a federal solution: He told the truth
- Biden selling rockets to Egypt
- Turk threw his pregnant wife off cliff
Main News
Cyprob focus shifts to upcoming Borrell visit
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The papers report on the upcoming visit to the island by the EU’s Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, which was pushed backed to March 5-6.
Phileleftheros reports that the EU is continuing to pursue its goal of playing a part and having a voice in the new Cyprus Problem process, as seen through Borrell’s phone calls toward both leaders on Tuesday and the rescheduling of his visit to Cyprus. Haravgi reports that Borrell’s visit will seek to motivate the TC side in view of getting the informal summit to take place as soon as possible.
Phileleftheros reports that Borrell’s visit can be interpreted as having two goals: firstly, to approach the Turkish side which opposes EU involvement in negotiations, and to relay to the TC leader Ersin Tatar the EU’s position in favour of a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF) and against a two-state solution, as has already been communicated to the Foreign Ministers of the Republic and Turkey. Secondly, the paper writes, Borrell will be seeking to test the waters of the intentions of the GC side ahead of the EU Summit in March, which will precede the informal five-party summit on Cyprob. Phileleftheros reports that Nicosia is still expecting Borrell to present a list of potential sanctions that could be imposed against Turkey, a matter which Germany is attempting to block, with Borrell reportedly aiming to tone down the stance of Nicosia and Athens, which are both adamant on seeing the EU follow through with sanctions.
Politis reports that political analysts are expecting that the rhetoric Borrell will adopt in his public statements after his meetings on the island will heavily inform on the EU’s intentions as regards the Cyprus Problem. The paper reports that diplomatic sources have already begun creating the impression that the EU’s role is crucial in persuading Turkey to tone down the climate, allowing for constructive discussions at the informal summit.
Politis, citing diplomatic and government sources, reports that the matter of the date and location of the informal summit is expected to clear up by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, Phileleftheros reports, against the backdrop of preparations for the informal summit and exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey, the latter has resumed its provocative behaviour through the issuing of a new NAVTEX for seismic exploration in the Aegean that will span from Thursday until March 2.
Haravgi reports that the leader of DISY Averof Neophytou attempted to respond to those who associate the informal summit with dangers and traps, stressing that the real danger, particularly of losing Varosha, lies in not having the informal summit. Neophytou said his party is fully supporting efforts to organise the five-party summit as soon as possible. He added that DISY stands behind a BBF and accepts political equality for TCs in the limited competences of a decentralised federation, but, according to Politis, the condition for this is the abolition of the Treaty of Guarantee, the withdrawal of occupation armies, and territorial adjustments that will include Morphou and Famagusta.
Alithia reports that Neophytou also met with the UNSG’s special representative Elizabeth Spehar, to whom he relayed his position in favour of participating in the informal summit without terms and preconditions, with the aim of resuming formal negotiations as soon as possible. Alithia and Politis report that Spehar also held teleconferences with TC parties, during which Cyprob and the pandemic were discussed.
Meanwhile, citing TC media, Haravgi reports that the TC ‘cabinet’ agreed to hand over an area of land in Famagusta to Turkey’s ‘Famagusta consulate’. The paper reports that the land belonged to the ‘finance ministry’ and was handed over to the Turkish ‘consulate’ for 49 years. Citing the Cyprus News Agency, Haravgi reports that the location and size of the land remains unknown.
KEY ACTORS
Neophytou (DISY)
>> DISY fully supports efforts to convene informal five-party summit as soon as possible and without preconditions.
>> Traps and dangers, particularly as regards Varosha, do not lie with participating in the informal summit, but with not holding the informal summit at all.
>> DISY supports BBF solution and will accept political equality for TCs under decentralised federation, but on condition that Treaty of Guarantee is abolished, occupational troops withdraw, and territorial adjustments include Morphou and Varosha.
Tatar: ‘Unacceptable’ GC demands will lead to renewed impasse
Alithia, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that in statements on Wednesday, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar accused President Nicos Anastasiades and Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides of tabling unacceptable demands, which risk maintaining the status quo in Cyprus and collapsing the new peace efforts.
Alithia explains that by ‘unacceptable demands’, Tatar was referring to Anastasiades’ insistence on sticking to UN parameters, on changing the TC side’s plans for reopening Varosha, and on halting Turkey’s activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Tatar reiterated that the UN parameters that have defined the agenda for years have not produced any results, adding that by sticking to these parameters the only result that can be achieved at the informal summit is a new impasse, the papers report.
Tatar said the TC side will not be deviating from its position in favour of a two-state solution, nor from its plans for Varosha, and will not succumb to the terms of the GC side on the matter, Phileleftheros reports.
Alithia reports that Tatar, addressing political correspondents, delved into the reasons behind his opposition to a federal solution. The paper quotes the TC leader saying that “the biggest problem for us in a federation is that Turkey will have to depart from the island in five to 10 years after the agreement. If there is a federation, Cyprus will become a place in the EU where GCs and Greeks will be those who are running the show.”
According to Alithia, Tatar went on to say that through a federal solution, on both sides of the island autonomous administrations will be created on the level of local authorities and services, but sovereignty will remain with the central administration.
Alithia reports that Tatar said that in his statement after the collapse of the Crans Montana negotiations, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that due to the intransigence of the GC side, new ideas can be tabled on the solution of the Cyprus Problem.
Phileleftheros reports that Tatar on Wednesday held his first meeting with the TC Cyprob negotiating team as well as legal and other specialists that had in the past gotten involved in negotiations processes. At the first meeting in preparation for the informal summit, participants reviewed latest developments and discussed ways of promoting the TC side’s “vision for reconciliation and cooperation on the basis of sovereign equality and equal international status,” Phileleftheros reports, citing TC media. Present at the meeting were the former ‘chief justice’ Taner Erginel, the former ‘attorney general’ Zaim Necatigil, and the former members of the negotiations advisory team Dr. Ata Atun and Dr. Murat Tuzunkan.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> Unacceptable GC demands regarding sticking to UN parameters in peace talks, dropping Varosha plans & halting Turkey’s activities in East Med will lead process to new impasse.
>> North will not deviate from two-state solution position.
>> Federal solution will see Turkey depart from island within 5-10 years, leaving the GC side and Greece to take full control of the island at the expense of TCs.
>> Tabling new ideas on solution encouraged by UNSG after Crans Montana collapse.