Front Page Headlines
Procrastination from Tatar for the opening of checkpoints
They’re discovering a problem… to every solution for the restoration of crossings.
- Indices falling: One breath before the return to normality
- Labour Ministry: Plan and projects worth €366.5 million
A mess with child vaccines
Paediatricians exasperated from the surprise ultimatum from the Health Insurance Organisation for same-day supplies. “Consequences to children that aren’t being vaccinated or are remaining partially vaccinated or deficiently vaccinated”
- The Cyprus problem entered the pre-election quarrel too
- The EU gave us €160 million for refugees: 70% of refugees coming through the Buffer Zone
- Polls see a head to head battle: Even the unity of the big players is fluid
- American twins with a Cypriot mother: Two 15-year-olds in the battle against human trafficking in Cyprus
First place in the election showdown of May 30 still unclear
Gap between AKEL and DISY ‘closing’ two weeks before the elections.
- Cyprus problem: AKEL reminds the President of the moves he made that drove the Cyprus problem to a dangerous situation
- Checkpoints: Decisions on crossings through checkpoints within the coming days
- The refugee population abandoned by the government. Four policy pillars from AKEL
- The epidemiological picture of Cyprus generally very good. Exiting ‘deep red’
Nouris to EU: We’re full up
Interior minister describes migrant issue as a ‘state of emergency’ as 200 arrive in two days
- Cyprus no longer ‘deep red’ as number of positives drop
It touched AKEL where it hurts
No response for 17 years from the otherwise highly-vocal AKEL. Anastasiades to AKEL: “I’m not the one who said ‘no’ to cement the ‘yes’.” Stephanou is taking great care to avoid commenting on AKEL’s position.
- No decision: Mobilisations in the occupied territories in favour of reopening checkpoints
- Nouris to Commission: Steps for state of exception due to migration issue
- DISY steadily in the lead: What the new polls by OMEGA and CyBC show
Main News
Reopening of crossings sees new delay
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
CBMs
OVERVIEW
The bicommunal Technical Committee on Health failed to agree on a mechanism to reopen crossings points during a video conference on Friday, with demonstrations being organised in the north next week in response, the dailies report.
Politis reports that during Friday’s teleconference, the TC side tabled a proposal on how it believes crossings should resume, but the paper writes that even TC sources said the proposal was too complicated and difficult to implement. Citing sources, Politis reports that the TC side’s proposal involved many different categorisations based on epidemiological data, which would mean that rules governing crossings would be constantly changing according to epidemiological developments. The paper writes that the proposal also called for different rules depending on the reason for crossing, meaning different conditions would be set for someone crossing for work purposes as compared to someone crossing for a visit.
Politis reports that the GC side’s proposal submitted about a month ago also involved categorisations based on epidemiological data but did not call for implementing different rules based on the reason for crossing. The paper writes that both sides appear willing to reach an agreement, but when this will happen remains to be seen.
The dailies report that the Committee is to hold another meeting after the TC side clarifies a set of questions posed by GC members on the TC side’s proposal. GC co-chair of the committee Leonidas Phylactou told the Cyprus News Agency that they submitted several questions to the TC side about its proposal because it was quite complicated. He said the TC members promised that they would return soon with clarifications.
Phileleftheros reports that the issue will also be discussed during the meeting scheduled for Monday between the two sides’ negotiators and the UN Secretary General’s (UNSG) Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute.
The expected delay in the reopening of the crossings prompted the chamber of tradesmen and craftsmen (KTEZO) in the north to announce protests for next Monday and Wednesday. The professional group demands their immediate reopening, the dailies report. They said it has been almost 15 months since the crossings closed and everyone knows the time has come for them to reopen immediately. They also criticised those who politicise the issue and use it for their own populist agenda.
The dailies report that reactions in the north were also fuelled by what TC daily Kibris Postasi called a “discrepancy” between the ‘presidency’ and the ‘government’ in the north. Specifically, the TC leader’s special representative, Ergun Olgun, announced on Thursday that the preparatory work carried out for the reopening of crossings was close to completion, and expected that the matter would be finalised during Friday’s meeting of the Committee. Later on Thursday, however, TC ‘prime minister’ Ersan Saner announced that the crossing points would remain closed for the time being as the case numbers in the south were still relatively high.
Cyprus Mail reports that Saner said speaking during a programme on BRT TV that from June 10 entry to the north would be allowed without the need to quarantine for people who were fully vaccinated and who were arriving from countries not in the red category. He also said checkpoints would open once the risk categorisation of the south turned to amber from red. He added that daily crossings with a negative PCR test obtained in the last 72 hours would be permitted.
Anastasiades, AKEL quarrel over Cyprus problem
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report on a spat unfolding between President Nicos Anastasiades and AKEL, with the Cyprus problem and what each did or did not do to secure a solution in the past at the centre of the issue.
Alithia reports that in response to statements by AKEL which criticised the Anastasiades government for bringing the island to the brink of partition after eight years in power, Anastasiades responded by point to the negative stance taken by AKEL on the Annan Plan in 2004.
Anastasiades said that he is attempting to avoid any confrontation, but the daily criticism against the government, and particularly on the Cyprus problem, due to the upcoming parliamentary elections must avoid bolstering the arguments of “our political enemies”. Anastasiades said that it is not he who said in response to the Annan Plan that he will vote ‘no’ to cement the ‘yes’, referring to the statement made in 2004 by the then-AKEL leader Demetris Christofias during his announcement that AKEL would not be backing the peace plan. Anastasiades added that it is not he who ruled for five years and negotiated with the then-TC leader Mehmet Ali Talat with the aim of resolving the Cyprus problem through proposals aiming to curb Turkey’s intransigence, as he said AKEL is proposing today.
The dailies report that Anastasiades said that he cannot follow the direction proposed by AKEL. He said that in view of ongoing efforts by the EU and the international community to get Turkey to comply with UN resolutions, and at a time when Turkey is pursuing a two-state solution, he cannot follow through with suggestions that call on him to take initiatives to motivate Turkey to move in the desired direction. “If these are the analyses political parties are making on the intransigence or expansionism being presented by Turkey, then I’m very sorry, but I cannot follow them,” Anastasiades said.
He also said that he cannot accept AKEL’s proposals as long as Turkey is pursuing two states, and as long as Turkey is not limiting itself to illegal activities on sea but is also occupying Famagusta. Anastasiades said that if he says he accepts a positive vote, the joint exploitation of natural gas, and that the natural gas pipeline of the broader region passes through Turkey, then nothing will be left for him to negotiate on.
In response, AKEL spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said that for five years, Anastasiades had before him Mustafa Akinci, a TC leader who wanted a solution. Stefanou also said Anastasiades let the period of time after the collapse of Crans-Montana pass by without taking any substantial initiatives. During this time, Stefanou said, Anastasiades also abandoned any rhetoric calling for a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF). The party also said that Anastasiades had inherited from his predecessor Christofias an important heritage of convergences which he did not utilise, and which he remembers only when he’s in a tight spot. Stefanou also said that AKEL does not consider that it’s a coincidence that a two-state solution, which it views as unacceptable, is being openly discussed for the first time during Anastasiades’ rule.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Cannot follow the direction proposed by AKEL at a time when Turkey is pushing for a two-state solution and continues its illegal activities on land and sea, and while the EU & the international community is trying to get Turkey to comply with UN resolutions
>> If he says he accepts a positive vote, the joint exploitation of natural gas, and that the natural gas pipeline of the broader region passes through Turkey, then nothing will be left for him to negotiate on
>> It is AKEL that voted no to the Annan Plan in 2004
Stefanou (AKEL)
>> For five years, Anastasiades had before him Mustafa Akinci, a TC leader who wanted a solution
>> Anastasiades let the period of time after the collapse of Crans-Montana pass by without taking any substantial initiatives, and stopped calling for a BBF
>> Christofias left Anastasiades with important convergences that he did not utilise, and that he remembers only when he’s in a tight spot
>> It is not a coincidence that a two-state solution, which AKEL finds unacceptable, is being openly discussed for the first time during Anastasiades’ rule