GCC Press Review 28 Mar 2021

Front Page Headlines

Sunday Mail

Tourism hopes fading rapidly

Bookings slow down after new warnings from UK of extending the travel ban

  • Ambitious post-solution plan
  • Opinion: Two-state solution just won’t fly
  • It’s politics: Turkey has no real need for East Med gas

Simerini

Proposal for sovereign equality and then security

Turkish threat and overturn of Crans-Montana.

  • Islamic intervention in Turkish school books
  • Emily Yioliti: “The goal is the prevention and repression of corruption”
  • Halloumi: Registration with trade and political ‘games’
  • Investment scheme: ‘Golden visa’ instead of ‘golden passport’
  • Savvas Iakovides (opinion): ‘Political equality’, ‘sovereign equality’ and three threats for a potential funeral
  • Vasilios L. Constantinopoulos: The five-party, exploratory talks and Turkey’s manoeuvres
  • Petros Th. Pantelides: Will the five-party be the end of the Republic of Cyprus?

Politis

Doctors and nurses refusing the vaccine

Health bombs at our hospitals

  • Fikri Toros to ‘P’: “A federation is built on equal terms”
  • European Council: Balance of pressure for Turkey
  • Turkey: On a path of a serious crisis and recession

Phileleftheros

‘Life vest’ with a… loose solution

London: Unveiling of a loose federation to get Turkey to let go of two states. When Cavusoglu ‘tells on’ the British.

  • They booked an appointment for June for EU-Turkey relations: In the fridge due to Nicosia

Kathimerini

Crucial trimester for Cyprus problem-pandemic

Intense backstage activity unfolded at the summit of the 27 over the stance they will keep with Turkey.

  • A non-solution undermines the Republic of Cyprus: Interview with George Vassiliou
  • Greco-Turkish relations: Geopolitical games with Greece at the epicentre
  • Halloumi: Officially national from October 1

Haravgi

Fears of salami tactics instead of a comprehensive settlement at Five-party

The political pursuit for sanctions against Turkey by Anastasiades and Christodoulides superficial.

  • European Council: Anastasiades and Tatar insist on their own positions for the statement
  • Pyla: Anguish among GCs and TCs over problems due to pandemic
  • Halloumi: Anastasiades and cheesemakers disagree over PDO registration
  • 1 million euros for advisors to the President and ministers

Alithia

My friend Joe

President Anastasiades talks to Alithia and comments on the statement of the American president who said he hasn’t given up on efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.

  • Larnaca on the map of big developments

Main News

Anastasiades, Tatar issue contrasting responses to EUCO conclusions


Alithia, Haravgi, Kathimerini, Politis, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process, EU Matters

OVERVIEW

Contrasting reactions were issued by President Nicos Anastasides and the TC leader Ersin Tatar in response to the EUCO conclusions text, Haravgi reports.

The paper writes that Anastasiades highlighted his responsibility to safeguard the interests of the Republic of Cyprus, which he said not only represents GCs but also TCs. He also said a potential promotion of a positive agenda in June depends on Turkey’s compliance with conditions set, which he said includes developments at the five-party meeting.

Politis reports that though the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a positive response to the EU’s positive approach, it put its foot down once again on the linking of certain issues such as the Cyprus problem and developments in the Cyprus EEZ with a positive agenda, referring to the EU’s approach to the Eastern Mediterranean as “against international law.”

Haravgi reports that Tatar reiterated that the conclusions indicate once again that the EU cannot be neutral in Cyprob processes nor in matters involving Cyprus and the region. Tatar said TCs have equal rights in the hydrocarbons issue, noting that the proposal submitted by the TC side in 2011, 2012 and July 2019 could not be followed through due to the hegemonic stance upheld by the GC side. Tatar added that the GC side is engaging in a policy of usurpation as regards the extraction and trade of natural resources, stressing that this is unacceptable for TCs and Turkey. He said the TC side’s proposal for cooperation remains on the table, as does the Turkish President’s proposal for a regional conference on Eastern Mediterranean energy disputes. Haravgi reports Tatar said that at the Geneva meeting, the TC side will defend its new vision based on a win-win outlook, involving two states with sovereign equality and equal international status that will cooperate.

Turkey remained consistent in its two-state solution rhetoric during the visit paid by the UNSG’s special envoy Jane Holl Lute on Monday, Philelftheros reports, adding that Turkey told Lute that a two-state solution would be a win-win scenario for all parties. Phileleftheros also reports that Turkey’s recent push for the EU to take on an observer role akin to that held in Burgenstock in 2004 is an effort to keep Cyprob off the EU agenda, since that round of negotiations was held before Cyprus officially joined the EU.

Politis highlights the significance of the fact that even in the report prepared by the EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell, that was welcomed by both Greece and Cyprus, the resolution of the Cyprus problem is not set as a condition for a positive agenda, with Borrell rather using terminology that suggests that a non-solution would not assist in normalising EU-Turkey relations and that negotiations that would lead to a solution are critical for a de-escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. The paper also writes that the EUCO conclusions text, despite calling for a comprehensive solution on the basis of the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1251, does not explicitly refer to the agreed-upon solution framework nor than talks should pick up from where they left off at Crans-Montana.

Politis reports that the TC side and Ankara are not missing an opportunity to keep the upcoming five-party meeting at the forefront of current affairs, and refers to a statement issued by the TC chief negotiator Ergun Olgun who said that a potential failure to find common ground in Geneva will result in all parties coming together for another meeting one month later at the end of May. Phileleftheros reports that in the event that common ground is not found in Geneva, the UNSG will likely offer time until June for efforts to continue, and if these fail then he will likely go to the UNSG to request that his mandate is changed, a scenario that Turkey is pursuing and that puts particular pressure on Nicosia.

Politis reports that Turkey and Tatar continue to insist through public statements on a two-state solution and sovereign equality, but notes that TC parties supporting a federal solution are also mounting pressure. Politis reports that the leader of the Communal Democracy Party (TDP) recently told Tatar in a meeting that if the TC side goes to Geneva unwilling to discuss a federation, then Anastasiades will declare that the TC side does not want a solution, and posed the question of what Tatar is planning to do if Anastasiades honestly tells the UN Secretary General (UNSG) that he wants a bi-zonal bicommunal federation (BBF) with political equality.

In an interview with Politis, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) ‘MP’ Fikri Toros said TCs continue to believe that there is a window of opportunity to resolve the Cyprus problem. Toros said that despite Anastasiades’ continuous reference to a BBF, it is widely accepted that he is unwilling to accept the most fundamental element of a viable federation, which is the political equality exercised through the effective participation of both communities in all instruments and decisions taken by the federal government. Toros said during his party’s recent contacts with the leaders of DISY and AKEL there was unanimous agreement in favour of a federal solution and UNSC resolutions.

In an interview with Kathimerini, former President George Vassiliou said that in view of certain doubts as regards what Anastasiades is actually pursuing in the Cyprus problem, it is not enough for Anastasiades to say he accepts a BBF, but must go a step further and support the Guterres Framework and insist that negotiations cannot go on forever. Vassiliou also pointed to the risk of having members in the President’s negotiating and advisory team that don’t support a BBF, noting that this weakens Anastasiades’ position. Vassiliou also said that it is impossible for political equality to lead to sovereign equality.

Vassiliou also told Kathimerini that during negotiations between Anastasiades and Akinci, during which he was part of negotiations on the territorial issue, a proposal clarifying the rights of past owners and current users was tabled, which was accepted by Akinci but rejected by Anastasides. The proposal, Vassiliou said, involved granting owners priority to their property in land that would be returned, while granting current users priority to property in territories that would remain under TC administration, with owners then able to negotiate how to handle things with the user.

Politis also reports on statements issued by Tatar involving Morphou, which Tatar said won’t be on the table of negotiations since Morphou is land of the ‘TRNC’ and even one of its most important areas. Regarding Varosha, Politis reports that Tatar said that the area was reopened in compliance with international law and could be developed along the same lines, noting that it could be moulded into an international tourist destination.

Phileleftheros reports that Britain has told Nicosia that given that Turkey will insist on a two-state solution, Nicosia must arrive in Geneva ready to present its proposal for a decentralised federation in detail. The paper reports that the Deputy Political Director of the UK Foreign Office Ajay Sharma was in Cyprus for contacts last week, and appeared to take a more careful stance compared to his previous trips during which he attempted to present proposals that could bridge the positions of the two sides, with his most recent contacts serving to call for flexibility in view of securing common ground in Geneva. The paper reports that Britain believes that a detailed presentation of Nicosia’s proposal for a decentralised federation, including the exact competences to remain with the central government and the method of decision-making (political equality through a positive vote), will likely get Turkey to back down from its claim for two states. Phileleftheros reports that granting the TC side a positive vote on all matters to remain with the central government is not compatible with the GC side’s approach.

Phileleftheros reports that the Foreign Office has created a seven-member team led by Sharma that is tasked with dealing with the Cyprus problem ahead of the informal five-party summit. The paper adds that the UK’s insistence on assuming a stronger role in Cyprob processes will also see the UK Minister for the European Neighbourhood Wendy Morton pay a visit to Cyprus for contacts on April 7.

Phileleftheros reports that both the UN and the UK don’t think talks will pick up from where they left off at Crans-Montana and have conveyed this to Nicosia, which appears to be insisting on using the Guterres Framework as a basis for negotiations.

In an interview with Alithia, Anastasiades expressed satisfaction with the comment made by US President Joe Biden, that he has not given up on the Cyprus problem. Anastasiades told the paper that the comment confirms the US’ declared willingness to actively intervene in view of influencing involved parties to work towards a permanent, functional and viable solution. Anastasides that the US’ return to the region creates new prospects and conditions, noting that an improvement in US-Turkey relations would push Ankara toward approaching its responsibilities under international law in a more positive way. Anastasiades also expressed the hope that he would in the future be holding a meeting with Biden, with whom he shares a strong personal relationship.

KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>>
Responsibility to safeguard the interests of the Republic of Cyprus, which also includes TCs
>> Potential promotion of a positive agenda in June depends on Turkey’s compliance with conditions set, which include developments at Geneva

Turkey
>> EU’s positive approach constructive, but its approach to the Eastern Mediterranean is against international law

Tatar (north)
>> Conclusions indicate once again that the EU cannot be neutral in Cyprob processes nor in matters involving Cyprus and the region
>> TCs have equal rights in the hydrocarbons issue, proposal submitted by the TC side in 2011, 2012 and July 2019 could not be followed through due to the hegemonic stance upheld by the GC side
>> GC side is engaging in a policy of usurpation as regards the extraction and trade of natural resources, which is unacceptable for TCs and Turkey
>> TC side’s proposal for cooperation remains on the table, as does Erdogan’s proposal for a regional conference
>> At Geneva, TC side will defend its new vision based on a win-win outlook, involving  two states with sovereign equality and equal international status that will cooperate
>> Morphou won’t be on the table of negotiations since it is land of the ‘TRNC’
>> Varosha was reopened in compliance with international law and could be developed along the same lines to become an international tourist destination

Olgun (north)
>> A potential failure to find common ground in Geneva will result in all parties coming together for another meeting one month later at the end of May

Toros (CTP)
>> TCs continue to believe that there is a window of opportunity to resolve the Cyprus problem
>> Despite Anastasiades’ continuous reference to a BBF, it is widely accepted that he is unwilling to accept political equality, the most fundamental element of a viable federation
>> Agreement with DISY and AKEL on Cyprob positions

Vassiliou (RoC)
>> If Anastasiades is to quell doubts as regards what he is seeking in Cyprob he must support the Guterres Framework and insist that negotiations cannot go on forever
>> It is impossible for political equality to lead to sovereign equality
>> During negotiations with Akinci, Anastasiades rejected proposal for resolution of territorial dispute

Anastasiades
>> Biden comment confirms the US’ declared willingness to actively intervene in view of influencing involved parties to work towards a permanent, functional and viable solution
>> US’ return to the region creates new prospects and conditions – an improvement in US-Turkey relations would push Ankara toward approaching its responsibilities under international law in a more positive way


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