Front Page Headlines
Erdogan’s visit and ‘gifts’ dividing Turkish Cypriots
Rumours that he will announce recognition by Azerbaijan and invite GCs to Famagusta.
- Dias group attack: Demonstration by anti-vaxxers and hoodlums causing chaos
- Economy: Signs of recovery due to vaccinations
- Turn to vaccinations due to rapid tests
With ‘gifts’ in the luggage
Various scenarios regarding the announcements of the Turkish President, with drilling in the Cyprus EEZ in the background. Tayyip Erdogan in the north today.
- Massive demonstration and protest against measures
- They’re urgently looking for hospital beds: Emergency meeting yesterday night
- Rapid tests capped at €10: Termination of free programmes
Threats from Tatar to limit reactions to Erdogan’s visit
AKEL and the party’s MEP Niyazi Kizilyurek targeted.
- Erdogan announcing ‘good news’ today
- Cyprus problem: The President and the government didn’t move then nor are they now
- Nikos Dendias: A two-state solution is not a Cyprus problem solution
- Turkish fighter jets flew over free Famagusta
- COVID-19: Clashes outside the Presidential Palace, vandalisms at the ‘Dias’ group
Anti-vaxxers got wild
Serious clashes outside the Presidential Palace and vandalisms at SIGMA. Hoodlums that participated in last night’s demonstration against measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic invaded the SIGMA television station setting fire to cars and causing vandalism.
- The Turks’ five scenarios for Erdogan’s ‘good news’
- Archbishop: The Church is clearly in favour of vaccinations
Main News
Anastasiades hopes ‘intense diplomatic efforts’ will curb Erdogan
Alithia, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
President Nicos Anastasiades expressed hope on Sunday that “intense diplomatic efforts” would prevent further threats by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to the north on Monday, the dailies report.
Citing statements made to the Greek newspaper To Vima, the dailies report that Anastasiades said that the government, in coordination with the Greek government, was exhausting every diplomatic effort both within the EU and towards friendly countries, including permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Anastasiades reiterated the government’s political will and determination to work within the parameters of the UN and the EU to find a solution to the Cyprus problem leading to a federal state with its independence and sovereignty fully guaranteed, and which will be free of third-party guarantees or occupying troops. Such a solution should ensure the functionality and therefore the viability of the state, always with full respect of the principles and values enshrined in the EU acquis and the provisions of the UN Charter, he said.
However, Anastasiades expressed the view that Turkish behaviour did not give much hope for a solution to be found in the short term. He said “Turkey’s illegal and unlawful actions manifested in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as well as on the ground, highlighted by its claims for a solution beyond and outside the UN resolutions as well as the creation of new faits accomplis by changing the status of the fenced off city of Varosha, but also through the absolute control it exercises over the TC community, do not create much room for hope.”
Anastasiades said that both he and his predecessors have sought, through painful concessions, to find a solution that would allow the Republic of Cyprus to evolve into a functional and viable state, consistent with the principles of international law and the values of the EU.
Haravgi reports that Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias stated that Turkey’s proposal for a two-state solution in Cyprus does not constitute a potential Cyprus solution, adding that a Cyprus solution would involve the reunification of the island and anything else is not an option. Dendias said a two-state solution would be in violation of international law, noting that “it is not I, or Greece, or Cyprus, but international law and the UNSC that oppose any idea for a two-state solution.”
Dendias said that it is important to see what Erdogan will say and do while in the north on Tuesday, stating that if his rhetoric goes against international law and UN resolutions, then Erdogan’s behaviour won’t have any footing.
The dailies also focus on the five scenarios relating to the ‘good news’ expected to be announced by Erdogan, as reported by Turkish and TC media. The first scenario concerns the possibility of the north establishing diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan, with dailies noting that Erdogan has spoken of “processes that have been going on for a long time”. Also, a five-member delegation of the friendship group of the Azerbaijani parliament has been in the north for the past three days. Dailies also write that for the first time, there were delegations from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan currently in the north and ready to recognise the ‘TRNC’.
The second scenario will be the announcement that GCs would be welcome to return to Varosha and reclaim their properties through the Immovable Property Commission (IPC). Erdogan could announce that Varosha would no longer be under the Turkish military, paving the way for it to be run under TC administration, the daileis added citing TC media.
The third bit of ‘good news’ would be the creation of the drone base in Lefkoniko, and the fourth, establishing a naval base in Trikomo. The fifth scenario is that Erdogan may announce a gas find in areas that were explored by Turkish seismic vessels last year.
The dailies also report that Turkiye, citing senior officials, reported that the visit “will be historic” and there will be developments that “will change the future of Cyprus”.
Reports also noted that TC leader Ersin Tatar inspected ongoing works in Varosha on Sunday, though Politis writes that Erdogan’s schedule has been altered and he will not be visiting Famagusta mainly due to time constraints and the weather, but the paper says the move might also be related to the resistance being staged by TC opposition parties to Erdogan’s visit.
KEY ACTORS
Anastasiades
>> Government, in coordination with the Greek government, is exhausting every diplomatic effort to prevent further threats by Erdogan
>> Government is determined to work within UN & EU parameters to secure Cyprob solution that leads to a federal state with its independence and sovereignty fully guaranteed, and which will be free of third-party guarantees or occupying troops
>> Cyprob solution should ensure the functionality & viability of the state, always with full respect of the principles and values enshrined in the EU acquis and the provisions of the UN Charter
>> Turkey’s illegal and unlawful actions in the EEZ & on the ground (two-state solution, new faits accomplis in Varosha) but also through absolute control over TCs, do not create much room for hope
>> Both he and his predecessors have sought, through painful concessions, to find a solution that would allow the RoC to evolve into a functional and viable state, consistent with the principles of international law and the values of the EU
Dendias (Greece)
>> Turkey’s proposal for a two-state solution in Cyprus does not constitute a potential Cyprus solution
>> A Cyprus solution would involve the reunification of the island and anything else is not an option
>> A two-state solution would be in violation of international law & it is not Greece or Cyprus that oppose this option but international law and the UNSC