GCC Press Review 26 June 2021

Front Page Headlines

Politis

The Cyprus problem going… on holiday

Nothing new from Guterres’ meetings with Anastasiades and Tatar.

  • Hospitals beginning to fill up: They’re anxiously looking for solutions
  • Tourism: Risk of locking up and unemployment

Phileleftheros

‘Two states’ not up for discussion

Common positions of the UNSG and the EU regarding the form of the solution of the Cyprus problem being recorded. Guterres heard both and is preparing the next steps. He’s deciding between a new five-party or going directly for negotiations.

  • They shut the door on Ersin Tatar: He sought a meeting with Ursula and Michel
  • Ankara left without a positive agenda: The conclusions of the European Council
  • Lockdown in the Scientific Committee of the pandemic: Two weeks without a meeting because some are seeking legal asylum in lawsuits by citizens

Haravgi

The government a spectator to the new race of spikes in fuel

There are no conditions of transparency and correct competition practices.

  • Cyprus problem: Guterres: A two-state solution is a ‘non starter’. The President prefers to avoid an informal meeting
  • European Council: Without a change in Turkey’s stance the customs union is getting upgraded and moving forward
  • The Pancyprian Gymnasium is rejecting foreign students and Special Education students
  • Cyprus in Britain’s orange category due to low vaccination rate

Cyprus Mail

Experts weigh in on unjabbed

For now, advisers trying softly-softly approach but ex team leader touts coercive measures.

  • Cyprus: ‘Two-state solution a non starter’, UN chief says
  • Tourism industry counts the cost of more lost time from UK market

Alithia

Europe-UN block two states

Strong messages toward Turkey. Guterres: There can be no discussion on two states, it’s a non starter – insistence on BBF solution. Mitsotakis: When Tatar speaks of two states, no one is listening. Ursula to Erdogan: We will never accept a two-state solution.

  • EU summit: Ankara annoyed, accusing Greece-Cyprus
  • Pseudo-state: They gave 2,500 ‘citizenships’ in six months
  • Thoughts on incentives and anti-incentives for vaccinations
  • PASYXE: The good scenario for tourism is becoming more distant

Main News

Two-state solution a ‘non-starter‘, UNSG says

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

OVERVIEW

A two-state solution in Cyprus is a non-starter, UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres said, according to President Nicos Anastasiades, the dailies report.

Anastasiades met Guterres on Friday morning. Guterres also met later with TC leader Ersin Tatar. Politis reports that Guterres’ meetings with the two leaders did not lead to anything new.

According to Anastasiades, Guterres told him that a two-state solution was a “non-starter”, clarifying that the terms of his mandate were clear and provided for a solution based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation (BBF), with political equality in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.

Anastasiades said Guterres acknowledged that the Turkish positions were hampering efforts to resume talks, adding that the UNSG said that he would continue to work to create the conditions for a meaningful dialogue.

Anastasiades also said he told Guterres that the GC side agreed with his proposal, as submitted at the informal summit in Geneva last April, for the appointment of a special representative for the Cyprus issue and expressed the hope that it will receive a positive response from TCs and the Turkish side.

On the possibility of another informal summit on Cyprus, Anastasiades said this was up to Guterres, adding that he told Guterres that he would prefer that the next step is a substantive dialogue, instead of another such summit in search of common ground. “Because, as I have emphasised, the common ground exists, it is contained in the UN resolutions,” he added. He also reiterated the confidence-building measures (CBMs) he had suggested last December and at the Geneva summit.

“I cannot predict what the next steps of the Secretary-General will be and when he might convene (a summit). He will either appoint a special representative or convene a new informal five-party meeting,” Anastasiades said.

He also said that what was being sought by a summit convened by Guterres is to make Tatar realise that it is not possible to put forward positions that contradict the UN resolutions, or the terms of the UNSG’s mandate.

On his part, Tatar’s office said in a statement that Tatar told Guterres during their meeting that respect for the sovereign equality of the two sides and recognition of their equal international status was inevitable for the start of formal negotiations. The announcement said negotiations on this new basis could have a chance of success.

It added that Tatar said that at the CBMs proposed by the parties should not overshadow efforts to find common ground between the two sides. According to the statement, Guterres agreed that CBMs cannot replace a comprehensive solution, but must serve the solution.

Politis reports that Tatar said that he was told by Guterres that he intends to meet with him again in September in New York.

Phileleftheros reports that Tatar also requested a meeting with the top EU officials Charles Michel, Ursula Von der Leyen and Josep Borrell, but all three rejected a meeting.

President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen, speaking to the press in Brussels after the EU summit, in response to a question, said, the EU would “never accept” a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem. She said she had spoken Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, noting that she was very clear that the EU know that he intends to go to Cyprus in mid-July. “This is a very sensitive issue for us and we have made it clear that we will be watching how the visit will go.” She added that it is up to Erdogan to send positive messages.

The dailies also report that in a small impromptu chat with Tatar, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he told the TC leader to not raise the issue of a two-state solution with the EU since no one will listen to him. Mitsotakis said he reiterated to Tatar Greece’s long-standing position that a two-state solution will not lead to anything, since it is a solution that is being rejected, not only because it goes against UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, but also because it is completely incompatible with the EU acquis.

Meanwhile, the papers report that Anastasiades also welcomed the agreed conclusions text of the EU leaders at the European Council that took place on Thursday and Friday in Brussels. The final text of the European Council conclusions was adopted by the EU leaders on Thursday evening.

Anastasiades said in a tweet that the text reiterates the position of EU27 on the Cyprus issue, the status of Varosha and in general the whole spectrum of EU-Turkey relations, including the need to sustain de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean. He said that the conclusions also offer the tools for tackling Turkish provocations in Varosha.

Phileleftheros reports that in a written statement, Government Spokesman Kyriakos Koushos listed the seven points in the conclusions which Nicosia views as particularly positive. These include the EU’s commitment to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue in the context of UNSC resolutions, including Resolution 1251; the highlighting of the importance of Varosha and the call for complete respect of relevant UNSC resolutions; Turkey’s commitment to the implementation of the Customs Union vis-à-vis all member states; Turkey’s obligation to maintain de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean; and Turkey’s need to make a positive contribution to resolving regional crises.

The dailies report that Ankara was not too pleased with the EUCO conclusions, noting that they stray far from the expected and necessary steps. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that the conclusions are a reiteration of the opinions of Athens and Nicosia, and called on the EU to look at the realities in Cyprus and to stop ignoring the TCs. The announcement also said that as long as the EU continues to take this stance, the EU cannot be a constructive contributor to the Cyprus problem.

KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades

>> Was told by UNSG in Brussels meeting that 2-state solution a non-starter since terms of his mandate provide for BBF with political equality
>> Guterres acknowledged that Turkish positions are hampering efforts to resume talks
>> Told Guterres that the GC side agreed with the proposal submitted at the Geneva 5+1 for the appointment of a special representative for the Cyprus issue, hopes positive response will also be granted from TC side & Turkey
>> Prefers process moves directly to formal negotiations rather than a second 5+1 summit seeking common ground, since common ground exists in the form of UN resolutions
>> UNSG will either appoint a special representative or convene a new 5+1, which will seek to make Tatar realise that it is not possible to put forward positions that contradict the UN resolutions or the terms of the UNSG’s mandate
>> Welcomes EUCO conclusions text, which reiterates the position of EU27 on the Cyprus issue, the status of Varosha & whole spectrum of EU-Turkey relations, including the need to sustain de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean

Tatar
>> Told UNSG that respect for the sovereign equality of the two sides and recognition of their equal international status was inevitable for the start of formal negotiations, which could have a chance of success on this new basis
>> CBMs proposed by the parties should not overshadow efforts to find common ground between the two sides

Von der Leyen (EU)
>> EU would never accept a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem & made this clear to Erdogan personally
>> EU will closely monitor Erdogan’s upcoming visit to Cyprus in mid-July
>> It is up to Erdogan to send positive messages

Mitsotakis (Greece)
>> Told Tatar that he should not raise the issue of a two-state solution with the EU since no one will listen to him
>> Reiterated to Tatar Greece’s long-standing position that a two-state solution will not lead to anything since it is a solution that is being rejected & goes against UNSC resolutions and the EU acquis

Turkish FM
>> EUCO conclusions text strays far from the expected and necessary steps
>> Conclusions are a reiteration of the opinions of Athens and Nicosia
>> The EU must look at the realities in Cyprus and to stop ignoring the TCs
>> As long as the EU continues to take this stance, the EU cannot be a constructive contributor to the Cyprus problem


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