GCC Press Review 27 Aug 2021

Front Page Headlines

Politis

The sudden return to 60’s… a stealthy move

Ignorance, ambushing, and objections among members of the negotiating team and parties.

  • Geri-Dali: Huge fire at a factory and… agitation
  • Third dose: The government ready to say ‘yes’
  • Port-marina: Larnaca Municipality satisfied with the Master Plan
  • Pyla: The projects that skyrocket it

Phileleftheros

Lost in space

They let go of the future and threw around quotes based on the 60s, the Greek Revolution and EOKA. Whether and when Lute will come is unknown.

  • Terror in Geri, they were drowned in smoke from a fire
  • The third dose going to the Cabinet, Commission says wait for the EMA: The European Medicines Agency isn’t deciding
  • Reforms for the rule of law
  • Larnaca of the next 25 years in the works: The Master Plan of the port-marina was presented

Haravgi

The President should finally clarify what solution he’s seeking

The two-state solution he threw out there, the return to the Constitution of the 60’s, or the BBF solution with political equality?

  • S. Eltsia: “If partitionists are going to be put on the stand, so should those who seek enosis”
  • Commission: Countries will bear the legal responsibility for the third dose without the EMA’s approval

Cyprus Mail

Bloodbath at Kabul airport

Suicide bombers strike, Isis claims responsibility. At least 60 dead, 12 US soldiers. Airlift of civilians ‘now effectively over,’ West says.

  • Health ministry is ready for booster shots

Alithia

Who killed 46-year-old Giorgos, father of three minors?

Another family in mourning. Public complaints against a charlatan doctor and priests that stopped him from getting vaccinated. Furious reaction by CyMA over the conditions of the 46-year-old’s death – Statement by Armeftis regarding a gang of doctors, who, instead of vaccination, are suggesting a cocktail of vitamins. Hadjipantelas: The Ministry ready for the administration of the third dose.

  • Government to Tatar: The proposal to return to the Constitution of the 60’s is on the table
  • Response to Tatar: Hands-on support from the Republic of Cyprus to TCs
  • Strong criticism by AKEL and the government’s response: Civil war over the 14 passports
  • Another reform: Autonomisation of the fire service after 63 years of discussion

Main News

Passports fiasco leads to quarrel between govt, AKEL

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

OVERVIEW

The government’s decision to revoke the passports of 14 TCs and the ensuing public spat between the two leaders which saw President Nicos Anastasiades propose a return to the 1960 regime resulted on Thursday in a confrontation between AKEL and the government over the political settlement being sought, the dailies report.

AKEL’s Charis Polycarpou slammed Anastasiades on Thursday, saying that rather than focusing on resuming negotiations, the government is more interested in engaging in a game of public announcements with TC leader Ersin Tatar. Polycarpou said that in this way, all Anastasiades is achieving is a deepening of the current impasse, which only butters the bread of Turkey’s pro-partition policy.

He added that Anastasiades’ suggestion for a return to the 1960 regime serves to disintegrate the last shred of credibility he has left internationally regarding his willingness to resume negotiations, while it also shows an abandonment of the agreed-upon solution framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation (BBF). He also said the track record of the Anastasiades-DISY administration shows a constant sliding towards permanent partition.

Hitting back, Government Spokesman Marios Pelekanos accused AKEL of distorting the situation, since Anastasiades’ statements pointed twice to a solution based on high-level agreements, UN resolutions and the EU acquis. He added that he wanted to stress for the last time that Anastasiades is focused on achieving a solution that would ensure a state without dependencies, free of the anachronistic guarantees system, and that would ensure the functionality and viability of the state to the benefit of both communities.

He said it is clear that Anastasiades’ proposal constitutes a response to Tatar’s accusations that the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) is supposedly a GC state. Pelekanos added that Anastasiades’ call for a return to the 1960 Constitution precisely would avert partition, by obviating the current Turkish position that demands a recognition of sovereignty for the north of the island as a precondition for the resumption of peace talks.

Pelekanos also said AKEL was out of touch with reality, posing the question of whether they realise that the non-solution of the Cyprus problem is primarily due to Turkey’s intransigence and longstanding goals. Finally, he asked whether AKEL is suggesting that Anastasiades accept the Turkish side’s claims for sovereign equality, and whether they believe that their proposal for more concessions would get Turkey and Tatar to change stance.

Issuing another announcement in response, AKEL clarified that it categorically rejects the sovereign equality of TCs that the proposal the party submitted is based on the positions of the UN Secretary General (UNSG) and is therefore credible, in contrast to what Anastasiades is suggesting. AKEL also sought a clarification as to what solution Anastasiades is ultimately seeking, asking whether it is a two-state solution, a return to the 1960 Constitution or a BBF solution with political equality as provided for by UN resolutions?

Alithia reports that ELAM also issued an announcement stating that AKEL’s response only goes to show its obsession with the partition of Cyprus through a BBF solution that splits the island in two, and indicates its complete identification with Turkey’s pursuit of taksim. ELAM reiterated its position for a solution that would safeguard the RoC and the re-integration of TCs into a single state without racial discrimination and anti-democratic practices.

The dailies also report that DISY leader Averof Neophytou said the decision regarding the revocation of passports has been taken and his party considers the matter closed. He added that the decision sends a symbolic message at a time when Cyprus is requesting from the EU and others to take measures. He also said however that he doesn’t believe that this move will either lead to the solution of the Cyprus problem or to the curbing of the unacceptable actions of Turkey and Tatar. This is achieved through dialogue, he said.

Neophytou also cast doubt over whether the UNSG’s Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute will be coming to Cyprus for preparatory contacts ahead of the meetings set to take place in New York in the margins of the UN General Assembly. Phileleftheros reports that government circles are ruling nothing out regarding whether Lute will visit, especially given the situation in Afghanistan.

Alithia reports that Pelekanos said Thursday that Anastasiades’ proposal for a return to the 1960 regime could be discussed with Lute. Phileleftheros writes that if Lute does end up coming, what she will have to deal with is the issue of the revocation of passports and the 1960 regime, rather than more pressing issues on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Politis reports that it contacted members of the GC side’s negotiating team, who say they were taken by surprise by Anastasiades’ proposal to return to the 1960 regime, which they consider unrealistic and even catastrophic for what has been agreed so far and for a BBF solution.

KEY ACTORS
Polycarpou (AKEL)
>>
Slams Anastasiades, accusing him of being more interested in a public game of announcements with Tatar rather than working towards resuming talks
>> Anastasiades leading to a deepening of the current impasse, which only butters the bread of Turkey’s pro-partition policy
>> Anastasiades’ suggestion for a return to the 1960 regime serves to disintegrate the last shred of credibility he has left internationally regarding his willingness to resume negotiations
>> Proposal also shows an abandonment of the agreed-upon solution framework of a BBF
>> Track record of the Anastasiades-DISY administration shows a constant sliding towards permanent partition
>> Categorically rejects the sovereign equality of TCs
>> Seeks clarification as to what solution Anastasiades is ultimately seeking (a two-state solution, a return to the 1960 Constitution or a BBF solution with political equality as provided for by UN resolutions)

Pelekanos
>> Anastasiades’ statements pointed twice to a solution based on high-level agreements, UN resolutions and the EU acquis
>> Anastasiades focused on achieving a solution that would ensure a state without dependencies, free of the anachronistic guarantees system, and that would ensure the functionality and viability of the state to the benefit of both communities
>> Anastasiades’ proposal constitutes a response to Tatar’s accusations that the RoC is supposedly a GC state
>> Call for a return to the 1960 Constitution would avert partition, by obviating the Turkish demand for recognition of sovereignty as a precondition for the resumption of talks
>> AKEL is out of touch with reality
>> The non-solution of the Cyprus problem is primarily due to Turkey’s intransigence and longstanding goals
>> Wonders whether AKEL is suggesting that Anastasiades accept the Turkish side’s claims for sovereign equality, and whether they believe that their proposal for more concessions would get Turkey and Tatar to change stance

ELAM
>> AKEL obsessed with the partition of Cyprus through a BBF solution that splits the island in two
>> AKEL in complete identification with Turkey’s pursuit of taksim
>> Seeks solution that would safeguard the RoC and the re-integration of TCs into a single state without racial discrimination and anti-democratic practices

Neophytou (DISY)
>> Passports decision sends a symbolic message at a time when Cyprus is requesting from the EU and others to take measures
>> The move will not lead to the solution of the Cyprus problem nor to the curbing of the unacceptable actions of Turkey and Tatar; this is achieved through dialogue


Anastasiades’ calendar full of meetings on Cyprob in September

Alithia, Phileleftheros
Negotiations Process

OVERVIEW

Alithia and Phileleftheros report that President Nicos Anastasiades will in September be holding a series of important meetings with foreign players on the Cyprus problem.

Citing an announcement by the Presidency, the dailies report that on September 30, US Senator and chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Bob Menendez, will be in Cyprus. Menendez will be honoured by the  President with the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III for his contribution to promoting human rights and democracy. Menendez will also sit down for a private meeting with Anastasiades to discuss the matter of further developing relations between Cyprus and the US.

On September 4, Anastasiades will fly to Cairo for the first intergovernmental summit between Cyprus and Egypt. Anastasiades will be accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy, Education, Agriculture, Defence, as well as the Deputy Shipping Minister and the Government Spokesman. The summit is considered of particular importance and will serve to boost bilateral relations.

On September 13-14 , Anastasiades will visit Bahrain, accompanied by his Ministers, to upgrade relations between the two countries.

On September 17, the President will be in Athens, where the EUMed Summit will take place and will include Slovenia and Croatia. During the Summit, they will discuss cooperation in addressing common challenges, including climate change and the consequences of migration, environment, the pandemic, and security. Anastasiades is expected to brief his counterparts on the developments in the Cyprus issue, especially on Turkish efforts to reopen Varosha.

In late September, Anastasiades will be in New York for the UN General Assembly. During talks with UN Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres, Anastasiades will raise issues related to the resumption of stalled Cyprus negotiations. Anastasiades is also expected to hold contacts with various state leaders.


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