Front Page Headlines
40% of citizens are not lifting up their sleeves
Conspiracy theories, AstraZeneca and the possibility of a third dose are slowing down vaccinations.
- EU Parliament: Asking for a suspension of accession negotiations with Turkey
- MOKAS to investigative committee: We didn’t have an institutional role in naturalisations
They’re requesting a suspension of accession negotiations
Hard agenda from the European Parliament on Turkey and clear message to EU leaders. Provocations against Cyprus are recorded.
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- El Diablo in the finals, demonstrators outside CyBC
AKEL is submitting proposals… DISY isn’t looking at them!
President Anastasiades: “I hear AKEL submitting proposals…”
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- European Parliament: Constant and increasing distance between Turkey and EU values
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Indian variant reaches Cyprus
The variant was found in four cases of arrivals from ‘grey countries’
- Cyprus’ Eurovision song entry ‘El Diablo’ has been endorsed by Lucifer himself
The checkpoints are opening
Bicommunal Committee: Final touches to be made tomorrow. Leonidas Phylactou: We’re discussing so that uniformity can be achieved in the measures to be taken at crossing points, with the aim of this being implemented immediately. Proposal being submitted to Anastasiades-Tatar so they can decide.
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- Tough pressure from Joe Biden to Benjamin Netanyahu: I’m expecting a ceasefire toward Gaza today
- New headache with coronavirus: The Indian and South African variants came to Cyprus
- Tourism: EU opens its borders to fully vaccinated travellers
- Eurovision 2021: Full steam ahead for the big finale!
Main News
EU Parliament calls for suspension of Turkey’s EU accession
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The European Parliament (EP) on Wednesday adopted a report urging the EU Commission to formally suspend accession negotiations with Turkey if Ankara does not undergo democratic reform, the dailies report.
Phileleftheros reports that the move serves to send a strong message ahead of the upcoming European Council summit in June, when EU leaders are scheduled to discuss a positive agenda with Turkey. The report was adopted by 480 votes in favour, 64 against and 150 abstentions.
The report called upon the Commission to recommend the formal suspension of accession negotiations with Turkey, so that both sides can realistically review through a high-level dialogue the appropriateness of the current framework and its ability to function, or, if necessary, to explore possible new models for future relations. The EP notes that unilateral actions in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as strong and at times provocative statements against the EU and its member states have brought EU-Turkey relations to an “historical low point”.
The EP said it is deeply concerned that, over the years, the lack of progress in Turkey’s convergence has transformed into a full withdrawal, marked by a stark regression in three main areas: backsliding in relation to the rule of law and fundamental rights, adopting regressive institutional reforms and pursuing a confrontational and hostile foreign policy, including towards the EU and its member states, especially Greece and Cyprus.
On Cyprus, the report notes that the EP “is deeply concerned by Turkey’s unprecedented illegal behaviour in the Eastern Mediterranean conducted by an EU candidate country against EU Member States, and by the related security and stability risks.” It “strongly condemns Turkey’s illegal activities in Greek and Cypriot waters, as well as its violations of the Greek national airspace, including overflights of inhabited areas, and its territorial sea, which violate both the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of an EU Member State and international law.”
The EP “expresses its full solidarity with Greece and the Republic of Cyprus; reaffirms the right of the Republic of Cyprus to enter into bilateral agreements on its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and explore and exploit its natural resources in full compliance with relevant international law.”
The EP also strongly condemned the “illegal partial reopening of Varosha”, which it said undermines mutual trust, and by extension the prospects of resuming peace negotiations, exacerbating the division of the island. The report also called on Turkey to reverse its moves in Varosha and all other unilateral actions that may cause further tensions to the island.
The report further called on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus, to transfer the Varosha area to its lawful inhabitants under the temporary administration of the UN in accordance with UNSC Resolution 550 (1984) and to refrain from actions altering the demographic balance on the island through a policy of illegal settlements.
On Turkey’s proposed two-state solution, the report said the EP regrets that the highest Turkish authorities have endorsed the two-state solution for political and nationalistic purposes and urges Turkey to commit concretely to the UN Secretary-General’s (UNSG) call for renewed negotiations. The EP urged the parties involved to relaunch negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus under the auspices of the UNSG as soon as possible, from where they were left off and building on the agreements already reached as part of the 2017 Crans-Montana process.
The EP also called on the EU and its member states to play a more active role in bringing negotiations to a successful conclusion, and reiterated its support for a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation (BBF) with a single international legal personality, single sovereignty and single citizenship and with political equality between the two communities, as defined in the relevant UNSC resolutions, in accordance with international law and the EU acquis and on the basis of respect for the principles on which the Union is founded.
Technical Health Committee seeking uniform measures at crossings
Alithia, Phileleftheros
CBMs
OVERVIEW
Members of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Health are working towards normalising the situation at crossings through the immediate implementation of uniform measures from both sides, the dailies report.
GC co-chair of the Committee Leonidas Phylactou said that the Committee has scheduled to hold a teleconference on Friday to discuss the issue of crossings. Alithia reports that Phylactou said the Committee will discuss the imposition of common measures by both sides at crossings, which will be implemented immediately, allowing crossings to resume as normal.
Phylactou added that epidemiological criteria will also be agreed upon which will determine at any given moment what measures will apply at crossing points. Phylactou said that after discussing the suggestions of both sides, a common proposal will be drafted that will be relayed to two leaders for final approval.
Alithia reports citing information that the situation at crossings could be normalised by next week.
Christodoulides briefs British MPs on Cyprob
Alithia, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides briefed on Tuesday the British MPs that make up the All-Party Parliamentary Group For Cyprus (APPG) on developments in the Cyprus problem, the dailies report.
Phileleftheros reports that Christodoulides focused the recent informal five-party meeting held in Geneva, where he said the TC leader Ersin Tatar arrived with the aim of promoting the permanent division of Cyprus. Christodoulides expressed the GC side’s disappointment that common ground could not be found in order to see negotiations resume.
Christodoulides highlighted that “there is no alternative to reunification”, noting that the vast majority of the Cypriot people want a bi-zonal bi-communal federal (BBF) solution. He added that the international community has remained firm in its position that a Cyprus solution must be based on the reunification of the island under a BBF solution as per UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
KEY ACTORS
Christodoulides
>> Tatar went to 5+1 with the aim of promoting the permanent division of Cyprus
>> GC side disappointed over 5+1 outcome
>> There is no alternative to reunification on BBF basis
>> International community has remained firm in its support for a BBF solution in Cyprus
Cyprus, Greece, Egypt discuss boosting military ties
Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros
Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
The Defence Ministers of Cyprus, Greece and Egypt met in Nicosia on Wednesday to discuss ways of further strengthening military ties, the dailies report.
In their joint statement following the fourth trilateral Defence Ministers’ meeting, the three Ministers Charalambos Petrides, Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, and General Mohamed Zaki, condemned actions that violate sovereign rights and reviewed the latest developments and the progress achieved in the field of defence and security. They stressed their joint determination to further enhance their defence and military cooperation in order to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
The three countries are currently conducting frequent joint military exercises including Air Force, Naval and Special Forces drills. They also discussed the possible participation of other countries in exercises taking place within the framework of the trilateral partnership.
Petrides said he had the opportunity to brief his counterparts on Turkey’s illegal actions in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, in the fenced off area of Varosha, as well as Ankara’s demands for a solution to the Cyprus problem that falls outside UN resolutions, Cyprus Mail reports.
The Ministers agreed to hold the next trilateral Defence Ministers’ meeting in Egypt in 2022.