Front Page Headlines
Reshuffle of broad DISY acceptance
The goal to have personalities from the entire breadth of the political spectrum failed.
- Lute meetings: She did not find a contact point
- House Committees: They found presidents, they’re looking for vice-presidents
- Report on passports: Everyone played their part to build corruption
- New pleas: Get vaccinated. A fourth wave is coming
- Hotels: After Whit Monday, drought
Change of party acceptance
Anastasiades’ choices for the reshuffle are a strong Pindarou stamp. The President dismantled the entire communications team.
- Lute came with ideas to break the impasse: She’s looking for common ground for a new five-party
- They’re looking for up to 150 missing persons in Kyrenia
- They ignored the foreign bodies we paid high sums for audits: Final report on passports
They were talking about ‘broadening’… they made a turn to the right
New ‘brilliant people’ have been appointed and all for the ‘image’ of the government.
- Cyprus problem: Lute didn’t even find a trace of common ground. The UN is ‘trying ideas’
- EU Matters: EU-Turkey relations are being referred to the next European Council
- Findings burn the government… Obstacles for police investigations! (passports)
- Parliament: The presidents of the 16 parliamentary committees have been elected
- Return to extremely low capacities at hotels
New faces in the cabinet unveiled
Stephie Drakou named as justice minister, Michalis Hadjipantelas takes over health.
- UN special envoy Jane Holl Lute was on the island on Tuesday and held meetings with the two leaders to assess if there were grounds to continue Cyprus talks
- Final passport conclusions released, criminal investigations are set to follow
- Euro parliament concern over artist investigation
The new face of AKEL
What hides behind the forcing of Adamos Adamou to turn down the post of Health minister. If Mr. Adamou was made the minister of the neuralgic Health ministry, which has man at its centre, as well as the hot issue of GESY, then AKEL would not be able to criticise President Anastasiades. The party was put above the country. Christofias’ command is being implemented: “Our party and our eyes”.
- Guterres proposal: Revelation by Tatar regarding five-party
- Occupied areas commission: 344 applications filed for Varosha
- Auditor general also gets slapped: Investigative Committee handing out accountabilities for the issue of naturalisations
- House Committees: Presidents found, members pending…
- Coronavirus: Vaccination coverage of Okypy nurses reached 60%
- Hopes with Russia: Tourism in the… freezer
Main News
Leaders stick to their positions in meeting with Lute
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
The dailies report that the two sides stuck to their opposing positions on the way forward for the Cyprus problem during their meeting with UN Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute on Tuesday, which is seen by the papers as having yielded no progress in efforts to find common ground.
President Nicos Anastasiades reiterated his proposals for substantive confidence-building measures (CBMs) he submitted during the informal meeting in Geneva in April while TC leader Ersin Tatar insisted on the recognition of the north as a sovereign state.
The dailiesreport that Government Spokesman Kyriacos Koushos said Tuesday that Anastasiades, during his meeting in the morning with Lute at the Presidential Palace, reaffirmed his readiness to participate in a new informal summit on the Cyprus problem and substantive talks. He said the aim is a just, functional, and viable solution of the problem, based on the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the UN Secretary General’s (UNSG) relevant mandate. Koushos said Anastasiades also expressed readiness for a joint meeting with Tatar if the UNSG deems it useful.
Politis reports that Anastasiades also called on the UN to be particularly careful so as to not allow any moves by Ankara in Varosha or at the Lefkoniko air base that may create new faits accomplis.
Haravgi and Phileleftheros report that in her meeting with Anastasiades, Lute attempted to table ideas that could reconcile the two sides’ positions, but Haravgi writes that the GC side insisted that a solution must be based on UN resolutions and that the UN must make this clear to both Turkey and the TC side.
On the other hand, Tatar, who met Lute early afternoon, said he told Lute that the TC side is sticking to the position it submitted in Geneva, which involves a call for the UNSC to recognise the north as a sovereign state before negotiations can begin with the Republic of Cyprus on their future relationship. Tatar stated that he was ready to participate in any informal meeting but to go to substantive talks it was important that the six-point proposal he had submitted was accepted, especially the first point that concerns sovereign equality and equal international status.
Cyprus Mail reports that according to reports in the north, he also said that Lute wished for direct negotiations without a second informal meeting, but that there is no such common ground now. Tatar also posed the question on how long a solution brought about through coercion would last. “We believe that if there is a solution, it can be successful if it is based on equality between two states. And our sovereignty is extremely important,” Tatar said.
The dailies alsoreport that Tatar also said that in Geneva, he rejected a proposal for the appointment of a special representative who would hold contacts in the framework of a packet of four points from those submitted by the UNSG in Crans-Montana.
Tatar also said that if the UNSG was meeting Anastasiades, he should also meet with him as well, arguing that the UN should observe the principle of equality. He said he submitted a meeting request through Lute. Anastasiades is scheduled to meet Guterres in Brussels on Friday on the margins of the European Council (EUCO). Koushos said Anastasiades will discuss with Guterres the whole spectrum of the Cyprus issue and will put forth again the positions of the GC side.
Cyprus Mail reports that Lute’s contacts in Cyprus are not expected to yield any results with Nicosia arguing that a second informal summit is unlikely unless Turkey shifts its stance on the Cyprus problem. Politis points to the EUCO set to be held on June 24-25, which it writes is expected to affect future moves by Turkey. Haravgi reports that for the time being, the EU is applying its share on pressure on Turkey by postponing the discussion on EU-Turkey relations for the next EUCO.
Phileleftheros reports that for Nicosia, the positive thread in the generally negative climate is the UNSG’s determination to hold a new informal summit, but the paper writes that Nicosia will have a clearer picture following Anastasiades’ meeting with Guterres.
AKEL expressed the hope that Lute’s visit and contacts with both leaders will lead to positive steps in the Cyprus problem, Phileleftheros and Haravgi report. The party said that in the face of the difficulties and Turkey’s provocative stance, the GC side must take initiatives with the aim of channelling pressure to the north so that it abandons its claim for a two-state solution and returns to the agreed-upon framework. AKEL said its proposal on how it believes Anastasiades must act has been in the President’s hands since last December.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> In meeting with Lute, reaffirmed readiness to participate in a new informal summit on the Cyprus problem and substantive talks
>> Aim is a just, functional, and viable solution based on UNSC resolutions and the UNSG’s relevant mandate
>> Ready to meet with Tatar if UNSG deems it useful
>> UN should be particularly careful so as to not allow any moves by Ankara in Varosha or at the Lefkoniko air base that may create new faits accomplis
Tatar
>> Told Lute that he is sticking to Geneva positions – UNSC must recognise the north as a sovereign state before negotiations can begin
>> Ready to participate in any informal meeting but for substantive talks his six-point proposal must be accepted, especially the first point that concerns sovereign equality and equal international status
>> Should also meet with Guterres if Anastasiades is getting a meeting
AKEL
>> Hopes that Lute’s visit and contacts with both leaders will lead to positive steps in the Cyprus problem
>> In the face of the difficulties and Turkey’s provocative stance, the GC side must take initiatives with the aim of channelling pressure to the north so that it abandons its claim for a two-state solution and returns to the agreed-upon framework
>> Its proposal on how it believes Anastasiades must act has been in the President’s hands since last December
344 IPC Varosha applications submitted so far
Alithia, Haravgi
Property
OVERVIEW
TC authorities say 344 applications have so far been filed with the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in the north over properties in Varosha, noting that they expect 3,000 GCs to file applications, the dailies report.
TC leader Ersin Tatar’s office said that the north has paved the way for all rightful owners, including Evkaf that manages religious property endowments, to seek remedies for their properties through the IPC.
The statement also said that this would lead to the inclusion of Varosha, which, it added, “is the territory of the TRNC” back to life in accordance with international law. It added that the TC side’s goal was to reopen the Varosha “that is undisputedly under the sovereignty and the administration of the TRNC” in the best interest of the entire island.
Haravgi reports that 150,000 people visited the part of Varosha that opened to visitors last October.
Around 150 missing persons believed to be buried in Kyrenia
Phileleftheros
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Under the heading ‘They’re looking for up to 150 dead people’, Phileleftheros reports citing sources that some 100-150 soldiers are believed to have been killed at an area near Kyrenia during the initial arrival of Turkish troops in 1974.
A source, identified as a former public servant, told Phileleftheros that so far, the only dead located are those who were buried by Turkey during the making of the monument at the point of arrival of Turkish troops during the invasion.
Phileleftheros reports that regarding the mass grave at ‘Pikro Nero’ (Bitter Water) between the areas of Karava and Agios Georgios in Kerynia, a source close to the investigation told the paper that testimonies suggest that there are around 40 people buried there. The dead are believed to be either soldiers who fell in combat during the Turkish invasion or soldiers arrested and executed by Turkish troops.
The paper reports that despite efforts made to locate remains in the Kyrenia area, operations have turned up empty handed. Phileleftheros cites a source involved in the efforts, who said that Turkey may have a hand in the failure to locate remains, since they could prove the extent of executions performed by Turkish troops.
Government reshuffle announced
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Governance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades announced the reshuffle of the government on Tuesday, with replacements made for the posts of Health Minister, Justice Minister, Government Spokesman and deputy Government Spokesman, while a Deputy Minister for Welfare was also appointed at a newly created department.
Chartered accountant Michalis Hadjipantelas has been appointed Health Minister while lawyer Stephie Drakou, the former insurance superintendent, will take the justice portfolio, the dailies report. The current Health Minister’s assistant Anastasia Anthousi was appointed Deputy Welfare Minister.
Anastasiades said his latest ministerial line-up aims towards a more widely accepted government, the dailies report. The goal is to serve in the best possible way both his agenda, and the recently announced Recovery and Resilience plan, he said.
DISY member Marios Pelekanos will replace Kyriacos Koushios as Government Spokesman while Chamber of Commerce and Industry PR and communications executive Niovi Parisinou was appointed Deputy Government Spokesperson.
Andreas Iosif takes over as Director of the Press Office of the President. The post was held by Victoras Papadopoulos who will deal with Cyprus problem information issues at the Foreign Ministry.
Deputy Government Spokesman Panayiotis Sentonas is the new Commissioner for Volunteerism, which has been renamed Commissioner for the Citizen.
The new Ministers will be sworn in and take over their duties on July 1.