GCC Press Review 23 Mar 2021

Front Page Headlines

Politis

Grace period for Ankara with a road map by Borrell

The EU report on Turkey has positive references to the Cyprus problem and Varosha. The EU will monitor Turkey’s stance and actions until the summer, setting as milestones the Cyprus issue, the exploratory contacts with Athens, Libya, but also developments within the country. The provisions for future measures remain but only in case of Ankara’s return to international law violations in the Cypriot EEZ within the coming period.  The Borrell report, which if found to be balanced, will be the basis of the EU leaders’ discussion. Strong concerns were voiced at the Foreign Affairs Council over Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention.

  • N. Anastasiades: The barbed wire is resistance to Turkey!
  • Erdogan’s own goals are destroying the lira – The Turkish economy is collapsing.
  • Clouds over the Greens: Two MP candidates withdrew their candidacies. Will more follow?
  • Parents: They are demanding the opening of the schools here and now

Phileleftheros

Ankara under monitoring

The EU’s gifts to Ankara are expected to remain in the closet until June despite de-escalation. The Borrell report suggests a two-pronged approach.

  • President Anastasiades put a full stop to the issue of Tzionis
  • The Turkish economy is on a freefall – Crash at the Istanbul stock market.
  • Parents at the Presidential Palace, the scientists hold a meeting – The return of pupils to the gymnasiums is in Cabinet’s hands meeting today.

Haravgi

The EU sets three milestones for Turkey by summer

Wide consensus will all options concerning Turkey on the EU’s table.

  • Cyprus problem: Anastasiades’ statements, instead of clarifying things, create confusion
  • Turkey: Demirtash was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison

Cyprus Mail

Over 45s to get vaccines by May

Deliveries of 270,000 vaccines by the end of April focus on the vulnerable.

  • EU’s Borrell: we will continue to monitor Ankara’s behaviour
  • Near bottom of EU:  less than 20 per cent of the island is forested

Alithia

Analysis: Political equality and how it will unlock

The president makes clear he has accepted it and there is no need to be called on the accept it. The GC side is committed to political equality in a federation since 1990. Resolution 716 indicates the effective participation of the TCs but did not specify it. The position of Glafkos Clerides, Alekos Markides and Ioannis Kasoulides and the idea put forward by Averof Neophytou.

  • Stick and carrot by the EU for Turkey: Under monitoring until summer
  • Anastasiades: It is a fence against Turkey’s strategy
  • Things are heating up in the occupied areas: Protest against the protocol with Turkey
  • By the end of April, the vaccine doses we will get will reach 440,000
  • Turkey: The stock market is crashing, the Lira is in freefall

Main News

Borrell: EU Cyprob involvement is a must for easing tensions in the region

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that EU High Commissioner Josep Borrell said on Monday after a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Brussels that the EU will monitor Turkey’s behaviour with milestones, including on the Cyprus problem, until summer before making any decisions on relations with Ankara.

Borrell, after the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), which discussed the report he prepared on EU-Turkey relations, said the EU would be monitoring Ankara’s behaviour until summer.

He said that despite the improvement in the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the situation remains fragile and that efforts to improve the climate must be sustained. “At the same time, the domestic situation in Turkey remains a serious concern, including the threats to the HDP (People’s Democracy Party) and the withdrawal of Turkey from the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, better known as the Istanbul Convention,” he added.

 “These kinds of actions take Turkey out of the European path,” Borrell noted.

The EU senior official said they have placed milestones, which Turkey had to meet: developments in the Cyprus problem, exploratory talks with Greece, Libya and Tukey’s domestic situation.

Borrell said the FAC considered his report a good basis for the discussion of the leaders, although, some ministers added suggestions to be taken into account at the European Council (EUCO) debate on Thursday. He also announced he would be meeting later with Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu to discuss Turkey’s intentions, in order to inform the leaders. He said the Cyprus issue would also be discussed.

The dailies cite diplomatic sources, according to which, the majority of member states agreed with the conclusions set out in the report and that discussion will continue at the level of leaders, who will determine the policy framework regarding the next steps in Euro-Turkish relations.

In his report, Borrell notes that since last December Turkey has shown a calmer, more constructive attitude on various issues, including in its bilateral relations with several EU member states but this process of de-escalation remains fragile. “We need more time to judge whether it is sustainable and credible and delivers lasting results, also in the light of the deteriorating domestic situation in Turkey,” he said.

The report also said that overall, the political context in EU-Turkey relations has progressively deteriorated over the past years, bringing to a virtual halt the various instruments and processes for bilateral engagement and cooperation. This has been mostly due to Turkish actions in the Eastern Mediterranean, directly challenging the rights of the Republic of Cyprus in its maritime zones, a sharp increase of Turkey’s provocative actions against Greece, the failure to advance in the Cyprus settlement process, coupled with Turkey’s related threatening actions and disparaging rhetoric and assertive Turkish interventions in most of the surrounding regional conflicts, in ways that often were at odds with broader EU interests. He also notes that the further deteriorating domestic situation in Turkey, notably in the area of fundamental rights and economic governance, has had clear negative effects on Turkey’s relations with member states and on the bilateral EU-Turkey agenda.

He pointed out that Turkey’s non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus continues to lead to the blockage of different paths of cooperation while normalisation of EU-Turkey relations will remain extremely challenging in the absence of a solution to the Cyprus issue.

Borrell said that the Cyprus settlement issue is a core element of Turkey’s strong disagreements with the EU in the Eastern Mediterranean. He added that during 2020 hope for progress on the Cyprus settlement process had to be put on hold until after the elections of the TC community. He noted that the electoral context led to an increase in polarising rhetoric and provocations, prompting strong reaction from the EU.

The report also said that Borrell expresses full support for the UN secretary-general’s (UNSG) efforts for the speedy resumption of the Cyprus settlement talks despite the unilateral actions in the fenced area of Varosha as well as repetitive statements directly questioning the agreed basis for the solution to the Cyprus problem as provided by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. He said that the EU’s engagement and support to the Cyprus issue is sine qua non for easing tensions in the region.

He said that talks between the two communities, eventually leading to an agreement, are essential for decreasing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. He added that positive outcomes related to practical and vital issues for the TC community – such as facilitation of export of haloumi/hellim and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines – could lead to an environment conducive to more trust.

The positive steps suggested by Borrell include strengthening economic ties, modernisation and expansion of the scope of the current EU-Turkey Customs Union including a guiding framework for economic reforms in Turkey. He also suggests that previously suspended high-level dialogues could be relaunched on the economy, energy, transport, political developments, foreign and security policies, and initiated on other new topics, such as the green deal/climate, internal security, inter-faith relations and culture.

On the migration issue, Borrell called for a more effective and mutually beneficial implementation of key areas of the 2016 EU-Turkey Statement, notably on migration management.

The report also suggests progressive restrictive measures in the event of Turkey’s return to the policy of tensions, ranging from additional listings of entities and individuals to restrictions on the economy and tourism services, the energy sector and technology export bans.

Alithia also reports that the report also refers to Turkey’s refusal to apply the 2005 Additional Protocol for Cyprus, which has led to the freezing of several accession chapters, six of which from Nicosia. Nicosia’s concerns about the immigration pressure exerted by Turkey with increased, in its view, targeted flows from the Turkish coast endangering the demographic character of Cyprus are also noted.

The daily also reports that the EU decided to go with the carrot and stick approach again as regards Turkey and will be monitoring its moves until June when the EUCO will convene again for decisions.

The daily notes that the carrot and stick approach for Ankara had been repeatedly requested by Nicosia and Athens. Turkey, however, does not seem to back down from its intransigent positions on the Cyprus problem given that Cavusoglu reiterated on Monday after his meeting with UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute that the only viable solution in Cyprus was the two-state solution with sovereign equality. It is yet not clear whether the EU will participate in the informal five-party summit due to Turkey’s insistence against it, Alithia reports.

According to Phileleftheros, the overall review of Turkey’s behaviour at the June summit was something Nicosia had favoured for weeks, and had pointed it out during President Anastasiades’ teleconferences with the leaders of Germany and France.

KEY ACTORS
Borrell (EU)
>>
Suggests continuing monitoring Turkey until summer since, though things improved in the East Med, situation remains fragile while the clamping down on HDP & withdrawal from Istanbul Convention are signs Turkey is straying from the European path.
>> Cyprob developments, exploratory talks with Greece, Libya & domestic situation are milestones that will determine EU’s stance on relations with Turkey since these issues led to the overall deterioration of relations with EU.
>> Turkey’s non-recognition of RoC continues to lead to the blockage of different paths of cooperation & absence of Cyprob solution will continue to make normalisation of EU-Turkey relations extremely challenging since it is a core element of strong EU-Turkey disagreements in East Med.
>> EU reacted strongly to polarising rhetoric & provocations from election process in north.
>> Expresses full support for the UNSG’s efforts for the speedy resumption of the Cyprob talks despite Turkey’s unilateral actions in Varosha & insistence on questioning the agreed solution basis.
>> The EU’s engagement & support to the Cyprus issue is a must for easing tensions in the region while talks between GCs and TCs that would lead to an agreement are essential for decreasing tensions in the East Med.
>> Positive outcomes on practical and vital issues for the TCs such as facilitation of export of haloumi/hellim and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines could lead to an environment conducive to more trust.
>> Suggests positive measures if Turkey continues to show good behaviour & progressive, restrictive measures if it returns to the policy of tensions.


Anastasiades: Tzionis will remain in negotiating team

Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

President Nicos Anastasiades defended his decision to appoint former ambassador Tassos Tzionis to the negotiating team despite his divergent views on the Cyprus problem, the dailies report.

Anastasiades, responding to journalists’ questions during his tour on Monday of the newly-redeveloped Eleftheria Square, said he had no intention of removing Tzionis from the negotiating team.

The president said he was interested in hearing different opinions and is why in the negotiating team participate, not only people from the same school of thought but also those who can, through their reflection, help the GC side face any risk. “I chose him because I know of his ideas, perceptions, and I believe that through thinking about food for thought gives a better opportunity of dealing with any problems we may encounter,” he added.

Asked on whether he agreed with Tzionis’ positions, Anastasiades said he embraced his own ideas about the five-party summit and aims to contribute to it in the same way he did at the Crans-Montana so that progress is made.

He also expressed the wish for Turkey to show true goodwill to change its orientations and positions, “so that we can find that common ground that will lead us to a sustainable, functional solution.”

On the issue of political equality, Anastasiades said the GC side has already accepted it since 1991. “I have repeated it in Crans-Montana, as set out in Security Council resolution 716 of 1991, and therefore there is no question of anyone calling on me to accept something I have already accepted,” he said.

Cyprus Mail reports that Tzionis, a former permanent secretary of the foreign ministry, in an interview with Phileleftheros last week criticised the notion of a decentralised federation, promoted by Anastasiades and ruling DISY. He had said that decentralised federation, when adequately signified, will probably mean less powers in the central government and more to the constituent states. “If with ‘political equality’ the TCs will be allowed to block decision-making in the few but very important responsibilities for the existence of the state, then the federation will be at the mercy of the Turkish side and in the end the state will be paralysed,” Tzionis said. He said that “this political equality will quickly lead to the sovereign equality demanded by the Turkish side.”

He also said there would be no problem if the calls for political equality referred to the political equality of Security Council resolution 716, which the GC side accepted in 1991. Tzionis had also dismissed as “wishful thinking” the belief by some within the GC side that if the two sides each insisted on their own divergent positions on the way forward at next month’s informal five-party summit the UNSG  would intervene to help them move towards the agreement, guided by UN resolutions and what has been agreed on in previous negotiations. He added that those who assume the task of helping resolve an international problem tend to exert pressure on the parties to make concessions to achieve an agreement. “Those who continue to believe that in real life the UN and the various mediators represent the forces of justice and ethics are mistaken,” he said, according to Cyprus Mail.

Alithia, in its main item, hosts an analysis on political equality according to which Security Council resolution 716 to which the president referred to, adopts the interpretation given in the report of UN Secretary-General Pérez de Cuéllar on 8.3.1990 S/ 21183 on political equality. Cuellar had done so in response to the different interpretations that the two communities in Cyprus had given to the reference of the UN General Assembly to two politically equal communities. The GC side had interpreted the reference as an equal numerical representation in the Upper Federal Parliament of the state without extending to the executive power. On the other hand, the TC side’s interpretation was that equal numerical representation is required in the executive, legislative and judicial powers.

The UN then gave its own interpretation which differs from the two sides’, the daily reported. It said that while political equality does not mean equal numerical participation in all federal government branches and administration, “it should be reflected inter alia in various ways: in the requirement that the federal constitution of the state of Cyprus be approved or amended with the concurrence of both communities; in the effective participation of both communities in all organs and decisions of the federal government; in safeguards to ensure that the federal government will not be empowered to adopt any measures against the interests of one community; and in the equality and identical powers and functions of the two federated states.”

Anastasiades’ position is that although the UN has come a long way in interpreting political equality, it has not sufficiently defined effective participation in all federal government bodies and decisions because the powers of the federal government have not been defined. The result of this in Crans- Montana was for Anastasiades, who accepts the political equality of the federal states, to claim that the minority TC community will manipulate all the powers of the central state. He argued that a positive vote from the TC community should be required only for vital powers and not for everything, Alithia reports.

The daily also reports that DISY leader Averof Neophytou, suggests limiting the central government’s powers only to those elements that ensure the unity of the joint state and leave to the local governments enough powers so that the two communities run their own day-to-day affairs. Neophytou suggests that only the powers ensuring the state’s single sovereignty, international personality, citizenship, economy, foreign affairs, defence, FIR and EEZ are left to the federal state, Alithia reports.

Dailies also report that AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said Anastasiades’ statements about political equality were confusing. He said he did not understand to whom he was referring on this issue, and that if the statement was aimed at the DISY leader, it was an issue they needed to sort out between them.

“What we will say is that Mr. Anastasiades’ public statements have caused confusion, Kyprianou said. “When he tells the TCs that he does not accept the convergence on a positive vote in the Council of Ministers except for the issues that interest them, and when he tells them at the same time that the issue of natural gas is not an issue that concerns them, I think he justifiably stirred everyone’s reaction because people understand that this thing is a joke.”

Phileleftheros reports that Anastasiades has put a stop to the debate on Tzionis’ participation to the negotiating team while at the same time setting the tone of his own philosophy on the team.

KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>>
Will not dismiss Tzionis because a negotiating team with members of various schools of thought provides food for thought & could help GC side prepare for all scenarios at five-party summit.
>> Has already accepted political equality as per SC resolution 716 so there is no need to be constantly called to reaffirm this.

Kyprianou (AKEL)
>>
Anastasiades’ statements about political equality are confusing because on one hand says he accepts one TC vote at cabinet only on issues that concern TCs but on the other hand he tells TCs the issue of natural gas does not concern them.


Anastasiades defends Astromeritis buffer zone fence

Alithia, Cyprus Mail. Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Internal Security, Migration & Citizenship

OVERVIEW

President Nicos Anastasiades said on Monday the installation of the razor wire in the Astromeritis area was not a border but a necessary barrier to Turkey’s strategy.

Anastasiades said the razor wire fence was not installed with the aim to define borders. It is a barrier to the expansion of a Turkish strategy that has been manifested in other cases by air, such as in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, he said. In Cyprus, this is done through the flows that try in every way on the one hand to alter the demographic character, on the other hand to cause financial problems, he added. “But the worst and most dangerous, is that of the flows that arrive daily only 5% or 6% are either mothers or children, the rest are (men) of fighting age, most of them Syrians by origin.” “Let this be well taken into account by those who think that the fence is a border. It is a ceasefire area,” he said.

The dailies report that main opposition AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said on Monday that it was necessary to monitor the buffer zone to prevent the uncontrolled passage of people to the government-controlled area but with technological means. The installation of the wire, not only it does not effectively tackle the problem but it also sends out the message that the government wants to consolidate the island’s final partition by bringing the Republic’s border further south.

Kyprianou also questioned the government’s expressed concerns over “the purity of Cypriots” that led to these restrictions. “If it was worried about the purity of the Cypriots, it would not have given express passports to 6,500 foreigners who do not even know where Cyprus is,” he said.

Alithia also reports that members of the Solidarity Movement, in a symbolic move, restored part of the razor wire removed during the weekend by group ‘Os dame’ (Enough!). The move aimed to show support to the authorities’ decision to curb the migratory flows channelled from Turkey, the Solidarity Movement said in a statement. Though they too were not happy to see the razor wire, they said, its installation was a way of perhaps restricting these flows and give police the opportunity to control the situation. They also stressed that they did not see the razor wire as a border arguing that the borders are the coasts of Kyrenia, Morphou and Famagusta.

Haravgi, referring to Anastasiades’ statements reports that he knew of the installation of the fence and had agreed to that move.

KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>>  
The razor wire fence is not a border but a barrier to Turkish strategy aimed at altering Cyprus’ demographics &  cause financial problems through the channelling of migrants mainly men of fighting age.

Kyprianou (AKEL)
>>
Government could monitor buffer zone with technological ways, not a wire fence that does not effectively tackle the problem but also sends out the message that it wants to consolidate the island’s final partition by bringing the RoC border further south.
>> If government cared about Cypriot population’s purity that much, it should not have rushed to give passports to 6,500 foreign investors.


Christodoulides discusses Cyprob with Raab

Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides had a discussion with British Foreign Secretary Donimic Raab on Monday ahead of the UN-led meeting in Geneva on the Cyprus problem.

Christodoulides said on social media they had an “open and frank discussion” on the Cyprus problem that was a European question that calls for European answers. They also discussed bilateral issues.

Phileleftheros reports that the main topic of discussion between the two FMs was the forthcoming informal conference on Cyprus that will take place in April in Geneva and the participation of the EU.

Citing information, the daily reported that during his conversation with Raab, Christodoulides stressed that the EU must be present in Geneva since Cyprus is an EU member state and will continue to be after the solution of the Cyprus issue. He also stressed that there should be absolutely no ambiguity about the form of solution of the Cyprus problem especially by permanent members of the Security Council while the chapter from which the solution of the Cyprus problem will be judged is that of security and guarantees.


Surveys show voting preference ahead of parliamentary elections

Alithia
Governance & Power Sharing, Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

The daily cites the results of the two surveys by Sigma and Alpha television stations.

According to that of Alpha, aired on Monday, to the question “if we had parliamentary elections next Sunday, which party would you vote for?” DISY got 17%, AKEL 14%,  DIK0 9 %, Greens 6%, EDEK  4%, Independent Movement 3%, ELAM 3 %, DIPA 2 %, Solidarity Movement 1%,  Other 7%. Another 18% said they had not decided yet and 7% did not answer.

The survey also asked people about their opinion of President Nicos Anastasiades: 18% said it was positive, 24% said rather positive, 22 % said rather negative, 33 % said it was negative.

In the same survey, 70% stated that the chances of a solution to the Cyprus problem are worse compared to last year, 16% said they are same, 8 % said they feel they are better, and 6% said they had no opinion on the matter.

The survey was conducted between March 08-18 with computer aided telephone interviews. 1,000 people with the right to vote were interviewed.

Sigma aired a similar survey on Thursday.

To the question “if the parliamentary elections were held today, which party would you vote for”, 16% said DISY, AKEL: 14.3%, DIKO: 8%, Greens: 4.1 %, EDEK: 3.2%, Independent Movement: 2.6 %, ELAM: 3.9%, DIPA: 2%, Solidarity Movement: 1.3%, Other: 3.9 %. Another 1.9% said they would either cast a void or blank vote while 16% said they would not vote, 15.1 % said they had not decided yet and 7.7% did not answer.

The survey by Sigma was conducted between March 8-12 by Prime Consulting in a nationwide coverage by random sampling using a structured questionnaire and telephone interviews. in total 1,076 eligible voters were screened.


Copy of Cypriot fighters’ 1821 flag to be given in all schools

Alithia, Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations

OVERVIEW

The dailies report that Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou visited on Monday the Greek embassy in Nicosia where he was presented with a copy of the flag Cypriots fighting in the 1821 Greek revolution were using.

The flag was presented by Greece’s Ambassador Theocharis Lalakis.

Prodromou, referring to the “unbreakable unity of Hellenism” said that the joint fate of the Hellenism of Cyprus with the rest of Hellenism going back centuries was verified when the great national revolution began, the uprising of the nation in 1821.

He said copies of the flag would be sent to all schools in Cyprus.

Lalakis congratulated the minister and the Cypriot government for their initiative to use the flag as an inspiration for pupils all over Cyprus.


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